Isabella Secret Story of Hardware The history of computer hardware can be classified into four generations, each characterized by major technological change. Isabella Di Fabio Tokyo Japan - First generation (1945-1956): electronics implemented with vacuum tubes, which displaced the electromechanical components (relays). Second generation (1957-1963): electronics developed with transistors. Discrete logic was much the same as before, but with a much smaller implementation, greatly reducing the size of a computer.   Third generation (1964-today): electronics based on integrated circuits, which allows hundreds of transistors and other electronic components to be integrated on a single integrated circuit printed on a silicon chip. This again represents a notable reduction in cost, consumption and size. Isabella Secret Story of Fourth generation (future): will originate when silicon circuits are replaced by a new type of material or technology, the most promising being graphene and qu...