Generations of Computer

The term Computer Generation generally refer to the each phase of the computer developement. In every phase computer undergone a major technological developement which changed the way computer operates,decreased the size of computing devices, becomes cheaper, more powerful and reliable. Nowadays most of the computer uses the Stored Program Concept that was proposed by Dr. John Von Neuman in 1945.

Computer generations start from 1946 with vaccum tube circuitry to the present day and beyond with artificial intelligence.

Five Generations of computer are as Follow:

1. First Generation(1946-1959): In first generation vaccum tubes were used for circuitry and magnetic drums for memory. They used the "Stored Program Concept" and they were very large in size taking up the entire rooms and generating a lot of heat. Machine languages were used for giving the instructions.

Examples: 

ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator And Calculator) was the first electronic computer developed.EDVAC: Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer

EDSAC: Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Computer 

UNIVAC-I: The Universal Automatic Computer

2. Second Generation(1959-1965): This generation using the transistor were cheaper, consumed less power, more compact in size, more reliable and faster than the first generation machines made of vaccum tubes.

In this generation, magnetic cores were used as primary memory and magnetic tape and magnetic disks as secondary storage devices. 

In this generation assembly language and high level programming language like FORTRAN, COBOL were used. There were Batch processing and Multiprogramming Operating system used.

Examples: IBM 1620,IBM 7094, CDC 1604, CDC 3600, UNIVAC 1108

3. Third Generation(1965-1971): The development of the integrated circuit(I.C) was the hallmark of the third generation of computers. A single I.C has many transistors, resistors and capacitors along with the associated circuitry.The I.C was invented by Jack Kilby. This development made computers smaller in size, reliable and efficient.

In this generation Remote processing, Time-sharing, Real-time, Multi-programming Operating System were used. High level language (FORTRAN-II TO IV, COBOL, PASCAL PL/1, BASIC, ALGOL-68 etc.) were used during this generation.
Examples: IBM-360 series, Honeywell-6000 series, PDP(Personal Data Processor)

4. Fourth Generation(1971-1980): Medium scale integrated circuits yielded to Large Scale Integration (LSI) and Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) circuits. It led to the advent of microprocessor (CPU on a single chip) and marked the beginning of the fourth generation computers. Semi conductor memories replaced magnetic core memories. The cost of computer came down so rapidly. The faster accessing and processing speeds and increased memory capacity helped in development of much more powerful operating systems.
Examples: DEC 10, STAR 1000, PDP 11, CRAY-1(Super Computer), CRAY-X-MP(Super Computer)

5. Fifth Generation(1980-Present): In the fifth generation, the VLSI technology became ULSI (Ultra Large Scale Integration) technology, resulting in the production of microprocessor chips having ten million electronic components. This generation is based on parallel processing hardware and AI (Artificial Intelligence) software. AI is an emerging branch in computer science, which interprets means and method of making computers think like human beings.

All the Higher level languages like C and C++, Java, .Net etc. are used in this generation.

Examples: Desktop, Laptop, NoteBook, UltraBook, ChromeBook

What is Ecommerce - an overview

In its simplest form ecommerce is the buying and selling of products and services by businesses and consumers over the Internet. People use the term "ecommerce" to describe encrypted payments on the Internet.

Sometimes these transactions include the real-time transfer of funds from buyer to seller and sometimes this is handled manually through an eft-pos terminal once a secure order is received by the merchant.

Internet sales are increasing rapidly as consumers take advantage of lower prices offer by wholesalers retailing their products. This trend is set to strengthen as web sites address consumer security and privacy concerns.

Benefits of E-Commerce

E-commerce can provide the following benefits over non-electronic commerce:

• Reduced costs by reducing labour, reduced paper work, reduced errors in keying in data, reduce post costs
• Reduced time. Shorter lead times for payment and return on investment in advertising, faster delivery of product
• Flexibility with efficiency. The ability to handle complex situations, product ranges and customer profiles without the situation becoming unmanageable.
• Improve relationships with trading partners. Improved communication between trading partners leads to enhanced long-term relationships.
• Lock in Customers. The closer you are to your customer and the more you work with them to change from normal business practices to best practice e-commerce the harder it is for a competitor to upset your customer relationship.
• New Markets. The Internet has the potential to expand your business into wider geographical locations.

B2C - business to consumer

In the Australian context B2C (business to consumer) trading activity has been slow to take off as at first consumers had doubts about the security of credit card transactions.

Initial B2C trading focused on music CDs, software and books - items which were compact and easily shipped and where prices could be slashed once the retailer's cut was taken out of the margin. The Amazon book store would be a good example of this. These products pushed the perimeters of the market out for goods bought on-line.

Books and CDs are relatively generic products. A CD bought in the US will have the same music and quality as one bought locally (the exception is the cover art) and so there is no doubt in the consumers mind exactly what the product is. This is not the case with clothing, where sizes can confuse the purchase decision... and where tactile senses figure strongly in the purchasing decision.

Ebay has really transform purchasing behaviour on the web. Many people have made their first ecommerce transaction on Ebay. Many people sell on Ebay too, given raise to the work-from-home/drop shipping model of ecommerce.

Interestingly though B2C transactions of previously localised or hard to find products can be extremely strong. If you have a unique product that is highly relevant to a niche audience, you are likely to do very well on the web.

Although sales are increasing rapidly on the Internet, the volume of turnover figures continue to fail short of industry estimates. But as retail web sites become more navigable and privacy policies are displayed, more people will be drawn to Net-based purchasing by lower prices and convenience.

B2B - business to business

On the Internet, B2B (business to business) is the exchange of products or services between businesses rather than between businesses and consumers.

Although early interest centered on the growth of retailing on the Internet, forecasts are that B2B revenue will far exceed B2C revenue in the near future.

According to studies published in early 2000, the money volume of B2B exceeds that of B2C by 10 to 1. Over the next five years, B2B is expected to have a compound annual growth of 41%.