The second generation of computers (1959 – 1964) were transistor based. Although invented in the 1940’s, transistors didn’t see widespread computer use until the late 1950’s. Far superior to the vacuum tube, the transistor was faster, cheaper, more energy-efficient, more reliable and much smaller. Though the transistor still had heat issues, it was a vast improvement over the vacuum tube.
Second generation computers migrated from binary machine language to assembly languages, which allowed programmers to specify instructions in words. The early 1960’s saw a number of commercially successful computers used in businesses, universities, and government. By 1965 most large companies were routinely processing financial information by using computers. Essential to the success of computers in business was the concept of the stored program. The ability to store programs and the development of high-level programming languages like FORTRAN (Formular Translator, 1956) and COBOL (Common Business-Oriented Language, 1960) added a level of flexibility to the computer that made them cost effective and productive. The second generation of computers also marked the beginning of the software industry.
The ETL Mark III manufactured by Electrotechnical Laboratory (pictured above) is believed to be the first transistor-based electronic computer using the stored program method.
Andre Pedraza's CSCI-120 Term Project 