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Period: to
Computer History
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Colossus - Computer that helped end the war
The Colossus machines were electronic computing devices used by British code-breakers to help read encrypted German messages during World War II. They used vacuum tubes (thermionic valves) to perform the calculations.
Colossus was designed by engineer Tommy Flowers with input from Harry Fensom, Allen Coombs, Sidney Broadhurst and William Chandler at the Post Office Research Station and Dollis Hill. 10 Colossus' were in use by the end of the war. The machine saved a lot of lives. -
EDSAC - First practical stored program computer
The early British computer known as the EDSAC is considered to be the first stored program electronic computer. The computer performed its first calculation on May 6, 1949 and was the computer that ran the first graphical computer game. EDSAC stands for Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator and was one of the 1st computers ever created. It was constructed by Professor Sir Maurice Wilkes and his team at the University of Cambridge Mathematical Laboratory in England. -
IMB 701 - 1st electric computer
On April 7, 1953 IBM publicly introduced the 701, its first electric computer and first mass produced computer. Later IBM introduced its first personal computer called the "IBM PC" in 1981. The computer was code named and still sometimes referred to as the "Acorn" and had a 8088processor, 16 KB of memory, which was expandable to 256 and utilizing MS-DOS. The system used electrostatic storage and was made and produced in 2 years. It was known as the Defense Calculator while in development. -
MIT Whirlwind Machine - 1st digital computer
MIT introduces the Whirlwind machine March 8, 1955, a revolutionary computer that was the first digital computer with magnetic core RAM and real-time graphics. t is the first computer that operated in real time, used video displays for output, and the first that was not simply an electronic replacement of older mechanical systems. Its development led directly to the United States Air Force's Semi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) system, and indirectly to almost all business computers. -
PDP-1 - 1st computer in Digital Equipment Corporation's PDP series
In 1960 Digital Equipment Corporation released its first of many PDP computers the PDP-1. For DEC it was the first in a long line of computers that focused on interactivity and affordability, changing the industry forever by foreshadowing what would become an entirely new class of computer: the “minicomputer.” As the world's first commercial interactive computer, the PDP-1 was also used for process control, scientific research and graphics applications as well as to pioneer timesharing systems. -
1st computer mouse
The computer mouse as we know it today was invented and developed by Douglas Englebart during the 60's and was patented on November 17, 1970. The trackball was invented by Tom Cranston, Fred Longstaff and Kenyon Taylor working on the Royal Canadian Navy's DATAR project in 1952. It used a standard Canadian five-pin bowling ball. It was not patented, as it was a secret military project. Nowadays, the touchpad is also used, instead of the mouse. This invention made using computers much more easier. -
Apple 1 - 1st Apple computer
Steve Wozniak designed the first Apple known as the Apple I computer in 1976.They were designed and hand-built by Steve Wozniak. Wozniak's friend Steve Jobs had the idea of selling the computer. The Apple I was Apple's first product, and to finance its creation, Jobs sold his only means of transportation, a VW van. It was demonstrated in April 1976 at the Homebrew Computer Club in Palo Alto, California. The Apple I went on sale in July 1976 at a price of US$666.66 but they weren't done yet. -
Compaq Portable - 1st 100% IBM clone
The first PC clone was developed by Compaq, the "Compaq Portable" was release in March 1983 and was 100% compatible with IBM computers and software that ran on IBM computers. The Compaq Portable was the first 100% compatible IBM computer clone. Why make an IBM clone? Because the IBM PC was extremely popular, and taken very seriously by businesses looking for a computer system. More than a mere IBM clone, the Compaq Portable is something different, it's transportable, designed so it is portable. -
M2500 XL/2 and M4020 SX - 1st personal computer
In 1992 Tandy Radio Shack becomes one of the first companies to release a computer based on the MPC standard with its introduction of the M2500 XL/2 and M4020 SX computers. Short for Multimedia PC, MPC was developed in 1990 and is any computer that is capable of running programs that combine video, animation, audio, and graphics. In 1992, Radio Shack released the M2500 XL/2 and M4020 SX computers, the first personal computers based upon the MPC specification.
