ENIAC - First-Generation Computer Quiz

Generations of Computers

• The second generation of computers utilized transistors as the interior sections.
• The third generation of computers introduced the integrated circuit (IC) to replace transistors.
• The fourth generation of computers used microprocessors, which are a type of Large-Scale Integration (LSI) circuits.
• The fifth generation of computers used Very Large-Scale Integration (VLSI) circuits to build computers.

Characteristics of Computer Generations

• The first generation of computers included the Electronic Numeric Integrator and Calculator (ENIAC).
• The fourth generation of computers was known for remote processing, time-sharing, and multiprogramming operating systems, and used microprocessors as the core technology.
• The fifth generation of computers is associated with artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

Computer Types

• Microprocessor chips in the fifth generation of computers have hundreds of thousands of electronic components.
• The fourth generation of computers introduced the microprocessor, which led to the development of personal computers that are dense, reliable, and inexpensive.
• The fifth generation of computers involves ultra-large-scale integration (ULSI) technology.
• A workstation is distinguished from a personal computer by its high-performance capabilities, large storage capacity, and specialized hardware and software.

Computer Categories

• A mainframe can typically support hundreds or thousands of users simultaneously.
• A minicomputer is a mid-range computer that is smaller and less powerful than a mainframe but more powerful than a personal computer.
• A supercomputer is characterized by its extremely high processing power and speed, such as the Pleiades supercomputer, which has thousands of CPU cores compared to a regular desktop computer with an Intel Core i3 processor.
• The main purpose of desktop computers is to provide a personal, single-user computing environment.

Test your knowledge about the Electronic Numeric Integrator and Calculator (ENIAC), considered the first-generation computer built by Mauchly from the University of Pennsylvania and financed by the United States Army. Learn about its modular design, limited storage and arithmetic capabilities.