Part IV: Even Smaller Today

The 4th Generation – Microprocessors

• (1971 to present)
• Software Technology - Several new operating systems like the MS-DOS and MS-Windows developed during this time. This generation of computers supported Graphical User Interface(GUI). GUI is a user-friendly interface that allows user to interact with the computer via menus and icons. High-level programming languages are used for the writing of programs.
• Computing Characteristics - The computation time is in picoseconds.
• Physical Appearance - They are smaller than the computers of the previous generation. Some can even fit into the palm of the hand.
• Application - They became widely available for commercial purposes. Personal computers became available to the home user.
• Examples - The Intel 4004 chip was the first microprocessor. The components of the computer like Central Processing Unit (CPU)and memory were located on a single chip. In 1981, IBM introduced the first computer for home use. In 1984, Apple introduced the Macintosh.

They use the Large Scale Integration (LSI)and the Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI)technology. Thousands of transistors are integrated on a small silicon chip using LSI technology. VLSI allows hundreds of thousands of components to be integrated in a small chip.