EL uso del computador

The next leap forward in the world if the early computer came in 1956, with the use the transistor. This new transistor technology would replace the vacuum tubes typified the first generationmachines. This new transistor based technology had a number of important advantages over vacuum tubes, including reduced heat, lower cost and greater reliability. The use of transistors also allowedcomputers to become much smaller, allowing them to be used in businesses, educational institutions and similar venues. Even though the technology was much improved, however, they still relied on the use ofpunch cards for input and computer printouts for outputting data.

These transistor based computers, however, relied not on the machine language of their predecessors, but on more symbolic language,allowing computer programmers to specify their instructions in words. This time period also saw the introduction of high level programming language such as COBOL and FORTRAN, and versions of theseprograms continue to be used in mainframe computing even today. These transistor based computers are also unique in being the first machines to store their instructions in memory, allowing them to movefrom magnetic drum to more advanced magnetic core technology.
The third generation of computers represented another great leap forward brought about by the us o the integrated circuit. This allowedtransistors to be made even smaller, and to be placed on silicon chips known as semiconductors, again dramatically increasing the speed and efficiency of the resulting computer. This shrinking ofcomponents also allowed computers to become accessible and useful to a far wider audience.
The fourth generation of computers was made possible by the appearance of the microprocessor in 1971, This advanceallowed transistors to be made even smaller, and to be placed on silicon chips known as semiconductors, again dramatically increasing the speed and efficiency of the resulting computers. This...