History of Computers

Konrad Zuse - Z1 Computer

Oct 25, 1936

First freely programmable computer.

John Atanasoff & Clifford BerryABC Computer

Oct 25, 1942

Who was first in the computing biz is not always as easy as ABC.

Howard Aiken & Grace HopperHarvard Mark I Computer

Oct 25, 1944

The Harvard Mark 1 computer.

John Presper Eckert & John W. MauchlyENIAC 1 Computer

Oct 25, 1946

20,000 vacuum tubes later...

John Bardeen, Walter Brattain & Wiliam ShockleyThe Transistor

Oct 25, 1947

No, a transistor is not a computer, but this invention greatly affected the history of computers.

Frederic Williams & Tom KilburnManchester Baby Computer & The Williams Tube

Oct 25, 1948

Baby and the Williams Tube turn on the memories.

John Presper Eckert & John W. MauchlyUNIVAC Computer

Oct 25, 1951

First commercial computer & able to pick presidential winners.

International Business MachinesIBM 701 EDPM Computer

Oct 25, 1953

IBM enters into 'The History of Computers'.

John Backus & IBM FORTRAN Computer Programming Language

Oct 25, 1954

The first successful high level programming language.

Stanford Research Institute, Bank of America, and General ElectricERMA and MICR

Oct 25, 1955

The first bank industry computer - also MICR (magnetic ink character recognition) for reading checks.

Jack Kilby & Robert NoyceThe Integrated Circuit

Oct 25, 1958

Otherwise known as 'The Chip'

Steve Russell & MITSpacewar Computer Game

Oct 25, 1962

The first computer game invented.

Douglas EngelbartComputer Mouse & Windows

Oct 25, 1964

Nicknamed the mouse because the tail came out the end.

ARPAnet

Oct 25, 1969

The original Internet.

Intel 1103 Computer Memory

Oct 25, 1970

The world's first available dynamic RAM chip.

Faggin, Hoff & MazorIntel 4004 Computer Microprocessor

Oct 25, 1971

The first microprocessor.

Alan Shugart &IBMThe "Floppy" Disk

Oct 25, 1971

Nicknamed the "Floppy" for its flexibility.

Robert Metcalfe & XeroxThe Ethernet Computer Networking

Oct 25, 1973

Networking.

Scelbi & Mark-8 Altair & IBM 5100 Computers

Oct 25, 1974

The first consumer computers.

Apple I, II & TRS-80 & Commodore Pet Computers

Oct 25, 1976

More first consumer computers.

Dan Bricklin & Bob FrankstonVisiCalc Spreadsheet Software

Oct 25, 1978

Any product that pays for itself in two weeks is a surefire winner.

Seymour Rubenstein & Rob BarnabyWordStar Software

Oct 25, 1979

Word Processors.

IBMThe IBM PC - Home Computer

Oct 25, 1981

From an "Acorn" grows a personal computer revolution

MicrosoftMS-DOS Computer Operating System

Oct 25, 1981

From "Quick And Dirty" comes the operating system of the century.

Apple Lisa Computer

Oct 25, 1983

The first home computer with a GUI, graphical user interface.

Apple Macintosh Computer

Oct 25, 1984

The more affordable home computer with a GUI.

Microsoft Windows

Oct 25, 1985

Microsoft begins the friendly war with Apple.