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Elektro and Sparko
Built by Westinghouse, the relay-based Elektro robot responds to the rhythm of voice commands and delivers wisecracks pre-recorded on 78 rpm records. It appeared at the World's Fair, and it could move its head and arms… and even "smoked" cigarettes. http://www.computerhistory.org/timeline/ai-robotics/ -
Isaac Asimov
Isaac Asimov introduced the Three Laws of Robotics: 1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. 2. A robot must obey the orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. 3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws. http://www.computerhistory.org/timeline/ai-robotics/ -
Grey Walter
A neurophysiologist, Walter built wheeled automatons in order to experiment with goal-seeking behavior. His best known robot, Elsie, used photoelectric cells to seek moderate light while avoiding both strong light and darkness—which made it peculiarly attracted to women’s stockings. http://www.computerhistory.org/timeline/ai-robotics/ -
Logic Theorist
Allen Newell, Herbert A. Simon and J.C. Shaw begin work on Logic Theorist, a program that would eventually prove 38 theorems from Whitehead and Russell’s Principia Mathematica. Logic Theorist introduced several critical concepts to artificial intelligence including heuristics, list processing and ‘reasoning as search.’ http://www.computerhistory.org/timeline/ai-robotics/ -
First Robot Company
George Devol and Joseph Engelberger formed the world's first robot company. -
Robby the Robot
Robby the Robot appears in MGM’s 1956 science fiction movie Forbidden Planet. In the film, Robby was the creation of Dr. Mobius and was built to specifications found in an alien computer system. Robby's duties included assisting the human crew while following Isaac Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics (1941). The movie was a cult hit, in part because of Robby's humorous personality and Robby the Robot toys became huge sellers. http://www.computerhistory.org/timeline/ai-robotics/ -
Theodore Mainman
Physicist Theodore Maiman created the first laser. Made the first laser (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation).
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The First Integration Circuits
The first integrated circuits (IC's) began being sold for $120.00 in 1960 and were chosen to be used on the Gemini spacecraft. https://www.computerhope.com/history/1960.htm -
Leonard Klienrock
Leonard Kleinrock published his first paper entitled "Information Flow in Large Communication Nets" https://www.computerhope.com/history/1960.htm -
The Rancho Arm
Researchers design the Rancho Arm robot at Rancho Los Amigos Hospital in Downey, California as a tool for the handicapped. The Rancho Arm´s six joints gave it the flexibility of a human arm. Acquired by Stanford University in 1963, it holds a place among the first artificial robotic arms to be controlled by a computer. http://www.computerhistory.org/timeline/ai-robotics/ -
Shakey the Robot
SRI International´s Shakey robot becomes the first mobile robot controlled by artificial intelligence. Equipped with sensing devices and driven by a problem-solving program called STRIPS, the robot found its way around the halls of SRI by applying information about its environment to a route. The computer sent commands to Shakey over a radio link. Shakey could move at a speed of 2 meters per hour. http://www.computerhistory.org/timeline/ai-robotics/ -
The Silver Arm
David Silver at MIT designs the Silver Arm, a robotic arm to do small-parts assembly using feedback from delicate touch and pressure sensors. The arm´s fine movements approximate those of human fingers. http://www.computerhistory.org/timeline/ai-robotics/ -
Home Broadband
When Mark Bush became the first person in the UK to get it installed at home, he was just looking forward to staying online longer playing games. But now, like the vast majority of people in this country, the father of three from Basildon in Essex uses broadband internet as his "first port of call for anything". https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/broadband-the-first-decade-1929515.html -
Computer Glitch
A glitch in a computer in the Washington D.C. air traffic control causes a shutdown of air traffic across the U.S. East Coast. https://www.computerhope.com/history/2000.htm -
Children's Online Privacy Protection Act
Short for Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, COPPA became effective April 21, 2000 and is a US act for websites to not collect information about children under the age of 13. COPPA helps protect an under age child's privacy by either restricting the child without parents permission or not allowing that child to access the page because it collects data. https://www.computerhope.com/history/2000.htm
