Technology History Timeline
Dickens, UOP
Note: Many events were found on multiple references, and some had slightly different dates. Part of this can be attributed to
the time difference in a technology being designed, implemented, and marketed, and many references did not distinguish which
of these it was referring to.
References:
 “The Age of Spiritual Machines” by Ray Kurzweil
 http://www.penguinputnam.com/static/packages/us/kurzweil/excerpts/exmain.htm
 “Robot: Mere Machine to Transcendent Mind” by Hans Moravec
 http://www.frc.ri.cmu.edu/users/hpm/book97/
 Lexikon's History of Computing (CD)
 http://www.lhbe.edu.on.ca/teach2000/onramp/timeline.html
 http://cter.ed.uiuc.edu/cter2/ci335/timeline.html
 http://www.geocities.com/~compcloset/toc.htm
 http://www.accad.ohio-state.edu/~waynec/history/timeline.html
 http://www.msci.memphis.edu/~ryburnp/comp1200/history/microhist.html
 http://www.computerhistory.org/exhibits/internet_history/index.page
 http://www.zakon.org/robert/internet/timeline/
 http://www.ox.compsoc.net/~swhite/history/timeline.html
 http://www.icwhen.com/book/index.shtml
 http://www.icknowledge.com/history
 http://www1.ifccfbi.gov/strategy/statistics.asp
Technology History Timeline
Dickens, UOP
Questions to consider:
1.
When did we (humans) start designing computers?
2.
When did we start planning for artificial intelligence (the ability for computers to emulate human intelligence)?
3.
When should we have computers as powerful as the human brain? What should this cost in 1999 dollars?
4.
When should we have computers as powerful as 1000 human brains? What should this cost in 1999 dollars?
5.
When were the words “computer” and “electricity” first used in publications?
6.
When was the first programmable electronic computer used? What was it named, and how much did it weigh?
7.
When did the US have 500,000 computer systems?
8.
When did the US have 1,000,000 computer systems?
9.
When did the US have 10,000,000 computer systems?
10. When were radio waves first used?
11. When was the term computer “bug” first used?
12. When were punch-cards first used to program a system?
13. When was Apple founded?
14. When was IBM (or the company th3at became IBM) founded?
15. When was Microsoft founded?
16. When did Bill Gates become the richest man in the world?
17. Have there been previous dot.com-like busts? If yes, when?
18. When was the C programming language introduced?
19. When was the FORTRAN programming language introduced?
20. When was the Java programming language introduced?
21. When was the floppy invented? What sizes have there been?
22. What was the first “killer application” for consumer computers? When, by whom, and for what computer?
23. When were computer graphics first used in a movie? What movie and by whom?
24. When was the first computer-generated full-length film done? What movie and by whom?
25. When was “civilization” first connected by electronic signals?
26. When was the transistor invented?
27. When was the first integrated circuit invented? By whom?
28. When did the Internet start?
29. When did the Internet surpass 1 billion web pages?
30. Can a computer beat a human chess master? If yes, when?
31. When was the first microprocessor created? By whom?
32. When were 100 MHz microprocessors first available?
33. When were 1 GHz microprocessors first available?
34. When was the first microprocessor used in space?
35. How much processing power is on the Mars Spirit lander (landed 1/3/2004)
36. What was the first consumer computer, when was it marketed, and for how much?
37. When was the first memory-chip marketed? By whom?
38. When was the first CD marketed?
39. When did CD sales surpass LPs? (do you know what an LP is?)
40. When was the first DVD marketed?
41. When did computer viruses first show up?
42. When were there more than 1000 known computer viruses?
Year
Key Technology
Communications
5000 B.
C.
387 B. C.
Computing
Abacus invented,
China.
Plato forms the
Academy for science
& philosophy.
200 B. C.
Accurate water clock,
Egypt.
725
First mechanical
clock, China.
1045
A Chinese printer,
Pi Scheng, invents
moveable clay type.
1400
Europeans use
wooden block
printing.
1453
The printing of the
Bible with moveable
type by Gutenberg.
1600-22
Napier, invents the
use of logarithms.
1642-46
1687
Gilbert publishes
book on static
electricity.
Oughtred invents the
slide rule.
Words “computer”
and “electricity” first
used in publications.
Pascal invents
mechanical (+-)
calculating machine.
Newton’s Principia
Mathematica.
Leibniz mechanical
computer does
multiplication.
1694
1752-62
1805
1819-28
Benjamin Franklin
discovers electricity.
Watt's first efficient
steam engine.
Johnson publishes
first English
dictionary.
Harrison’s clock wins
the British Board of
Longitude's prize.
Jacquard implements
punch-card driven
loom for weaving.
Oersted discovers
electromagnetism.
Photography invented
by Fourneyron.
First steam
locomotive in
operation.
Webster publishes
first comprehensive
American dictionary.
Baggage develops the
Difference Engine.
Key Companies
Computer OS,
Languages &
Programs
Year
Key Technology
Communications
1832-37
Babbage designs the
Analytical Engine, a
general purpose
computer.
Morse invents the
telegraph.
1843-45
First telegraph
Ada Lovelace, paper
message, sent from
on Babbage’s work
Washington, D.C. to
and the ability for
Baltimore. Message:
computers to emulate
"What hath God
human intelligence.
Wrought?"
1847
Boole develops
Boolean theory and
Boolean algebra.
1852-54
Talbot patents
photoengraving.
Maxwell develops
laws of electromagnetic radiation.
Edison invents the
light bulb.
1876-79
1885-88
Key Companies
Paris and London
connected by
telegraph.
San Francisco and
New York connected
by telegraph.
1861
1873
Computing
Crookes invents the
Crookes Tube, which
produces cathode
rays.
Sholes invents the
typewriter.
Bell gets patent for
telephone.
Edison invents the
phonograph.
Grant exhibits a gearoperated difference
engine, Philadelphia
Centennial Fair.
Hetrz transmits the
first radio waves.
Burroughs offers
dependable adding
machine with
printing.
Boston and New York
Photoelectric cells are talk by telephone.
designed.
18921899
Johnson discovers the Marconi patents radio. Burroughs develops a Hollerith founds the
electron.
Sound is first
90-key adding
“Tabulating Machine
Company” which
Roentgen discovers recorded and played machine, capacity of
back
on
metal
wires.
nine
decimal
digits.
later
becomes IBM.
X-rays.
1900-03
Tesla patents
Telegraph connects electrical logic circuits
entire civilized world.
called "gates" or
"switches."
1905-15
First Zeppelin built.
Einstein, Special
Theory of Relativity.
First airplane is
flown.
First transcontential
phone call from San
Francisco / New
York.
Hebern invents
machine for
encrypting messages,
Lead to the German
Enigma machine.
Burroughs Adding
Machine Company
founded.
Sperry Gyroscope
Company founded.
Computer OS,
Languages &
Programs
Year
Key Technology
Communications
1921
Czech word "robot"
appears in the play
"R.U.R." Capek.
Smathers develops
electric typewriter.
1924-28
Computing
Key Companies
IBM established from
ComputingTabulatingFarnsworth develops Lehmer, developed a
Recording
Company
Bohr and Heisenberg
first television.
mechanical device to
(CTR).
develop quantum
determine large prime
Pfleumer patents
mechanics.
Galvin
numbers.
magnetic tape.
Manufacturing
Company founded
(becomes Motorola).
NBC and CBS
founded, New York.
Sperry Corporation is
organized from
Sperry Gyroscope
and Ford Instrument
Company.
1930-31
1937-39
1940
BBC begins regular
“Turning Machine” is
television service.
Hewlett-Packard
Randall and Boot
a theoretical model for
established,
coin toss
invent the magnetron
NBC introduces
a computer design.
for
order
of
names.
tube which made
television as a regular
Bell
Labs
Model
1
microwave radar
service. Franklin D.
First Radio Shack
Complex Calculator,
possible.
Roosevelt first
catalog is published.
utilized 440 relays.
president seen on TV.
Coaxial cable used
between New York
and Philadelphia for
TV.
First color television
broadcast, CBS, in
New York City.
First operational
computer, Robinson,
successfully break
Enigma codes.
1941
WNBT and WCBW
Zuse completes Z3
in New York, first
computer, uses
commercially licensed telephone relays and a
TV transmitters .
mechanical memory.
1943
Colossus used to win
WWII by breaking
German codes, 1,500
vacuum tubes.
1944
Mark I, uses paper
tape a vacuum tubes.
1945
Grace Hopper, first
computer “bug,” is a
dead moth in the
cabinet of a Mark II
computer. (The term
"bug" for a problem
had also been used
earlier by Thomas
Edison in 1878.)
Von Neumann
describes the storedprogram design.
Magnetic drum
technology is used for
information storage
Computer OS,
Languages &
Programs
Year
Key Technology
Communications
Computing
Key Companies
Computer OS,
Languages &
Programs
1946-47
ENIAC (US Army)
Association for
Shockley, Brattain, &
first programmable
First use of BIT for
Computing
Bardeen invent
computer, used 18,000
Binary Digit, Turkey.
Machinery (ACM) is
transistor.
vacuum tubes and
formed.
weighed 30 tons.
Goldstine and von
Neumann introduce
the method of flow
diagrams for logic.
1948-50
Color TV is first
Forrester, iron core
broadcast.
memory for computer
UNVAC (Universal
The first speech
memory storage;
Automatic Computer),
began to be replaced recognition machine
first commercially
is built, Davis at Bell sold computer, 5,400
by semiconductor
Labs.
memory in 1964.
vacuum tubes. Used
for US census.
Wang develops
Isaac Asimov writes
robust usage of
Bell Computer, Model
"I, Robot"
magnetic core
VI , Harvard Mark II.
formulating the Three
memory.
Laws of Robotics.
First chess playing
computer built by
Shannon of MIT.
1951
Forrester files patent
for his magnetic core
memory.
First coast-to-coast
TV broadcast,
President Truman at
the Japanese Peace
Treaty Conference.
UNIVAC developers
build EDVAC using
stored-program, six
years to design/build.
Harvard Mark III.
1952-53
DNA molecule is
discovered.
Pocket-sized
transistor radios are
sold.
701, IBM’s first
computer.
1953-54
Texas Instruments
starts production of
silicon transistors.
MIT test computer
(MTC), the first to
successfully run a
ferrite core main
memory.
JOHNNIAC
Computer, Rand Corp.
IBM introduces first
transistor calculator.
Model 608, plus the
Model 702 computer.
1955
The term Artificial
Intelligence is first
coined, Dartmouth.
1956-57
Remington-Rand
develops the first
high-speed printer for
use on the UNIVAC.
Harvard Mark IV.
IBM ships model 705
computer.
Wang establishes
Wang Laboratories.
U.S. Government
files anti-trust suit
against IBM.
Commodore
Business Machines
founded as a
typewriter repair
service.
FORTRAN (Formula
Translator) developed
by Backus, IBM.
First successful
FORTRAN program
is run by Herrick.
Sperry-Rand
Corporation formed
to rival IBM.
IPL-II is the first
artificial intelligence
language developed.
Fairchild
Semiconductor,
First all-color
Bell Labs Leprechaun,
IPL-V (Information
Digital Equipment
television station,
first experimental
Processing Language
Sputnik launched by
Corporation (DEC),
WNBQ begins
transistor computer.
V), by Newell, Shaw,
U.S.S.R. 11/4/57 ,
and Control Data
operating
in
Chicago.
and Simon.
sends information
First virtual memory Corporation (CDC)
from space (falls to
computer, Atlas,
are founded.
earth on 12/4/58).
developed by Kilburn.
Year
1958
1959-60
1961
1962-63
Key Technology
Communications
Computing
CDC announces its
Carlson develops first
first major computer
photo copier for office
system, the fully
use.
First integrated circuit
transistorized 1604.
(IC) made, Kilby at
Perceptron Mark I,
NEC builds its first
Texas Instruments.
utilizing a CRT
electronic computers,
output device, is built
the NEC 1101 and
by Rosenblatt.
1102, in Japan.
Noyce of Fairchild
improves transistor
manufacturing..
IBM develops massproduction facility for
transistors.
Fairchild
Semiconductor, first
commercial IC, 4
transistors, 2
resistors.
Key Companies
Computer OS,
Languages &
Programs
DARPA (Defense
Advanced Research
Projects Agency)
founded.
LISP (List
Processing), an AI
language, developed
by McCarthy.
Digital Equipment
introduces the first
minicomputer, PDP-1.
Xerox markets first
commercial copier.
COBOL (Common
Business Oriented
Language) developed
by Grace Hopper.
IBM ships the 1620
and 7090, fully
transistorized, second
generation computers.
ALGOL 60
(Algorithmic
Language)
developed.
CDC Model 160
designed by Cray.
IBM’s Selectric
typewriter, the first
successful balltypewriter.
Telecommunications
First industrial robots,
satellites in geothe "Unimates,"
synchronous earth
developed by
orbits for national and
Unimation Inc.
global television.
CDC announces the American Federation
160A computer, twice
of Information
the computing power Processing Societies
of the CDC 160.
(AFIPS) is formed.
DEC introduces the
PDP-5, first
minicomputer.
CDC 6600
announced.
Tandy Corporation
buys a chain of Radio
Shack electronics
stores.
IBM introduces the
series 360 computer.
1964
1965
One of the first
applications of an
integrated circuit is
used in a hearing aid
by Texas Instruments.
ASCII (American
Standard Code for
Information
Interchange).
Englebart invents the
computer mouse.
Gordon Moore, from
Fairchild
Semiconductor, crafts
Moore's Law.
First live television
pictures of moon
shown on earth.
CDC delivers its first
model CDC 3100
computer.
IBM builds the first
floppy disk.
1967
Bubble memory is
developed at Bell
Roberts puts together
Laboratories, Bobeck.
his plan for the
ARPANET.
BASIC developed by
Kemeny and Kurtz of
Dartmouth College.
PL/1 programming
language is
developed.
RCA, Spectra 70
computer, a plugcompatible system
with the IBM 360.
Texas Instruments
develops the first
hand-held calculator.
APL (A
Programming
Language),
developed by
Iverson, IBM and
Harvard University.
Hewlett-Packard
Laboratories are
formed.
LOGO language is
developed.
Year
Key Technology
1968
Hewlett-Packard
introduces the world's
first desktop scientific
calculator, the HP
9100A.
1969
First international
joint conference on
artificial intelligence
is held.
First manned Lunar
landing
1970
Computing
DEC introduces the
PDP-8.
CDC 7600, the most
powerful computer of
its time.
The Arpanet is
constructed.
Xerox demonstrates
first laser printer.
Intel builds the first
microprocessor, the
4004.
Key Companies
Computer OS,
Languages &
Programs
Intel is founded by
Noyce and Moore,
markets a 2,000 bit
memory chip.
Advanced Micro
Devices Incorporated
(AMD) is founded.
Intel creates the 1103,
first available DRAM
memory chip, 1Kbit.
The Association for
Computing
Machinery (ACM)
holds its first
Computer Chess
tournament.
Bell Labs develops
Unix.
DEC introduces the
PDP-11/20, its first 16
bit minicomputer.
BLISS (Basic
Language for
Implementation of
System Software) is
developed.
IBM ships its first
fourth generation
computer, the
System/370.
IBM introduces the 8”
General Electric sells
floppy drive.
Wirth invents the
its computer
Pascal
programming
CDC announces
operations to
language.
ARPANET increases Cyber 70 computer
Honeywell, Inc.
from 14 to 19 nodes.
family.
3M introduces a 1/4
inch tape drive and
cartridge.
1971
1972
Communications
The Pioneer 10
spacecraft is
launched, with an
Intel 4004 brain.
5 ¼” floppy disks
appear.
Bally/Midway
introduces "Space
Invaders" and "Pac
Man", two successful
video games.
Kernighan and
Ritchie develop the C
programming
language.
CP/M (Control
Program for
Microprocessors)
OS, Kildall
Atari, "Asteroids"
video game.
Playskool, the
Playskool Computer.
IBM introduces the
"Winchester" disk
drives.
1973
Skylab, US space
station launched.
Thirty institutions are
connected to the
ARPANET.
Kahn and Cerf give
their first paper on the
new Transmission
Control Protocol
(TCP).
Seymour Cray leaves
CDC, forms Cray
Research.
PL/M written by
Kildall.
Year
1974
Key Technology
Communications
Computing
Key Companies
Computer OS,
Languages &
Programs
U.S. Congress
First release of IBM's
establishes the
SNA (System
Microsoft
Intel invents the 8080.
National Commission
Network
Corporation
is
on Electronic Fund
Architecture).
Motorola, the 6800.
founded
by
Bill
Transfers.
Daily traffic on the
DRAM, 4Kbit.
Gates and Paul Allen.
Skylab abandoned,
ARPANET exceeds
crashes in 1979.
million packets.
Xerox Park develops
first WISIWYG
computer system.
1975
The ARPANET now
has 61 nodes.
Metcalfe develops
Ethernet Network.
1976
The Altair 8800
computer, kit $439,
assembled: $621.
Designers of Intel's
8080 chip form the
Zylog Corporation.
Microprocessors:
MOS Technology
ships the 6502 .
Intel the 8085.
Zylog the Z80.
Apple computer is
founded 4/1/1976,
Jobs and Wozniak.
Texas Instruments the
IBM develops the ink TMS9900, the first
jet printer.
16-bit microprocessor.
Cray-1 supercomputer
prototype is built.
U.S. Robotics is
founded.
Microsoft writes
BASIC for the Altair.
CP/M OS written by
Kildall.
Warner
Communications
buys Atari video
game company.
DRAM, 16Kbit.
Apple Computer
introduces Apple II,
$1298.
1977
Fiber optics first used
in phone lines.
JVC introduces the
VHS format VCR.
Commodore, the PET
computer.
Radio Shack, the
TRS-80, $600.
.
DEC introduces the
VAX 11/780, 32-bit
supermini computer.
1978
Total installed U.S.
Over 300,000 word
Intel markets the 8086
computer systems in processing systems in
microprocessor chip.
use reaches 500,000.
use in the U.S.
1979
MicroPro introduces
"WordStar", becomes
Apple Computer
one of the most
announces the Apple
popular word
II+, 48K memory,
processor apps.
$1195.
USENET starts as a Intel markets the 8088
series of shell scripts microprocessor chip.
written by Bellovin at
DRAM, 64Kbit.
UNC to communicate
with Duke.
The first Computer
Dealer Exposition
(COMDEX) trade
show is held.
Sperry Rand is
renamed Sperry
Corporation.
Personal Software,
Inc. releases VisiCalc
electronic
spreadsheet for the
Apple II, the first
“killer application”,
allowing 20 hours of
work to be done in 15
minutes.
ADA programming
language, Ichbiah.
Year
Key Technology
Communications
Computing
Key Companies
Computer OS,
Languages &
Programs
Burroughs Corp.
acquires the System
Development Corp.
and Memorex.
U.S. Department of
Defense issues ADA
to be their standard.
Microsoft signs
agreement with IBM
to produce an
operating system.
1980
Mollenauer, Stollen,
& Gordon create first
Total installed
Apollo Computer Inc.
optical fibers.
computers in use in
introduces first highthe U.S. exceeds one
Disney first to use
performance
million units.
computer graphics for
microcomputer
a movie, Tron
workstation.
Motorola develops the
68000 chip.
1981
IBM announces the
Japan mounts
Personal Computer, successful challenge
64k memory, $2,665, to US chip makers by
speed of .2 MIPS.
producing 64-kbit
Berkeley, Bill Joy
Apple has an installed The Internet Working
Sun,
the
"Sun
100"
RAM
chips
so
incorporates
TCP/IP
Group of DARPA
base of 300,000
workstation,
256k
inexpensively
that
into
next
Unix
publishes transition
Apple II computers.
memory, $12,900.
U.S. competitors
release.
plan from the
charge
the
chips
are
Network Control
Commodore, the VICbeing ‘dumped’ on
Protocol to the
20, $299, sells more
the U.S. market.
TCP/IP protocol.
than 1,000,000 units.
1982
Time magazine
names ‘the computer’ Audio CD marketed,
its ‘Man of the Year.’ merging the music
industry with the
First flight of the
computer revolution.
Space Shuttle.
1983
Apple, the Macintosh,
Total number of
$2500. Intel, 80286
installed computers in
MIDI (Musical
microprocessor.
U.S. over 10 million.
Instrument Digital
Sinclair proposes
Interface) developed. Cray-2 supercomputer
capable of performing
concepts in wafer1
billion floating point
scale integration.
operations per second.
Hayes introduces his
first SmartModem,
300 bps.
1984
Apple, the Lisa
computer, $9995.
Compaq Computer
Corporation founded,
IBM introduces the
Canion, Murto,
IBM PC XT, $3,000.
Harris.
DRAM, 256Kbit.
Commodore 64, $595,
22,000,000 units.
CD-ROM players for
“Cyberspace” first
computers.
Kaypro 16, IBM
discussed in Gibson’s
compatible.
Hewlett-Packard
book Neuromancer.
pioneers inkjet
IBM PC AT, $5470.
Apple sells its two
printing technology Sun 4/100 workstation
millionth Apple II.
with Thinkjet printer. $18,900, 8MB RAM,
speed 7 MIPS.
Apple Computer
enters the Fortune
500 at number 411.
Osborne Computer
Company declares
bankruptcy.
Atari Corporation
founded,
manufactures PCs
and video games.
Lotus 1-2-3 replaces
VisiCalc as the
primary spreadsheet
software for PCs.
Borland, Turbo
Pascal.
"Windows" software
is introduced.
Year
1985
Key Technology
The term
"Vaporware" is
coined for software
that is talked about
and promoted but
does not yet exist in
reality.
High temperature
superconductors are
found, IBM, Müller
and Bednorz.
Communications
1987
3 ½” disks are
Apple sues Microsoft,
introduced for
claiming its Windows Macintosh, PCs also
operating system
adopt them.
illegally copied the
"look and feel" of the
Macintosh.
1988
Computer OS,
Languages &
Programs
Compaq joins the
Fortune 500 faster
Compaq releases
than any company in
Deskpro 386, beating
history, ships its
IBM to a 386 PC
500,000th computer.
release.
Apple buys a Cray XApple Macintosh
MP supercomputer,
Plus, $2600.
$15.5 million, for
product development.
Atari the ATARI
1040ST, $999, uses
Burroughs merges
6800 processor chip. with Sperry Rand to
form UNISYS, the
DRAM, 1Mbit.
second largest
computer company.
First PC FAX boards
shown at Comdex.
Motorola, the 68030
microprocessor.
Stock market takes a Number of networks
major blow.
on the Internet is
Computer stocks drop
30,000.
sharply.
Max Headroom computer-mediated
live action figure
Apple Mac II, 68020,
1 MB memory,
$5,498.
5 known computer
viruses.
Key Companies
Jobs resigns from
Laser printers
Kaypro, first company Apple Computer and
marketed by HP and
to market IBM PC AT later forms NEXT
Apple.
Hypercard, a
clone, Kaypro 286i,
Inc.computer
language
and
The number of
$2300.
company.
multimedia authoring
networks on the
Intel, the 80386
Lotus Development
tool, Apple.
Internet (all TCP/IP)
microprocessor chip. Corporation acquires
is 2,000.
IBM 3090 mainframe. assets of Software
Arts, and Dataspeed.
Installed computers in
the U.S. exceeds 30
million.
1986
Computing
DECWorld is the
world's largest
vendor sponsored
trade show.
Microsoft releases
"Windows 386" and
Microsoft "Works".
Lotus drops
copyright protection
DEC, MicroVax and Pixar purchased from
on Lotus
Lucasfilm by Jobs
Vaxstation
1-2-3 .
workstations.
Apple Mac II, 68030,
68882, 4M RAM.
CD sales surpass LPs.
Upgrade of the
NSFNET backbone to Tandy announces an Cray Y-MP, its most
T1 completes, the
powerful
erasable optical disk.
Internet becomes
supercomputer.
3-Com Corp. ships
more international
Apollo is first to use
the first LAN
with the connection
68030
in workstation,
Manager-based
of Canada, Denmark,
Series
4500.
networks.
Finland, France,
DRAM, 4Mbit.
Iceland, Norway and
Sweden.
Gang of Nine formed
by Compaq and eight
other PC companies
who set up the EISA
(Extended Industry
Standard
Architecture) to
challenge IBM's
Microchannel
Architecture (MCA).
23-year-old Robert T.
Morris, Jr., unleashes
a computer virus that
enters the Internet
network and affects
over 6,000 computers
on the system.(Morris
is prosecuted and
sentenced in
April/May 1990).
Year
1989
Key Technology
Communications
Computing
DSHD (double-sided,
high-density) 3 ½” Intel introduces 80486
Xerox Inc. sues
microprocessor.
floppy
disks, 1.4 MB.
Apple Computer
Tremendous growth Jobs markets NeXT
alleging that Apple
unlawfully borrowed of e-mail as a form of
computer, 8 MB
communication.
from the Xerox Star's
RAM, 5 MIPS,
graphical user
$9,995.
Number of networks
interface.
on the Internet is over
Cray 3 computer.
160,000.
Key Companies
Computer OS,
Languages &
Programs
Hewlett-Packard
Company acquires
Apollo Computer
Inc.
Berners-Lee invented
the World Wide Web
concept and HTTP
(Hypertext Transport
Protocol) language.
UNISYS announces
layoffs of 10,000.
Microsoft releases
Windows 3.0.
HTML developed by
Berners-Lee.
1990
Hubble Space
Telescope launched
with DF-224 1.25
MHz computer.
ARPANET formally
shuts down. In twenty
years, ‘the net’ has
grown from 4 to over
300,000 hosts.
Motorola releases
68040
microprocessor.
Apple releases
PowerBooks, Quadra,
and Centris, 68040.
1991
DRAM, 16Mbit.
1992
1993
1994
More than 1,000
known computer
viruses.
Hubble Space
Telescope, 16MHz
80386/80387
computer added to
the DF-224.
Number of networks
on the Internet
Apple introduces its
exceeds 7,500 and the Newton MessagePad
number of computers
personal digital
connected passes
assistant (PDA), $700.
1,000,000.
Nationwide recession Microsoft ships DOS
affects computer
5.0 for PCs.
industry, driving
Linux is introduced
prices lower and
by
Linus Torvald, a
forcing downsizing
student
in Finland.
and layoffs.
IBM cuts 325,000
workers.
Sharp Electronics,
Japan, announces the Pentium (80586) by
PI-700 Expert Pad Intel, 32-bit processor,
personal digital
named Pentium
assistant (PDA), with because they couldn’t
a list price of $899.
copyright a number.
200 domain hosts in
use, only 8 end in
.com or .net.
IBM, RS/6000 Unix
workstation.
Estimated 20-25
Apple, PowerMacs
DEC announces
million users on the
using the Motorola
plans to lay off
internet, on-line
PowerPC chip.
20,000.
services include
Prodigy, Compuserve, IBM, ThinkPad 510C Symantec acquires
color subnotebook
Central Pont
and America-Oncomputer,
4
Mb
RAM
Software
and SLR
Line.
and 200 Mb hard
Systems.
Internet traffic passes
drive.
McAffee Associates
10 trillion
DRAM,
64Mbit.
acquires
Brightwork.
bytes/month
Microsoft ships
Windows 3.1.
Microsoft starts
testing Windows '95,
code named Chicago.
Andreesen and Bina
wrote the first
browser, Mosaic.
Red Hat Linux is
introduced.
Year
1995
Key Technology
Communications
Computing
Key Companies
The Group of Seven
(G7) industrialized
nations holds the first
technology-oriented
NEC announces its
summit about linking
SX-4 Series parallelMicrosoft plans to
Boeing’s 777 is the the world's networks
processor
form "Microsoft
first 100% digitally together for improved supercomputer which
interoperability.
Network."
designed and
can handle up to 1
preassembled (using Lasseter of Pixar gets
Seagate acquires
TeraFLOPS.
computer simulation) Academy Award for
Conner Peripherals in
Compaq releases 133
airplane.
development and
a $1.04 billion deal.
MHz Pentium
application of
systems.
techniques used in
Toy Story, the first
computer-generate
full-length film
Internet phones catch
the attention of US
telecommunication
companies who ask
the US Congress to
ban the technology
(which has been
around for years)
1996
Mars Pathfinder lands
on Mars, Sojourner
robot explores and
transmits data for 83
days, returned 2.6
billion bits of
information.
1997
Microsoft’s Bill
Gates' worth is
Intel release the
estimated
at $23
Deep Blue (IBM)
Pentium II processor, billion, richest man in
computer beats world
233, 266 & 300 Mhz
the world.
chass champion
versions.
Kasparov (2795
DVDs first marketed. Honda showcases the Apple acquires NeXt
ranking).
and Jobs returns.
P3 robot, the 8th
Microsoft invests in
prototype in a
financially-troubled
humanoid design
Mars “Sojourner”
Apple, buying
project started in
rover landed on Mars,
100,000 non-voting
1986.
has an 8085 brain
shares worth $150
million
1998
Web size estimates
are
275 to 320 million
Submillimeter Wave
pages.
Astronomy Satellite
(SWAS) launched. Bluetooth technology
80386/80387 brain developed for "body"
with 8085 attitude
personal LANs.
control system.
The 1,000th DVD
title is released.
MCI upgrades
Intel release the 150,
Internet backbone
166, & 200 MHz
adding ~13,000 ports,
versions of the
bringing the effective
Pentium Processor. speed from 155Mbps
to 622Mbps.
DRAM, 256Mbit.
Compaq Computer
acquires DEC for an
estimated $9.6
billion.
Computer OS,
Languages &
Programs
Microsoft releases
Windows 95 and
introduces Internet
Explorer browser.
Sun releases Java
language.
Linux 2.0 released.
Year
1999
2000
Key Technology
Computing
Y2K bug forces
computer and
MCI/Worldcom
application upgrades.
begins upgrading the
Sony markets the
Due to the effort
US Internet backbone AIBO robotic dog,
expended, little Y2K
to 2.5GBps.
$2,500.
damage was seen.
Star wars Episode
AMD release K6-III
Hubble Space
One - The Phantom 400 & 450 MHz, and
Telescope computer
Menace uses 66
the Athlon 750MHz.
replaced with a 50
digital characters
MHz 80486 (the
DRAM, 512Mbit.
composited with live
fastest radiationaction
hardened CPU
currently available).
Complete DNA
sequence of the
human genome
mapped.
MacAfee releases
first handheld virus
protection software.
2001
Communications
Internet Fraud
Complaint Center
logs 17,000 cases,
$18M in losses.
Web size estimates
surpass 1 billion
pages.
Key Companies
Computer OS,
Languages &
Programs
AOL and TimeWarner announce
merger plans.
Microsoft releases
Windows 98 SE
(Windows 98 Second
Edition) and
Windows 2000.
AMD Release the
Athlon 1GHz.
Microsoft releases
Windows ME as a fix
to Windows 2000.
Intel Pentium III
processor 1 GHz.
Mac OS-X
introduced, Unixbased OS from NeXT
technology.
The 5,000th DVD
Honda announces the
movie title is released. ASIMO humanoid
Robot.
Movies with
significant computergenerated content:
Final Fantasy Monsters
Inc(Pixar), Harry Potter,
A.I., Lord of the Rings,
Shrek, The Mummy
Returns, Tomb Raider,
Jurassic Park III, Pearl
Harbor, Planet of the Apes.
Intel introduces the
Pentium 4 processor
2 GHz.
Sony releases the
second generation of
its AIBO robot dog.
Dell computers
becomes the largest
PC maker. In
economis downturn,
Dell is the only
computer seller that
grows.
The 10,000th DVD
movie title is released.
2002
Approximately 1
billion PCs have been
shipped worldwide
since the mid-'70s.
Web size estimates
surpass 6 billion
pages.
Chess computer
Junior 7 beats human
Grandmaster Mikhail
Gurevich with 3 wins
and 1 draw.
Internet Fraud
Complaint Center
logs 75,000 cases,
$54M in losses.
DRAM, 1Gbit.
HP and Compaq
merge.
Microsoft releases
Windows XP.
Year
Key Technology
Communications
Computing
Key Companies
Computer OS,
Languages &
Programs
2003
Top chess computers
were Shredder 7.04
Apple introduces the
(2810), Shredder 7.0
171,000,000 domain Power Mac PowerPC
(2770), Fritz 8.0
Sir Tim Berners-Lee
hosts in use.
G5, a 64-bit
Atari Games
(2762), Deep Fritz
was knighted in
processor.
Corporation (Midway
7.0 (2761), Fritz 7.0
recognition of his
Internet Fraud
Games West) goes
(2742), Shredder 6.0
creation of the 'World
Complaint Center
Sony releases the
out of business.
(2724), and Chess
Wide Web'.
logs 120,000 cases. AIBO ERS-7 it's 3rd
Tiger 15.0 (2720).
generation robotic pet.
Only 5 humans have
rankings above 2700.
2004
Robot rover Spirit
lands on Mars with a
20 MHz “PowerPC”
(RAD6000), 128M
RAM, 256M Flash,
running UNIX.
(100+ RAD6000s
now in earth orbit)
Over 1 Billion people
are online.
Cray XD1
- 50% of Internet
supercomputer, more
traffic passes
than 1.6 trillion
through Virginia
calculations per
- 88% of Americans
second
say internet plays a
major role in their life
2005
2019
BlueGene/L
massively parallel
computer, hundreds of
teraflops.
Automated driving
systems are now
installed in most
roads.
A $1,000 computer (in
1999 dollars) has the
computing capacity of
the human brain.
2029
A $1,000 computer (in
1999 dollars) has the
computing capacity of
1,000 human brains.
2039 2049
Machines claim to be
conscious. These
claims are largely
accepted.