-
The newly formed Intel unveils the Intel 1103, the first Dynamic Access Memory (DRAM) chip.
It was the bestselling semiconductor memory chip in the world by 1972, defeating magnetic core type memory.
The first commercially available computer using the 1103 was the HP 9800 series.
Inventor: Robert H. Dennard Reference: https://www.livescience.com/20718-computer-history.html -
Alan Shugart leads a team of IBM engineers who invent the "floppy disk," allowing data to be shared among computers.
In 1971, IBM introduced the first "memory disk," better known today as the "floppy disk." It was an 8-inch flexible plastic disk coated with magnetic iron oxide. Computer data was written to and read from the disk's surface. The first Shugart floppy held 100 KBs of data.
Inventor: IMB
Reference: https://www.thoughtco.com/invention-of-the-floppy-disk-1991405 -
Introduced in 1972
The first video game console called the Magnavox Odyssey was demonstrated on May 24, 1972, and later released by Magnavox and sold for $100.00 USD.
Inventor: Ralph H. Baer
Reference: https://www.computerhope.com/history/1972.htm -
Robert Metcalfe, a member of the research staff for Xerox, develops Ethernet for connecting multiple computers and other hardware.
Robert Metcalfe was a member of the research staff at Xerox at their Palo Alto Ranch Center, where some of the first personal computers were made. Metcalfe was asked to build a networking system for PARC's computers. Xerox's wanted this set up because they were also building the world's first laser printer and they wanted all PARC's computers to be able to work with this printer.
Inventor: Robert Metcalfe
Reference: https://www.thoughtco.com/history-of-ethernet-robert-metcalfe-4079022 -
New computer products and services introduced in 1974
The first Toshiba floppy disk drive was introduced in 1974. The IBM MVS operating system was introduced in 1974. A commercial version of ARPANET known as Telenet is introduced and considered by many to be the first ISP (Internet service provider).
Inventor: Alan Shugart.
Reference: https://www.thoughtco.com/invention-of-the-floppy-disk-1991405 -
Douglas Engelbart shows a prototype of the modern computer
The January issue of Popular Electronics magazine features the Altair 8080, described as the "world's first minicomputer kit to rival commercial models." Two "computer geeks," Paul Allen and Bill Gates, offer to write software for the Altair, using the new BASIC language. On April 4, after the success of this first endeavor, the two childhood friends form their own software company, Microsoft.
Inventor: Ed Roberts
Reference: https://www.livescience.com/20718-computer-history.html -
Apple computer is formed
Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak start Apple Computers on April Fool's Day and roll out the Apple I, the first computer with a single-circuit board, according to Stanford University.
Inventor: Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak
Reference: https://www.livescience.com/20718-computer-history.html -
Radio Shack's initial production run of the TRS-80.
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.
Inventor: Tandy Corporation
Reference: https://historycomputer.com/ModernComputer/Personal/TRS-80.html -
Word processing becomes a reality as MicroPro International releases WordStar.
"The defining change was to add margins and word wrap," said creator Rob Barnaby in email to Mike Petrie in 2000. "Additional changes included getting rid of command mode and adding a print function. I was the technical brains — I figured out how to do it, and did it, and documented it. "
Inventor: Seymour Rubenstein and Rob Barnaby.
Reference: https://www.thoughtco.com/wordstar-the-first-word-processor-1992664 -
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.
