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IBM Simon
The IBM Simon (which is considered the world's first smartphone) was a personal digital assistant, mobile phone, pager, and fax machine combined into one handheld device. It was created by Francis James Canova Jr. with the intention of making a "computer that can fit in your shirt pocket." It paved the way for our modern smartphones we have today with its touchscreen, email abilities, and other applications such as an address book and calendars. -
World Wide Web
Though the first webpage was published in 1991, it wasn't until 1993 that the World Wide Web (also known as the "WWW" we insert before a URL) was released to the public. A British scientist named Tim Berners-Lee invented it just four years before its release; his intention of creating this was for sharing information with other scientists quickly and efficiently. Today, it has benefited the lives of all of us, providing us with information, communication, shopping, entertainment, and more. -
PlayStation
The first PlayStation debuted in Japan just nine months before being released in the United States, where it became the first console to ever be bought 100 million times. It was created by a Sony executive named Ken Kutaragi, also known as "The Father of the PlayStation." His invention lead to Sony's then rise in power within the gaming world as it pushed the boundaries of game tech; it provided multiple different kinds of entertainment and even gave an outlet for users to connect with others. -
MP3 Player
The MP3 Player was a portable device which played a specific type of audio coding format called MP3 files, hence the name. It was created by SaeHan Information Systems with the intention of allowing music players to be more portable than CD players and also be able to store multiple music files all in one place. This enhanced the lives of many by making music much more accessible and customizable to each customer at a generally cheaper price. It also served as a blueprint for iPods years later. -
Game Boy Color
The Game Boy Color (also known as GBC) was the second Game Boy that was created. It was created to improve from the first as the original only displayed in monochrome while this model had a color screen. It was created by Gunpei Yokoi, who was once an assembly line worker at a Nintendo factory but worked his way up with his inventiveness. This invention introduced color to the handheld gaming world which broadened the interest and appeal of users everywhere.