What is a fourth generation computer?
During the 1970s, The downsizing of mainframe and minicomputers continued. By the late 1970s, most businesses were using computers for at least part of their data-management needs. However, the need for smaller and faster computers meant that even the integrated circuits of the third generation of computers had to be made more compact. Fourth generation computers are based on large-scale integration (LSI) of circuits. New chip manufacturing methods meant that tens of thousands and later hundreds of thousands of circuits could be integrated into a single chip (known as VLSI for very large-scale integration). Nevertheless, at that time, computing was still mostly seen as a time-sharing process. One mainframe or minicomputer could service many users, each with a terminal that was connected to the computer by wire. But during this period, a new concept of “personal” computing was being developed. And, surprisingly, this new type of computer was not being developed by the well-established c
