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In 1822 Charles Babbage conceives a steam powered commuter
this computer was going to be able to calculate tables of numbers but failed -
In 1936 Alan Turning presents the notion of a universal machine, later called the turning machine
this machine was capable of computing anything compatible. The central concept of modern commuters was based on his ideas -
Atanasoff and his graduate student, Clifford Berry, design a computer that can solve 29 equations simultaneously
This marks the first time a computer is able to store information on its main memory -
Two University of Pennsylvania professors, John Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert, build the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator
Considered the grandfather of digital computers, it fills a 20-foot by 40-foot room and has 18,000 vacuum tubes -
Douglas Engelbart shows a prototype of the modern computer, with a mouse and a graphical user interface
This marks the evolution of the computer from a specialized machine for scientists and mathematicians to technology that is more accessible to the general public -
Robert Metcalfe, a member of the research staff for Xerox, develops Ethernet
for connecting multiple computers and other hardware -
Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak start Apple Computers
the Apple I, the first computer with a single-circuit board -
Radio Shack's initial production run of the TRS-80 was just 3,000
For the first time, non-geeks could write programs and make a computer do what they wished. -
Apple’s Lisa is the first personal computer with a GUI it also features a drop-down menu and icons
It flops but eventually evolves into the Macintosh. The Gavilan SC is the first portable computer with the familiar flip form factor and the first to be marketed as a “laptop.” -
PCs become gaming machines
"Command & Conquer," "Alone in the Dark 2," "Theme Park," "Magic Carpet," "Descent" and "Little Big Adventure" are among the games to hit the market -
The term Wi-Fi becomes part of the computing language
users begin connecting to the Internet without wires -
Apple unveils the Mac OS X operating system
this provides protected memory architecture and pre-emptive multi-tasking, among other benefits -
Apple introduces the MacBook Pro
its first Intel-based, dual-core mobile computer, as well as an Intel-based iMac -
The iPhone is invented
it brings many computer functions to the smartphone -
Apple unveils the iPad
changes the way consumers view media and jumpstarting the dormant tablet computer segment
