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The First computer
The inventor, Charles Babbage, called his computer the Difference Engine. It was essentially a calculator and since there was no electricity, it was mechanical. And very complicated.
In fact he never quite managed to finish it. Babbage spent a further 37 years designing the Analytical Engine, a pre-cursor to the first working general-purpose computers. -
Jules Verne makes accurate prediction about the future
Paris in the Twentieth Century (Science fiction novel by Jules Verne written in 1863) - features detailed descriptions of a world of glass skyscrapers, high-speed trains, gas-powered automobiles, calculators, and a worldwide communications network. -
the first navigation system
The Iter Avto, which used a map on a scroll, is believed to be the first onboard direction guide.
Just like the modern devices such as a Tom Tom or Garmin, the device was positioned on the dashboard of a car - and came with a set of paper maps. -
number calculator
In 1939, Bell Telephone Laboratories completed this calculator, designed by researcher George Stibitz. -
the speed cameras were invented
They were invented in the 1950s by Maurice Gatsonides. He was a Dutch racing car (rally) driver who invented the camera so he could check his cornering during races. It was later adopted by police and used for catching cars going to fast. -
The first computer game
Spacewar was created by Steve Russell. It took the team about 200 man-hours to write the first version of Spacewar. It was a two-player game involving warring spaceships firing photon torpedoes. Each player could maneuver a spaceship and score by firing missiles at his opponent while avoiding the gravitational pull of the sun. -
micro chip technology invented
In the 1960s computers became even more compact, as a result of microchip technology. -
the first GPS system
The foundations of the modern GPS were laid during the early 1960’s by the US military. The Navy, Air Force and Army each came up with their own designs and ideas, and eventually in 1973 a design that incorporated elements from each was approved by the US government. This was to become NAVSTAR. -
The CD was invented
The compact disk was invented by James Russell in 1965. However, the CD didn't become popular until it manufactured by Phillips in 1980. -
The internet was invented
On the October 29, 1969, computers at Stanford and UCLA connected for the first time. In effect, they were the first hosts on what would one day become the Internet. -
Floppy discs were being used
From the 1970s, programs were beginning to be loaded from floppy disk. They were also used as a portable means of storage and for backups.
The first floppy disk was easily damaged. Later versions came in a hard plastic casing. Data was stored on a magnetic coated plastic disk inside the casing. Computers needed a floppy disk drive to read these disks. Floppy disks gradually disappeared as new technologies such as CDs, DVDs and USB memory sticks became available. -
The first email was sent
The first e-mail is sent. Ray Tomlinson of the research firm Bolt, Beranek and Newman sent the first e-mail when he was supposed to be working on a different project. -
The start of Apple
The original Apple Computer, is a personal computer released by the Apple Computer Company (now Apple Inc.) in 1976. They were designed and hand-built by Steve Wozniak.Wozniak's friend Steve Jobs had the idea of selling the computer and Apple was born. -
Laptops developed
Laptops were developed in the 1980s and 1990s. Today most people choose a laptop over a desktop computer for work or use at home. Today’s laptops are often as powerful and in some cases more powerful than today’s desktop computers. -
The first Microsoft package is released 1.0
Microsoft ships Windows 1.0. Now, rather than typing MS‑DOS commands, you just move a mouse to point and click your way through screens, or “windows.” Bill Gates says, “It is unique software designed for the serious PC user…” -
First webcam
It was deployed at a Cambridge University computer lab, and its sole purpose was to monitor a particular coffee maker so that lab users could avoid wasted trips to an empty coffee pot! -
when travel moved online
consumers found it more efficient to book hotels and flights on travel agencies like Expedia. Ths was a small division within Microsoft launched online travel booking site Expedia.com®, which gave consumers a revolutionary new way to research and book travel. -
Google lauched
The number 1 search engine is lauched. -
Wikipedia was launched
Wikipedia was formally launched on 15 January 2001 by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger. -
Facebook was launched
Facebook was created as a way for Mark Zuckerberg and other Harvard students to keep in touch over the Internet and get to know each other better. Facebook became so popular, in just a matter of months, that is was soon opened to other colleges. By the end of the following year it was also open to high schools. The year after that it was opened to the general Internet public, as long as you were 13 and older. -
Youtube was launched
YouTube launched in 2005, bringing free online video hosting and sharing to the masses. -
netbooks developed
Released in 2007, netbooks were smaller, less powerful laptops. Today they are primarily used for browsing the web and editing documents but they too are getting more powerful. -
predict our cars will be hydro powered