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Period: to
Computer History
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Creation of the Z1 Computer Begins
Konrad Zuse invented and built this calculating machine that wieghed over 2,000 lbs! Construction was complete in1938. This was the first computer in a series Zuse created. SIGNIFICANCE: It is the first binary based, freely progammable machine. Ever. -
Colossus Computer
This machine was created in Britain by Alan Turing was used in Worlrd War 2 in order to break German codes. It was the first computer to use shift registers and counters. SIGNIFICANCE: The first programmable digital computer, it also played a major role in assisting the allied forces to win the war, which is an important part of history. -
ENIAC Up and Running
The ENIAC or Electronic Numerical Integrator And Computer was built in the Ballistics Research labratory and designed to calculate allitery firing tables for the the U.S. military and, like the Colossus, was funded during World War 2. SIGNIFICANCE: First electronic general-purpose computer, boasting speeds one thousand times faster than electro-mecanical machines! -
LEO
Lyons, a British man, created and opporated the first business computer called LEO (Lyon's Electronic Office). Initially this invention was intended to be used in Lyon's home, but it was so well recieved that a company was created to provide companies with such a computer. SIGNIFICANCE: It was a very innovative step towards efficient computers that could be used for the comercial use they have today. -
The Mouse
Douglas Englebart created a working prototype of this pointing device, named a mouse because of the cord steming out from the back of it. SIGNIFICANCE: Increased accuracy and the userfriendlyness of computers. Frankly, ever bit of that counts. -
E-mail
Ray Tomlinson (inventor of the internet) invented a way for people to send simple messages back and forth across networks that was known as electronic mail or, E-mail. SIGNIFICANCE: Increased comunication technology and was an important step towards the internet. -
Video Games!
Atari came out with Pong, the first commercial video game. This game was coin-operated and used an actual TV set for the background of the game. SIGNIFICANCE: This invention furthered the way society veiwed computers for recreational use rather than working tools. -
First Laptop
The Osborne 1 was the first comercially successful, portable computer. It's screen was only 5" by 5"! Single sided floppy disks containing sufficient data for practical business applications could be used. SIGNIFICANCE: Now people didn't have to be at their desk to use their computer and they could take their work with them. -
World Wide Web
The World Wide Web (WWW) project aimed at allowing links to be made to any information anywhere. This was released to the public in August 1991 so that data could more freely be shared. SIGNIFICANCE: Knowledge is much more accessable, scientific research and be shared and built upon, and media can easily be distributed. -
Invention of Skype
Skype was founded by Janus Friis from Denmark and Niklas Zennström from Sweden. The Skype software was developed by Estonians Ahti Heinla, Priit Kasesalu, and Jaan Tallinn. This software provides a service that allows users to communicate with peers by instant messaging, voice, and video. SIGNIFICANCE: Through computers the world seems smaller. Not only can you communicate with people from around the world, you can actually talk to them "face to face".
