first generation

views updated

first generation of computers. The series of calculating and computing machines whose designs were started between 1940 (approximately) and 1955. These machines are characterized by electronic tube (valve) circuitry, and delay line, rotating, or electrostatic (Williams tube) memory. The majority of them embodied the stored program concept. For the most part, first-generation machines used as input/output punched paper tape, punched card, magnetic wire, magnetic tape, and printers. Despite these seeming handicaps, impressive computations in weather forecasting, atomic energy calculations, and similar scientific applications were routinely performed on them.

Important first-generation development machines include the Manchester Mark I, EDSAC, EDVAC, SEAC, Whirlwind, IAS, and ENIAC while the earliest commercially available computers include the Ferranti Mark I, UNIVAC I, and LEO I.

A Dictionary of Computing

More From encyclopedia.com

About this article

first generation

Updated About encyclopedia.com content Print Article

You Might Also Like

NEARBY TERMS

First Financial Management Corporation

First Fidelity Bank, N.A., New Jersey

First Fashion Publications

First Farmers of Europe

First Farmers of Central Europe

First Executive Corporation

First Execution of a Woman in Texas Since 1863

First Encounter

First Empire State Corporation

First Do No Harm

First diffusion

First Degree 1998

First Degree 1995

First Daughter 2004

First Daughter 1999

First Data Corporation

First Crusade (1095-1099)

first convoluted tubule

First Continental Congress, Declarations and Resolves of (October 1, 1774)

First Contacts: The Roanake Venture

First Contacts: The Early Explorers

first generation

First Hawaiian, Inc.

First Impression

first in first out

First Inaugural Address

First Inaugural Address of President Franklin D. Roosevelt

First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.

first intention

First International

First International Computer, Inc.

First Interstate Bancorp

first inversion

First Ladies' Gowns

First Love (Pervaia Liubov') by Ivan Turgenev, 1860

First Love 1939

First Love 1970

First Love 1977

First Love and Other Pains / One of Them

First Love, Last Rites