Second generation computers (1956-1963)

Characteristics

transistors

• Transistors replaced vacuum tubes.
• computers became faster, smaller, cheaper and more efficient.
• they still generated a lot of heat.
• instructions were stored in the memory.

• Magnetic disk storage was developed during this period.
• input was still in the form of punched cards.
• output was in the form of printouts.

magnetic disk

• programming was done in assembly language where instructions were given in words.

examples of second generation computers

• IBM 700 and 1401
• ATLAS

IBM 700