In this generation, integerated circuits have been heavily used and
greatly reduced in size. This is due to microminiaturization, which
means that the circuits are much smaller than before and 1000 tiny
circuits fitted onto a single chip. Fourth generation computers are 50
times faster than third generation computers and could complete
approximately 1,000,000 instructions per second.During this period, high speed processors, such as the CRAY 1, CRAY X-MP and CYBER 205, dominated the world. Computers with a large main memory began to emerge and also a variety of parallel architectures began toappear. The most important invention was Microcomputers and workstations. They were used as an alternative to large main frame computers, because main frame computers occupied a very large space.
Two important events happend during the early part of the third generation.
- Development of the C programming Language
- UNIX operating system
Dennise Ritchie and Thompson developed the C language and then they used it to write a version of UNIX operating system.
At that time, the Japanese kept their eye on the Computer industry and they also made a challenge to USA. USA dominate the whole world in computer science and they made lot of money. As a result of the Japanese invading the computer market, the Americans struggled in the computer market to maintain their position. Japanese scientists had already developed their technology and they built high quality Super Computers for a cheaper price than the Americans.
