Milestones in Computer History: A Timeline Flashcards

1
Q

Dr. John V. Atanasoff and Clifford Berry create the first electronic digital computer, the Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC).

A

1937

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2
Q

British scientist Alan Turing designs the Colossus, a secret electronic computer for code-breaking during World War II.

A

1943

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3
Q

John von Neumann’s computer prototype at the Institute for Advanced Study serves as the basis for stored-program computers.

A

1945

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4
Q

Dr. John W. Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert, Jr. complete the ENIAC, the first large-scale electronic digital computer.

A

1946

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5
Q

William Shockley, John Bardeen, and Walter Brattain invent the transistor, a reliable alternative to vacuum tubes.

A

1947

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6
Q

The UNIVAC I, the first commercially available electronic digital computer, is introduced by Remington Rand.

A

1951

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7
Q

The IBM 305 RAMAC computer, developed by IBM, is the first to use magnetic disk storage.

A

1957

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8
Q

FORTRAN, an efficient programming language, is introduced by John Backus.

A

1957

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9
Q

Jack Kilby of Texas Instruments invents the integrated circuit, marking the second generation of computers.

A

1958

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10
Q

COBOL, a high-level business language, is developed by a committee headed by Dr. Grace Hopper.

A

1960

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11
Q

Douglas Engelbart demonstrates a computer prototype with a mouse and graphical user interface (GUI).

A

1964

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12
Q

Dr. John Kemeny of Dartmouth leads the development of the BASIC programming language.

A

1965

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13
Q

Dr. Edsger Dijkstra introduces structured programming standards.

A

1968

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14
Q

Alan Shugart at IBM demonstrates the first regular use of an 8-inch floppy disk.

A

1968

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15
Q

The ARPANET network is established, eventually growing to become the Internet.

A

1969

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16
Q

Fourth-generation computers, built with LSI (large-scale integration) chips, arrive.

A

1970

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17
Q

Dr. Ted Hoff of Intel Corporation develops the microprocessor, Intel 4004.

A

1971

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18
Q

MITS, Inc., founded by Ed Roberts, advertises the Altair, one of the first microcomputers.

A

1975

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19
Q

Ethernet, a network technology, is developed at Xerox PARC (Palo Alto Research Center).

A

1975

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20
Q

Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak build the first Apple computer.

A

1976

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21
Q

VisiCalc, the first spreadsheet program, is written by Dan Bricklin and Bob Frankston.

A

1979

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22
Q

IBM approaches Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates to develop MS-DOS, the operating system for the IBM PC.

A

1980

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23
Q

Alan Shugart presents the Winchester hard disk, revolutionizing storage for personal computers.

A

1980

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24
Q

The IBM PC is introduced, becoming a business standard.

A

1981

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25
Q

Elk Cloner, the first computer virus, spreads via Apple II floppy disks.

A

1981

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26
Q

TIME magazine names the computer “Machine of the Year” for its impact on society.

A

1983

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27
Q

Lotus Development Corporation, founded by Mitch Kapor and Jonathan Sachs, releases Lotus 1-2-3.

A

1983

28
Q

Apple introduces the Macintosh computer with a GUI.

A

1984

29
Q

Hewlett-Packard announces the first LaserJet printer for personal computers.

A

1984

30
Q

While at CERN, Switzerland, Tim Berners-Lee invents the World Wide Web.

A

1989

31
Q

Nintendo introduces the Game Boy handheld game console.

A

1989

32
Q

World Wide Web Consortium releases web standards.

A

1991

33
Q

Microsoft releases Windows 3.1.

A

1992

34
Q

The U.S. Air Force completes the Global Positioning System (GPS).

A

1993

35
Q

Microsoft releases Microsoft Office 3 Professional for Windows.

A

1993

36
Q

Linus Torvalds creates the Linux kernel, a free and open-source operating system.

A

1994

37
Q

Amazon, founded by Jeff Bezos, begins as an online bookstore.

A

1994

38
Q

Yahoo!, founded by Jerry Yang and David Filo, becomes a popular search engine.

A

1994

39
Q

Jim Clark and Marc Andreessen found Netscape and launch Netscape Navigator 1.0, a web browser.

A

1994

40
Q

Sun Microsystems launches Java, an object-oriented programming language.

A

1995

41
Q

Microsoft releases Windows 95.

A

1995

42
Q

eBay, an online auction site, is founded.

A

1995

43
Q

Microsoft releases Windows NT 4.0 for client-server networks.

A

1996

44
Q

Google, founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, becomes the dominant search engine.

A

1998

45
Q

Apple Computer introduces the iMac, designed by Jony Ive.

A

1998

46
Q

Microsoft introduces Office 2000.

A

1999

47
Q

Shawn Fanning, 19, and his company, Napster, develop file-sharing software.

A

2000

48
Q

Wikipedia, a free online encyclopedia, is introduced.

A

2001

49
Q

MySpace, an online social network, is founded.

A

2003

50
Q

Facebook, founded by Mark Zuckerberg, becomes a popular social network.

A

2004

51
Q

Mozilla releases its first version of the Firefox web browser.

A

2004

52
Q

Sony unveils its PlayStation Portable (PSP).

A

2004

53
Q

Apple Computer introduces the sleek iMac G5.

A

2004

54
Q

USB flash drives become a cost-effective way to transport data.

A

2004

55
Q

YouTube, founded by Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim, becomes a video-sharing community.

A

2005

56
Q

Microsoft introduces Visual Studio 2005.

A

2005

57
Q

Microsoft releases the Xbox 360, designed by J Allard.

A

2005

58
Q

Apple releases the latest version of its popular iPod, capable of playing music videos.

A

2005

59
Q

Nintendo Wii, designed by Shigeru Miyamoto, becomes a revolutionary game console.

A

2006

60
Q

Intel introduces its Core 2 Duo processor family.

A

2006

61
Q

IBM produces Blue Gene/L, the world’s fastest supercomputer.

A

2006

62
Q

Apple begins selling Macintosh computers with Intel microprocessors.

A

2006

63
Q

Apple introduces the iPhone, designed by Jonathan Ive.

A

2007

64
Q

Google launches the Chrome web browser.

A

2007

65
Q

Bill Gates retires from Microsoft but continues as chairman and advisor on key development projects.

A

2008

66
Q

Netflix and TiVo make Netflix movies and TV episodes available on TiVo DVRs.

A

2008

67
Q

Intel releases the Core i5 and Core i7 line of processors.

A

2008