History of Technology

  • First Programmable Computer

    First Programmable Computer
    The Z1 was created by Konrad Zuse. It was made in his parents' living room between 1936 and 1938. Considered to be the first electro-mechanical binary programmable computer and the first functional modern computer. http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000984.htm
  • First Use of "Robotics"

    First Use of "Robotics"
    Isaac Asimov published the science fiction story Liar! in the May issue of Astounding Science Fiction. He introduced the Three Laws of Robotics and is believed to be the first use of the term "robotics." http://www.computerhistory.org/timeline/1941/#169ebbe2ad45559efbc6eb35720a3768
  • The First Digital Computer

    The First Digital Computer
    The Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC) began development in 1937 by Professor John Vincent Atanasoff and student Cliff Berry. It was completed in 1942 at Iowa State College (currently Iowa State University). It used vacuum tubes for computation including binary math, but it had no cpu. It was signed my US Federal Judge Earl R. lawson athahttp://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000984.htm
  • Squee: The Robotic Squirrel

    Squee: The Robotic Squirrel
    Squee: The Robotic Squirrel was created by Edmund Berkely. It used two light sensors and two contact switches to hunt for "nuts" and take them to his nest. It was described as 75% reliable. http://www.computerhistory.org/timeline/1951/#169ebbe2ad45559efbc6eb3572065e2e
  • IBM Creates First Hard Disk Drive

    IBM Creates First Hard Disk Drive
    IBM created the first computer hard disk drive in 1956. It was known as the 305 RAMAC (Random Access Method of Accounting and Control). It gave the world the magnetic disk storage that let's people retrieve any piece of data without delay. http://www.wired.com/2014/01/tech-time-warp-ibm-ramac/?scrlybrkr=7d9580ae
  • IBM's SAGE

    IBM's SAGE
    SAGE was a military computer that could warn airborne attacks on the US during the Cold War. It was built by IBM and was the largest computer ever. http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/ibm100/us/en/icons/sage/
  • First Desktop Computer

    First Desktop Computer
    In 1964 at the New York World's fair, the Programma 101 was unveiled. Created by Pier Giorgio Perotto and manufactured by Olivetti, around 44,000 of them were sold with a price of $3200. http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000984.htm
  • Stanford Arm

    Stanford Arm
    Victor Scheinman created the first successful electrically powered and computer-controlled robot arm in 1969. By 1974 it can assemble a For Model T water pump by using optical and contact sensors. http://www.computerhistory.org/timeline/ai-robotics/
  • Computer Defeats Human Chess Player

    Computer Defeats Human Chess Player
    David levy was the first master chess player to be defeated by a machine, Deep Thought. Levy had beaten all other computers since 1968 before being defeated by Deep Thought. http://www.computerhistory.org/timeline/1989/#169ebbe2ad45559efbc6eb35720abca0
  • The World Wide Web

    The World Wide Web
    Tim Berners-Lee develops the World Wide Web and the first server is launched in 1991. By 1992 it breaks 1,000,000 and it grows 341,634% in 1993. http://www.pbs.org/nerds/timeline/network.html
  • Linux

    Linux
    A Finnish computer science student Linus Torvalds announced that he was working on a new project on August 25. 1991. The project was an operating system called Linux and runs on all Android devices and all across the internet
  • MQ-1 Predator Drone

    MQ-1 Predator Drone
    The MQ-1 was an unmanned drone that was heavily used to to fight terrorist groups and militants after September 11th. The vehicle was equipped with cameras and could be upgraded to carry missiles. http://www.computerhistory.org/timeline/1995/#169ebbe2ad45559efbc6eb35720a4dfb
  • Furby Speaks

    Furby Speaks
    The Furby was a toy that was introduced in 1998 and could be up to $300. It could communicate with nearby "furbies" and could even learn English commands. http://www.computerhistory.org/timeline/1998/#169ebbe2ad45559efbc6eb3572032410
  • Honda's Humanoid Robot

    Honda's Humanoid Robot
    Honda's Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility (ASIMO) was introduced in 2000. It could walk 1mph, climb stairs, and change it's direction after detecting hazards. ASIMO had microphones to react to voice commands. http://www.computerhistory.org/timeline/2000/#169ebbe2ad45559efbc6eb357204b3ad
  • Fears of AI

    Fears of AI
    Microsoft co founder Bill Gates joined a number of lead tech experts and scientists in revealing thoughts on artificial intelligence. Elon Musk (Space X, Tesla) and scientist Stephen Hawking had expressed that AI would bring in an era of human achievement, but Bill Gates thought that short-term machines could benefit society. http://www.computerhistory.org/timeline/2015/#169ebbe2ad45559efbc6eb35720b3c30