Fourth Generation Computers (1971-Present)

Microprocessors are the reason we have the computers we use today. Microprocessors were silicon chips that contained thousands of integrated circuits.

The intel 4004, developed in 1971, was able to locate all the components of a computer. From the central processing unit to the memory and input/output controls.

Because the cost and size of the computers decreased very tremendously, computers were now available to everyday people. Some of the first applications that benefitted people was word processors and spreadsheets. In 1981 IBM introduced the first home computer. Throughout the years as computers became smaller, and more powerful, they were able to be connected together to form networkswhich later produced what we know of, the Internet.