Second Generation of Computers

Characteristics:

• Transistors, invented by William Shockley, John Bardeen and Walter Brattain were used as the main component.

• They were faster, smaller in size and more reliable than the first generation computer.

• They had many components - printer, memory, disk storage, operating system etc. which are associated with modern day computers.

• They had greater commercial use as they were easier to program

• The programming languages such as COBOL (Common Business Oriented Language) and FORTRAN (Formula Translation) came into use during this time.

• IBM 1401 and RCA 501 are examples of second generation computers.