computer evolution

Early computers

Dec 12, 1801

In France, Joseph Marie Jacquard invents a loom that uses punched wooden cards to automatically weave fabric designs. Early computers would use similar punch cards.

punch card system

Dec 13, 1890

Herman Hollerith designs a punch card system to calculate the 1880 census, accomplishing the task in just three years and saving the government $5 million. He establishes a company that would ultimately become IBM.

the first time a computer is able to store information on its main memory.

Dec 6, 1941

J.V. Atanasoff, a professor of physics and mathematics at Iowa State University, attempts to build the first computer without gears, cams, belts or shafts. Atanasoff and his graduate student, Clifford Berry, design a computer that can solve 29 equations simultaneously. This marks the first time a computer is able to store information on its main memory.

The colossus

Dec 1, 1943

The Colossus was the first electric programmable computer, developed by Tommy Flowers, and first demonstrated in December 1943. The Colossus was created to help the British code breakers read encrypted German messages.

ENIAC

Dec 13, 1943

Two University of Pennsylvania professors, John Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert, build the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator (ENIAC). Considered the grandfather of digital computers, it fills a 20-foot by 40-foot room and has 18,000 vacuum tubes.

UNIVAC

Dec 13, 1946

Mauchly and Presper leave the University of Pennsylvania and receive funding from the Census Bureau to build the UNIVAC, the first commercial computer for business and government applications.

IBM 701 EDPM

Dec 12, 1953

Grace Hopper develops the first computer language, which eventually becomes known as COBOL. Thomas Johnson Watson Jr., son of IBM CEO Thomas Johnson Watson Sr., conceives the IBM 701 EDPM to help the United Nations keep tabs on Korea during the war.

Apples start

Apr 1, 1976

steve jobs and steve wozniak start Apple computers on April fool's day and roll out the Apple 1 .

Apple ll

Dec 12, 1977

Jobs and Wozniak incorporate Apple and show the Apple II at the first West Coast Computer Faire. It offers color graphics and incorporates an audio cassette drive for storage.

TRS-80

Dec 14, 1977

Radio Shack's initial production run of the TRS-80 was just 3,000. It sold like crazy. For the first time, non-geeks could write programs and make a computer do what they wished.

The first IBM personal computer

Dec 12, 1981

The first IBM personal computer, code-named “Acorn,” is introduced. It uses Microsoft’s MS-DOS operating system. It has an Intel chip, two floppy disks and an optional color monitor. Sears & Roebuck and Computerland sell the machines, marking the first time a computer is available through outside distributors. It also popularizes the term PC.

Deskpro 386

Dec 13, 1986

Compaq brings the Deskpro 386 to market. Its 32-bit architecture provides as speed comparable to mainframes.

MacBook Pro

Dec 13, 2006

Apple introduces the MacBook Pro, its first Intel-based, dual-core mobile computer, as well as an Intel-based iMac.

Chromebook

Dec 12, 2011

Google releases the Chromebook, a laptop that runs the Google Chrome OS.

Windows ten & Apple watch

Dec 12, 2015

: Apple releases the Apple Watch. Microsoft releases Windows 10.