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Project MAC
The Project on Mathematics and Computing was established to research operating systems, AI, and computation theory. An AI group was added soon after the creation of Project MAC. -
Incompatible Timesharing System
This operating system was developed by researchers working on Project MAC to be able to interact with their files from any ITS machine connected to ARPAnet. Served as a meeting spot for early hackers to come and share information to grow the community's knowledge as a whole. -
Multics
Multics stands for "Multiplexed Information and Computing Service" and was worked on by Project MAC. It pioneered many aspects of operating systems that are still implemented today such as single-level memory and having both incredibly modular hardware and software. -
AI Lab and Lab for Computer Science Split
The AI team on Project MAC were becoming fed up with their lack of resources and space to accomplish their goals, so they decided to branch off into their own space known as the AI Laboratory. The remaining members of Project MAC then formed the Lab for Computer Science to continue their respective research. -
Society of Mind Theory
Marvin Minsky, a researcher at CSAIL at the time, helped develop the theory that the human mind, or any other naturally evolved cognitive structure, is not a singular complex process but rather a collection of very simple processes that interact. -
Emacs
Emacs is a group of text editors that are highly customizable and configurable. Richard Stallman developed the most popular and widely used version, GNU Emacs, for his GNU operating system. -
Password Incident
A majority of the hackers working in the AI Lab rightly wanted full control of their machines in order to better perform the work they needed to complete. When a password control system was implemented on the machines in the lab, Richard Stallman cracked the system and sent every user their unencrypted password and pleaded for them to set their password to an empty string (no password) to restore the freedom of their workplace. -
VisiCalc
Bob Frankston, a researcher at CSAIL, co-developed the first computer spreadsheet program called VisiCalc. This helped change the public image of computers from being a complicated hobby to an essential business and personal tool. -
Ethernet
Robert Metcalfe, a part of Project MAC, co-invented ethernet as a way to connect machines to a network in a standardized and consistent way. -
GNU
Richard Stallman quit his position at MIT in order to developed GNU without MIT interfering with its development or distribution, as he wanted it to be entirely free and available for everyone. GNU is an free operating system that is continually improved by its community. -
World Wide Web Consortium Founded
The World Wide Web Consortium, or W3C, was founded at MIT with the intention of helping industry members discuss and become familiar with the standards they set forth. The W3C is still held at MIT at the CSAIL. -
Formation of CSAIL
On the 40 year anniversary of the start of Project MAC, the Lab for Computer Science and AI Lab were merged into the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab. -
First Female Director of CSAIL
Daniela Rus became the first female director of the MIT CSAIL and is still holding the position today. -
Origami Robot
Daniela Rus (the current Director of CSAIL) helped develop a robot that can be ingested in a capsule and can then unfold in the stomach and be controlled by magnetic fields. The robot may one day be able to remove foreign objects from the stomach as well as repair small injuries within the stomach. -
iFLYTEK Controversy
In 2018 CSAIL began a 5 year partnership with iFLYTEK to collaborate on new technology. However, the following year in 2019 iFLYTEK was sanctioned in for using its surveillance technology to violate human rights and privacy laws in Xinjiang. CSAIL ended their involvement with iFLYTEK in 2020.