-
Compact discs - invented by James Russell
The CD was introduced in 1980, though it was not commercially available until 1982. The digital format was coveted by artists because of its non-degrading medium. Within six years of its commercial availability, sales in the United States surpassed those of vinyl LPs. The first music album to be released on the format was Billy Joel's 52nd Street. -
The IBM PC 5150 - invented by Bill Lowe
The release of the IBM PC in 1981 helped standardize the personal computer industry. The machine was based on open architecture, meaning adding, upgrading, and swapping components was easy. Though there were many manufacturers, the compatibility of the machines led to an explosion of sales. The popular question of the eighties was, "Is it PC compatible?". -
Nintendo Entertainment System controller - invented by Gunpei Yokoi
The original NES controller deserves to be remembered as a transformative piece of technology whose impact is still felt today. Its rectangular shape and intuitive placement of buttons multiplied its functionality exponentially, allowing developers to design more sophisticated gaming experiences. -
The handheld cellular phone - invented by Martin Cooper
The first consumer cell phone, the Motorola DynaTAC 8000X, hit the market in 1984. This allowed people to make and receive phone calls without being confined to any specific location. Bulky by today's standards, and with a very short battery life, it was nevertheless popular among young urban professionals - those who could afford it, that is. -
Microsoft Windows - invented by Bill Gates
When it was released, people were initially skeptical. But when Windows 3.0 came along in 1990, it soon became the standard among PCs. The secret to Microsoft's success was a detailed specification and set strict rules about how DOS applications should look and function that was more intuitive than previous interfaces. It was the first system where computer processes voluntarily yielded control to enable multiple applications to be run concurrently.
