Computer History Timeline

  • The Difference Engine

    The Difference Engine
    The Difference Engine was designed to be a giant automatic error free calculator. Charles Babbage was inspired to make a human “computers”, therefore, he was given over £17,000 to create it. From there he started designing. However, it was never created and made, as he kept on changing ideas and starting over, which led to him running out of money. Charles Babbage, turned from being a successful man into a laughing stock until he died in 18th October 1871.
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    Computer History

  • Colossus

    Colossus
    The Colossus was designed by Tommy Flowers, who took mathematician Alan Turing’s idea. The colossus was made to break the Lorenz Cipher, which was a code used by the Germans during World War II. It was released in 1st June, 1944. However, it was kept secret between Flowers and the British Government.
  • ENIAC

    ENIAC
    The ENIAC was the first general-purpose computer, being able to programmable and performing 357 multiplications per second. Many say this is ‘Turing Complete’, which is a test that tests whether a computer is intelligent or not. This test was created by Alan Turing, a mathematician. It was released in 14th Feburary, 1946.
  • IBM System/360

    IBM System/360
    It was released in April 7, 1964. The IBM System/360 is the first family of computers to cover the complete range of applications: from small to large, low to high performance, all using the same command line interface system.
  • Datapoint 2200

    Datapoint 2200
    It was released in June 1970. The Datapoint 2200 is one of the first single-user computer, designed by CTC (Computer Terminal Corporation). It inspired the Intel Computer company to reduce the computer’s processor to a single chip. Intel eventually added the chip to its catalogue, founding today’s ‘Intel Dynasty’.
  • Xerox Parc Alto

    Xerox Parc Alto
    It was released in March 1, 1973. The Xerox Parc Alto was one of the first single-user computer, but was the first to feature windows, icons, a mouse for cursor control, and a local hard drive, which is similar to the computers nowadays.
  • Apple II

    Apple II
    It was introduced by Apple Computer (a.k.a. Apple) in 1977, and was in the market for 15 years. It became popular, and spread wide for its colour graphics, and a feeling of unworthiness, as colour was thought of not having any purpose in technology.
  • Apple Macintosh

    Apple Macintosh
    It was released in January 24, 1984. Apple Macintosh raised the standards of the computer industry, by abandoning the command line interface. The command line interface is a system where the user has to type in a command on a specified line.
  • The Ipod 1

    The Ipod 1
    The Ipod was a portable music player, an impressive storage compacity and Innovative Interface. Innovate Interface is a software company that specialises in systems for library management. After the release in 2001, there was a big mania/revolution of Apple.
  • The Ipad

    The Ipad
    After the release of the Iphone, everyone liked the idea of having a bigger version of an Iphone – and so the Ipad was created. It was the fastest Apple selling product in the Apple history.