Direction for [ Question No: 1 To 1 ] :
The World’s first microprocessor, 4004, was introduced by Intel in 1968. It was a 4 bit processor, but later it has introduced a new processor almost every year, like 8080, 8085, 8086, 8031 and 8051. Only 8086 processor handles 16 bit data and a micro computer was developed based on this processor. Intel also introduced 80186, 80286, 80386, 80486 and made possible to get mini computers and personal computers.
Other companies like Texas instruments, Motorola, Zilog and Analog devices have specialized in signal processing processors, communication oriented processors, better architectural processor, and discrete signal processing devices.
All the advancements mentioned above are made possible because of continuous upgradation of VLSI technology. Some of the features like cache, pipelining and branch prediction have contributed for improving performance parameters, like execution speed, large memory, fast data transfers and reduction in number of instructions. A transformation has been seen from CISC to RISC.
Identification of application and its potential for marketing provides the opportunity to companies to produce ASICs sometimes. Digital Signal Processors are employed for processing streamed data of either voice or video data.