Second Generation Computers

- The second generation of computers was during 1959 – 1964, which resulted in the transistor. In 1947, William Shockley, Walter Brattain and John Bardeen created the transistor while working at AT&Ts Bell Lab. Similar to vacuum tubes it used switch and relay electronic impulses. Similar to the vacuum tubes in that it too used relay and switch electronic signals, but it was much more faster, smaller and even more dependable than the tubes. “One transistor replaced the equivalent of 40 vacuum tubes” (Hames, The Computer Generations).  Due to the cheap materials (silicon) to make, creating transistors were very affordable to construct. “Transistors were found to conduct electricity faster and better than vacuum tubes.  They were also much smaller and gave off virtually no heat compared to vacuum tubes.  Their use marked a new beginning for the computer.  Without this invention, space travel in the 1960's would not have been possible” (Hames, The Computer Generations).

- This video shows footage and incredible interviews from the creators of the transistors as well as there actual notes they wrote during the experiments. There are also great shots that show the transistors as whole in ways that pictures don't encompass. 

         Moving away from low-level programming language, second generation computers were developing more high-level languages. Early forms of FORTRAN and COBOL were constructed. This is a fascinating because this time in history pushed and shaped our way of creating and using computers today. Every little change and feature added, implemented new operations that produced better quality computers.

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Source

• Hames, Roderick. "The Computer Chronicles - Computer Generations." The Computer Chronicles - Computer Generations. N.p., 2011. Web. 30 Mar. 2014.