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Radio-controlled clocks
German watchmaking company Junghans introduces the MEGA 1, believed to be the world's first radio-controlled wristwatch. -
Linus
Linus Torvalds creates the first version of Linux, a collaboratively written computer operating system. -
Iris scans
American-born mathematician John Daugman perfects the mathematics that make iris scanning systems possible. Iris scans are the most accurate form of biometrics (identity checking based on sophisticated body measurements)— a form of identification fingerprints or DNA profiling. -
VoIP
Israeli computer scientists Alon Cohen and Lior Haramaty invent VoIP for sending telephone calls over the Internet. -
Streaming Media
Broadcast.com becomes one of the world's first online radio stations. -
E-commerce
Pierre Omidyar launches the eBay auction website. -
HDTV
WRAL-HD broadcasts the first high-definition television (HDTV) signal in the United States. -
Bolt.com
Bolt.com was started as the first social networking and video website. -
Six Degrees.com
SixDegrees.com was a social network service website that lasted from 1997 to 2001 and was based on the Web of Contacts model of social networking. -
AOL
AOL is a web portal and online service provider based in New York. It is a brand marketed by Oath, a subsidiary of Verizon Communications. -
Wireless Internet
Electronics companies agree to make Wi-Fi a worldwide standard for wireless Internet. -
Open Diary
Open Diary is an online diary community, an early example of social networking software. It was founded on October 22, 1998. -
Yahoo Messenger
Yahoo! Messenger is an advertisement-supported instant messaging client and associated protocol provided by Yahoo!. -
MSN Messenger
Windows Live Messenger (formerly MSN Messenger) is a discontinued instant messaging client developed by Microsoft. A popular messaging, video and voice calling service -
Live Journal
LiveJournal, an early blogging platform and social network launches, where users can keep a blog, journal or diary. -
Habbo
Habbo (previously known as Habbo Hotel) is a social networking service and online community aimed at teenagers.[ -
Music Players
Apple revolutionizes music listening by unveiling its iPod MP3 music player. -
Windows Messenger
Windows Messenger is released, and is shipped with Windows XP. This is an integrated version of MSN Messenger. -
Electronic Books
The Wikipedia online encyclopedia is founded by Larry Sanger and Jimmy Wales. -
BitTorrent Internet
Bram Cohen develops BitTorrent file-sharing, a superbly clever way of sharing files. -
Friendster
Friendster was a social gaming site based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It was originally a social networking service website. -
Roomba
iRobot Corporation releases the first version of its Roomba® vacuum cleaning robot.
