History of Technology

By 00abdavis

  • 1936

    1936
    Alan Turning presents a notation of a universal machine known as the “Turing machine”. This theoretical foundation for modern day computers.
    1936 Information: Ersek, Ted ErecTed. “Practical Importance of Turing Machines?” Computer Science Stack Exchange, 1 Feb. 1963, cs.stackexchange.com/questions/9341/practical-importance-of-turing-machines.

  • 1941

    1941
    Atanasoff & Clifford Berry release a primal computer nicknamed “ABC” that can solve 29 equations simultaneously and store information on its main memory. The importance of this is of the first digital computers.
    1941 Information: Freiberger, Paul A., and Michael R. Swaine. “Atanasoff-Berry Computer.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 5 Nov. 2015, www.britannica.com/technology/Atanasoff-Berry-Computer.

  • 1947

    1947
    Employees Williams Shockley,John Bardeen and Walter Brattain of Bell Laboratories explore the possibilities of how to make an electrical switch with solid components and no vacuum. This is called the “point-contact transistor”, which became the modern base for all technology.
    1947 Information: Ganapati, Priya. “Dec. 23, 1947: Transistor Opens Door to Digital Future.” Wired, Conde Nast, 4 June 2017, www.wired.com/2009/12/1223shockley-bardeen-brattain-transistor/.

  • 1958

    1958
    Jack and Robert Noyce unveil a computer chip, or formally known as a “integrated circuit”. A momentous invention as it extremely versatile in all forms of technology.
    1958 Information: Rentals, New York, and Name *. “The Importance of Computer Chips in 2016.” New York Computer Rentals News, 19 Mar. 2016, www.newyorkcomputerrental.com/news/importance-computer-chip/.

  • 1971

    1971
    The floppy disk was invented by Alan Shugart, this allows for easy file transfer. Information is now able to be shared more readily. 1971 Information: Joseph, Andy, et al., “What Is the Purpose of a Floppy Disk Drive?” Techwalla, www.techwalla.com/articles/what-is-the-purpose-of-a-floppy-disk-drive.

  • Sources

    General Timeline Information: “History of Computers: A Brief Timeline.” LiveScience, Purch, www.livescience.com/20718-computer-history.html.