First Generation Computers (1940-1956)

The first generation of computers or also known as the vacuum tube years, was when computers used vacuum tubes as a basis for their motherboard. these computers also used magnetic drums for memory. These computers were so huge they would take up entire rooms. 

This is a picture of a popular first generation computer also known as the ENIAC. ENIAC was the first electronic general purpose computer. It consisted of 18000 vacuum tubes, 1500 relays and thousands of resisters. By the time it was completed, the computer weighed 30 tons, and consumed 200 kilowatts of power. Even though it looks trash now, the machine was revolutionary back then. 

The computers were very expensive to operate. To function they required lots of electricity. Because it required a lot of energy, the machines tended to heat up very fast. When computers overheat they end up malfunctioning. 

The only way for these computers to function was by a method called machine language. Machine language is the base of programming. The language only contains numbers (zeroes and ones) and is only read by computers.