Asked by
manish
in
Computers & Accessories
at
9:31 PM on July 03, 2008
banish's Answer
In computer technology 'generations' can have varied meanings. Sometimes the definition can be specific to an individual piece of technology (Next generation graphics card) or speaking to the whole system.
Generations in humans are all the people living at the same time who are within the same age bracket. Obviously this doesn't translate easily to technology.
In technology in general a 'new generation' of something usually completely outclasses it's predecessor. A new generation graphics card would have technology that renders the former-generation not only obsolete, but in many ways antiqued.
In software a generation usually refers to a continuing of the life cycle of a product. That is, a new cycle has started, and an old one is ending. For instance, each release of Windows is a 'new generation'.
This is always true though: a "new generation" in technology will be the newest technology on the market.
As for how many generations of computer technology have passed until now.. that is just impossible to say really. This is partially because the idea of 'generations' in technology is really just us forcing a familiar concept on a new technology. (In much the same way that "Cars" were referred to as "horseless carriages" for quite some time)
It also doesn't help that tech. publications throw the word "generation" around so carelessly.
Answered at
6:58 PM on July 04, 2008
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