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The Kenbak-1
The Kenbak-1, often considered the first personal computer, was sold to a private girl's school. It cost $750, and it was created before the invention of the microchip by John Blankenbaker at Oregon State College. It was made for educational use, especially for professionals. This device was one of the very first of it's kind, and it paved the way for all other PCs of the future.
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Apple
Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs design the Apple 1 and founded Apple. They made this business in hopes of making a profit and contributing to the field of computer science. It began in Steve Job's garage, in Cupertino, California, but has since grown into multi-billion dollar business, and one of the forerunners of modern technology.
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The Apple II
The Apple II was the first computer with color, and the first consumer product to be sold by Apple. It cost $1,298 and had only 4 kB of RAM (for $2,638 you could get 48 kB or RAM). It was created to launch Apple Computers into the world of upcoming technology. It was made by Steve Jobs and Wozniak in Cupertino, California. It was a big step in techonology, with both a color display, and the first "KillerApp," VisiCalc. More Info -
VisiCalc
Dan Bricklin and Bob Frankston invented VisiCalc, the fist electronic spreadsheet, in Arlington, Massachuscets. It was originally released for the Apple II. It was made to organize data, or make recipts. It made the Apple II from a hobbyist's computer, into a business tool. This was known as the first "KillerApp," and it was the forerunner of all future apps and spreadsheets. More Info -
The Osborne 1
Adam Osborne invented the first portable computer, the Osborne 1, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. It cost $1,795 and had only a 5" monitor. It was made so people would be able to take their computer with them, and it lead the way for many laptops and portable computers in the future. More Info -
The Xerox Star
The Xerox Star was the first PC to include a digital mouse. It cost $2,995 and had 64 kB of RAM. It was made by a team headed by David Liddle in Palo Alto, California. It was made to incorperate new technologies such as icons, folders, a mouse an e-mail into the personal computer, it has done this successfully, making it one of the most influential computers. More Info -
The IMB PC
The IBM Personal Computer was one of the first to incorporate an (optional) floppy disk drive. It cost $1,565 and had 16-640 kB of RAM. It was made a team lead by Don Estridge in Boca Raton, Florida. It was created to set a new standard of technology for the PC, and it has ensuring it's legacy. More Info -
The GRiDPad
The GRiDPad was the first tablet computer. It had a built in stylist, a 10" screen, 1 MB of RAM, weighed 4.5 lbs, and cost $2,370. It was created by Jeff Hawkins in Fremont, California. It was made to make computers more interactive and portable, and it has paved the way for tablets of the future. More Info -
The World Wide Web
The internet was first made fully available to the general public. It had been developed for many years as a method of military communication, and was now accessible for anyone with a computer. It was invented by Tim Berners-Lee in Swizerland. It was made to allow people from across the world to communicate instantly, and it has been an incredible successs. More Info -
The Mac IIvx
The Mac IIvx was the first to offer a built in CD-ROM. It had 32 kB or RAM and sold for $1,899. It was made to add a CD drive as a necessary part of a computer, which is clearly shown today as a success. It's production in Cupertino, California, was spurred by Apple CEO John Sculley. More Info -
The IMB Simon
The IMB Simon was the first smartphone. It cost $1,100, weighed more than two pounds, and had far fewer functions in comparison to the modern smartphone. It had a touchscreen and a stylus, and also included predictive typing. It was made by Frank Canova in Las Veges, Nevada, to allow people to combine a phone and computer, which is wildly successful today.
[More Info](http://time.com/3137005/first-smartphone-ibm-simon/\) -
Dragon Dicate
Dragon Dictate for windows was the first advanced speech recognition software, and a user had to pause between words. It was made by Dr. James Baker in Newton, Massachusetts, to allow people to input words, without typing. It was, nonetheless, one of the first programs that helped to develop something like Siri today. [More Info[(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DragonDictate) -
Wireless PC
Intel plans to create a completely wireless PC. This PC will even have a short range docking technology, allowing it to connect instantly to a screen, or swap back to standalone use. It could also charge simply by being on a table with a built in charging system More Info -
Perceptual Computing
Perceptual computing is the ability to use things like hand motions, eye tracking, or facial recognition. This kind of technology is expected to become much more popular in the future. It will definitely change the way we use PCs, especially in gaming. More Info -
Phone as a PC
Windows is creating a technology that would allow users to cast their phone's display onto a PC, and work it as almost a fully functioning one. It will look like a PC and apps will adjust to fit the size. This will allow people to carry their PCs with them easily, revolutionizing the PC. More Info -
Bibliography
http://www.kenbak-1.net/
http://www.macworld.co.uk/feature/apple/history-of-apple-steve-jobs-what-happened-mac-computer-3606104/
http://oldcomputers.net/appleii.html\
http://bricklin.com/visicalc.htm
http://oldcomputers.net/osborne-1.html
http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=15
https://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/pc25/pc25_birth.html
http://oldcomputers.net/gridpad.html -
