From 1946 to now, after more than 40 years' development, electronic computers have faster and faster operation speed, higher and higher complexity, smaller and smaller volume and shorter update cycle. The operation speed of China "Yinhe" supercomputer has reached 1 100 million times per second, and the operation speed of foreign advanced computers is even faster. As far as the machine itself is concerned, the electronic computer has developed to the fourth generation.
The first generation used electron tubes as the main components. Using this generation of computers, people sent artificial satellites into the sky.
The second generation consists of transistors as basic circuits. An algorithmic language and compilation system began to exist. The operation speed reaches one million times per second, and the volume, weight, power consumption and cost are greatly reduced.
The third generation is small and medium-sized integrated circuit computers. At this time, operating systems and minicomputers were widely used, and with terminals and networks, the operation speed reached tens of millions of times per second.
The fourth generation is a machine composed of large-scale integrated circuits. The volume and the cost are greatly reduced. At this time, microcomputers were manufactured and widely used in industry, scientific research and family life.
The fifth generation electronic computer is actually an intelligent computer with the ability to imitate the thinking process of the human brain. Since 1979, Japan and other countries have organized various experts to start the development of this computer, and made initial progress.
As a computing tool, electronic computer has the following characteristics compared with general computing tools: (1) The computing speed is fast. A fast computer can perform more than one billion operations per second. A slow microcomputer can also perform 654.38+ million operations per second. (2) The calculation accuracy is high. The numerical value calculated by modern electronic computers can reach 64 bits. (3) Have the ability of "memory" and logical judgment. Electronic computers can record programs, original data and intermediate results, and can also conduct logical reasoning and theorem proving. (4) It can be automatically controlled without manual intervention.
The application of electronic computers has rapidly penetrated into all aspects of human society. From the control of spacecraft and missiles, the research of atomic energy and artificial satellites, to industrial production, enterprise management and daily life, computers have been applied to varying degrees. It is asserted that there are traces of electronic computers in every activity in modern society.