-
First Calculating machine
1822: English mathematician Charles Babbage conceives of a steam-driven calculating machine that would be able to compute tables of numbers. The project, funded by the English government, is a failure. More than a century later, however, the world’s first computer was actually built. -
Punch Card
1890: Herman Hollerith designs a punch card system to calculate the 1880 census, accomplishing the task in just three years and saving the government $5 million. He establishes a company that would ultimately become IBM. -
First electronic numerical integrator and calculator
1943-1944: Two University of Pennsylvania professors, John Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert, build the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator (ENIAC). Considered the grandfather of digital computers, it fills a 20-foot by 40-foot room and has 18,000 vacuum tubes. -
First Electric Computer Switch
1947: William Shockley, John Bardeen and Walter Brattain of Bell Laboratories invent the transistor. They discovered how to make an electric switch with solid materials and no need for a vacuum. -
FORTRAN Programming language
1954: The FORTRAN programming language is born. -
First computerized spreadsheet
1978: Accountants rejoice at the introduction of VisiCalc, the first computerized spreadsheet program. -
Windows and Amiga 1000
1985: Microsoft announces Windows, its response to Apple’s GUI. Commodore unveils the Amiga 1000, which features advanced audio and video capabilities. -
Windows
1985: Microsoft announces Windows, its response to Apple’s GUI. Commodore unveils the Amiga 1000, which features advanced audio and video capabilities. -
Command and Conquer
1994: PCs become gaming machines as "Command & Conquer," "Alone in the Dark 2," "Theme Park," "Magic Carpet," "Descent" and "Little Big Adventure" are among the games to hit the market. -
Wi-Fi
1999: The term Wi-Fi becomes part of the computing language and users begin connecting to the Internet without wires. -
YouTube
2005: YouTube, a video sharing service, is founded. Google acquires Android, a Linux-based mobile phone operating system. -
iPhone and Smartphone
2007: The iPhone brings many computer functions to the smartphone. -
Windows 7
2009: Microsoft launches Windows 7, which offers the ability to pin applications to the taskbar and advances in touch and handwriting recognition, among other features. -
iPad
2010: Apple unveils the iPad, changing the way consumers view media and jumpstarting the dormant tablet computer segment. -
Cromebook
2011: Google releases the Chromebook, a laptop that runs the Google Chrome OS. -
Facebook
2012: Facebook gains 1 billion users on October 4. -
64-bit processor
2003: The first 64-bit processor, AMD’s Athlon 64, becomes available to the consumer market. -
Apple Watch
2015: Apple releases the Apple Watch. Microsoft releases Windows 10.
