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1440
Printing Press
Johannes Gutenberg invents the printing press, enabling mass production of books.
Printing Press -
Discovery of Electricity
Ben Franklin found that lightening is electricity through his kite experiment. Benjamin Franklin’s Observations and Experiments on Electricity -
Analytical Engine
Charles Babbage designs the first mechanical programmable computer, the Analytical Engine. Babbage's Analytical Engine -
First Computer Programmer
Ada Lovelace writes the first algorithm intended for the Analytical Engine, becoming the first computer programmer. Ada Lovelace and the first computer programme in the world -
Dewey Decimal System
Melvil Dewey creates the Dewey Decimal Classification system, a method to organize library materials systematically. Dewey Decimal System– A Guide to Call Numbers -
Keypunch Machine
Herman Hollerith invents the keypunch machine, which aids in data processing. IBM Keypunch by Herman Hollerith: World's First Data Storage Processing System -
Universal Decimal Classification (UDC)
Paul Otlet and Henri LaFontaine develop the UDC to catalog global knowledge, an early attempt at a universal information system. An Introduction to Universal Decimal Classification -
Differential Analyzer
Vannevar Bush creates the differential analyzer, a mechanical computer that can solve complex equations. -
Universal Machine
Alan Turing designs the concept of the universal machine, capable of simulating any computation. 1930s: Turing's Universal Machine -
Unimate, the First Robot
George Devol invents Unimate, the first programmable robot. Unimate - The First Industrial Robot -
First Wide-Area Computer Network
Lawrence Roberts connects computers in Massachusetts and California. First Computer Network Ever Built -
ARPANET Established
The ARPANET, a pioneering computer network funded by the U.S. Department of Defense, becomes operational. ARPANET -
First Email Sent
Ray Tomlinson sends the first email and introduces the "@" symbol. First Ever Email -
Desk-Sized Programmable Computer
IBM and Hewlett-Packard introduced the first desk-sized programmable computers, mostly used for scientific and research purposes. Timeline of Computer History -
Term "Internet" First Used
The term “internet” first appears in a document by Vinton Cerf, Yogen Dalal, and Carl Sunshine. Specification of Internet Transmission Control Program -
First Online Game
Early net pioneers adapted a version of Maze War, which existed before the internet, for use on ARPANET, making it the first online game. Maze War (1973) - The First FPS -
Usenet
Usenet was invented by Tom Truscott and Jim Ellis at Duke University as a decentralized way for people to share and discuss articles and posts. The rise and fall of Usenet: How the original social media platform came to be -
TCP/IP Protocols
Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and Internet Protocol (IP) are established as standard protocols. What is TCP/IP? -
NSFNET Launches
The National Science Foundation Network (NSFNET) connects supercomputing centers. NSFNET Connects Five Supercomputer Centers, Becoming the Principal Internet Backbone from 1988 -
WELL (Whole Earth ’Lectronic Link)
The WELL, one of the first online social networks, was launched. The WELL — Where Online Community Began -
World Wide Web
Tim Berners-Lee develops the World Wide Web at CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research), creating a new way to navigate and access information on the internet. -
Web Browser Mosaic
The Mosaic web browser, the first graphical web browser, launches, making internet navigation more user-friendly. Mosaic Communications Corporation in NCSA Mosaic 1.0 in 1993 -
AltaVista
AltaVista, one of the first popular search engines, launches. Altavista: The rise and fall of the biggest pre-Google search engine -
Creation of Wiki
The wiki, a web application in which groups of people could collaboratively build and edit documents and sites online, was invented. History of wikis -
Internet Privatization
The National Science Foundation withdraws control of the internet, transitioning it to a privatized network open for commercial use. Privatization and Globalization of the Internet -
Launch of Google
Larry Page and Sergey Brin create Google, which quickly becomes a dominant search engine. From the garage to the Googleplex -
Blackboard
Blackboard, an educational course management system, was founded. History of the Blackboard -
AOL Instant Messenger
AOL’s Instant Messenger (AIM), which allowed participants to chat with one another in real time, became extremely popular. AIM Retrospective -
Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)
The DMCA is enacted, establishing guidelines for digital copyright and online content use in the U.S. The Digital Millennium Copyright Act -
Napster
Shawn Fanning launched a peer-to-peer file-sharing program called Napster that ushered in a new era in music sharing, distribution, and production. Napster: the day the music was set free -
Google Web Search
Google enhances its search algorithms, dramatically improving access to organized, relevant information on the web. How Google Evolved From It’s Inception -
Rise of Social Media Platforms
Facebook launches, marking a new era of social interaction and content sharing, further popularizing the internet. The History of Facebook and How It Was Invented -
Launch of Tor
The US Naval Academy released Tor, a software that concealed, and could spoof, the location and IP address of users. Tor