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Fifth Generation
(1984-1990)
The development of the next generation of computer systems is characterized mainly by the acceptance of parallel processing. Until this time parallelism was limited to pipelining and vector processing, or at most to a few processors sharing jobs. The fifth generation saw the introduction of machines with hundreds of processors that could all be working on different parts of a single program. The scale of integration in semiconductors continued at an incredible pace - by 1990 it was possible to build chips with a million components - and semiconductor memories became standard on all computers.
A multimedia PC specification setting the minimum hardware
requirements for a PC was announced by Microsoft.
Other new developments were the widespread use of computer networks and the increasing use of single-user workstations. Prior to 1985 large scale parallel processing was viewed as a research goal, but two systems introduced around this time are typical of the first commercial products to be based on parallel processing. The Sequent Balance 8000 connected up to 20 processors to a single shared memory module (but each processor had its own local cache). The machine was designed to compete with the DEC VAX-780 as a general purpose Unix system, with each processor working on a different user's job. However Sequent provided a library of subroutines that would allow programmers to write programs that would use more than one processor, and the machine was widely used to explore parallel algorithms and programming techniques.
The Intel iPSC-1, nicknamed "the hypercube'', took a different approach. Instead of using one memory module, Intel connected each processor to its own memory and used a network interface to connect processors. This distributed memory architecture meant memory was no longer a bottleneck and large systems (using more processors) could be built. The largest iPSC-1 had 128 processors. Toward the end of this period a third type of parallel processor was introduced to the market. In this style of machine, known as a data-parallel or SIMD, there are several thousand very simple processors. All processors work under the direction of a single control unit; i.e. if the control unit says ``add a to b'' then all processors find their local copy of a and add it to their local copy of b. Machines in this class include the Connection Machine from Thinking Machines, Inc., and the MP-1 from MasPar, Inc.
Scientific computing in this period was still dominated by vector processing. Most manufacturers of vector processors introduced parallel models, but there were very few (two to eight) processors in this parallel machines. In the area of computer networking, both wide area network (WAN) and local area network (LAN) technology developed at a rapid pace, stimulating a transition from the traditional mainframe computing environment toward a distributed computing environment in which each user has their own workstation for relatively simple tasks (editing and compiling programs, reading mail) but sharing large, expensive resources such as file servers and supercomputers. RISC technology (a style of internal organization of the CPU) and plummeting costs for RAM brought tremendous gains in computational power of relatively low cost workstations and servers. This period also saw a marked increase in both the quality and quantity of scientific visualization.
Year wise summery of development
1985: Supercomputer speeds reach 1 billion operations per second with the release of the Cray 2 and Thinking Machines' parallel-processor Connection Machine. Inmos introduce transputers, featuring concurrent processing architecture. The National Science Foundation establishes four national supercomputing centers. The Omnibot 2000 from Tony Kyogo can move, talk, and carry objects. With the development of Windows 1.0, Microsoft brings Macintosh-like features to DOS-compatible computers. In October, Intel introduces the 80386 chip with 32-bit processing and on-chip memory management. Paul Brainard's PageMaker becomes the first PC desktop publishing program and is widely used, first on the Macintosh and later on IBM compatibles.
1986: Burroughs merges with Sperry to form Unisys Corporation, second only to IBM in computer revenues. Compaq makes the Fortune 500 list. Introduces its first Intel 80386-based PC. Computerworld publishes its 1,000th issue on November 3. HP introduces its Spectrum line of reduced instruction set computers (RISC). Tandy has over 7300 retail outlets including more than 4800 company-owned Radio Shack stores in the U.S. The number of computers in the U.S. exceeds 30 million.
1987: IBM introduces its PS/2 family and ships over 1 million units by year end. Cray Research introduces the Cray 2S which is 40% faster than the Cray 2. ETA Systems introduces its ETA-10 family of supercomputers. Sun Microsystems introduces its first workstation based on a RISC microprocessor. Apple introduces the Macintosh II and Macintosh SE and HyperCard. IBM introduces its Systems Applications Architecture (SAA). DEC introduces Vaxstation 2000 workstation computer, and the MicroVAX 3500 and 3600. Aldus introduces PageMaker for the IBM PC and compatible computers. Compaq reaches a billion dollar in sales in its fifth year of operation. Conner Peripherals beats Compaq's first year sales record: $113M vs $111M. Computer Associates acquires UCCEL in the largest ever software acquisition ($780M). IBM invests in Steve Chens Supercomputer Systems, Inc. Apple spins off its application software business as a separate company and names it Claris. Texas Instruments introduces the first AI microprocessor chip.
1988: DEC introduces VAXstation 8000. Cray Research introduces the Cray Y-MP, a $20M supercomputer. IBM introduces a new mainframe computer operating system called MVS/ESA. IBM announces its long awaited Silverlake mid-range computers called AS/400. Motorola announces the 88000, a RISC microprocessor. The first graphics supercomputers are announced by Apollo, Ardent and Stellar. These computers are aimed at 3D graphics applications. The first PS/2-compatible computers are announced by Tandy, Dell Computer and others. Unisys introduces the 2200/400 family to replace its mid-range 1100 series. AT&T announces plan to acquire 20% of Sun Microsystems, and that Sun will help AT&T develop the next version of UNIX. In response to the AT&T-Sun cooperation, IBM, DEC, HP, Apollo and several other major computer companies form the Open Software Foundation to set a UNIX counterstandard. Sun Microsystems surpasses the $1 billion sales mark, and introduces 80386-based workstations. IBM and Sears joint videotex venture starts operation under the PRODIGY name. Sematech picks Austin, TX as its headquarters and the consortium will be headed by Robert Noyce.
A consortium of PC companies led by Compaq introduces the EISA counter standard to IBM's PS/2 MicroChannel bus. IBM introduces the ES/3090 S series mainframe computer. IBM wins a $3.6B contract to build the next generation air traffic control system. Unisys acquires Convergent Technologies for $350M. Computer Associates acquires Applied Data Research for $170M from Ameritech. Next unveils its innovative workstation computer which is the first computer using erasable optical disks as the primary mass storage device. IBM license Next's graphics user interface. A nondestructive worm spreads via the Internet network and brings several thousand computers to their knees.
1989: Solbourne Computer introduces the first Sun 4-compatible computer. DEC announces a workstation using Mips Computer's RISC microprocessor. Microsoft buys a 20% stake in Santa Cruz Operation, a major UNIX software developer. Intel announces the 80486 microprocessor and the I860 RISC/coprocessor chip. Both chips have over one million transistors. Hewlett-Packard acquires Apollo for $476M. Sun Microsystems introduces its SPARCstation, a low-end RISC workstation with an entry price of only $9,000. Control Data discontinues its ETA supercomputer subsidiary. IBM announces the Officevision software using the SAA protocol, which runs on PS/2s, PS/2 LANs, AS/400 and mainframe computers. Cray restructures itself into two companies: Cray Research which continues with its current business and Cray Computer Corp. headed by Seymour Cray, which will develop a gallium arsenide-based supercomputer. Next sells a 16.6% share to Canon for $100M. Seagate buys Control Data's Imprimis disk drive subsidiary for $450M. Computer Associates acquires Cullinet for $333M. Prime Computer agrees to be bought by a J.H. Whitney-formed company, ending a long and acrimonious takeover battle by MAI Basic. Apple introduces its long awaited portable Macintosh.
The worldwide number of computers in use surpasses 100M units. Poqet announces the first pocket sized MS-DOS compatible computer. Grid introduces a laptop computer with a touch sensitive pad that recognizes handwriting--the GridPad. The number of computers in the U.S. exceeds 50M units. The battery-powered notebook computer becomes a full function computer including hard and floppy disk with the arrival of Compaq's LTE and LTE/286. Digital Equipment extends the VAX-family into the mainframe arena with the VAX 9000. The first EISA-based personal computers arrive. The first 80486-based computers are introduced. Dun & Bradstreet acquires MSA in a major software acquisition worth $333M.
1990: Motorola introduces the 68040 microprocessor. IBM announces its RISC Station 6000 family of high performance workstations. Digital Equipment introduces a fault-tolerant VAX computer. Cray Research unveils an entry-level supercomputer, the Y-MP2E, with a starting price of $2.2M. Microsoft introduces Windows 3.0. Lotus wins its look and feel suit against Paperback Software's spreadsheet program. IBM ships the PS/1, a computer for consumers and home offices. IBM announces the System 390 (code name Summit), its mainframe computer for the 1990s. Microsoft's fiscal year revenue ending 6/30/90 exceeds $1B. NCR abandons its proprietary mainframes in favor of systems based on single or multiple Intel 486 and successor microprocessors.
Apple introduces its low-end Macintoshes: The Classic, LC and IISI. Intel launches a parallel supercomputer using over 500 860 RISC microprocessors. Sun Microsystems brings out the SPARCstation 2. Microsoft along with IBM, Tandy, AT&T and others announced hardware and software specifications for multimedia platforms. The first SPARC compatible workstatio
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