1937
a) “Dr. John V. Atanasoff and Clifford Berry design and build the first electronic digital computer. Their machine, the Atanasoff-Berry-Computer, or ABC, provides the foundation for advances in electronic digital computers.”
1942
a) An inventor named Blaise Pascal introduces to the world the digital adding machine referred to as the Pascaline digital adding machine.
1943
a) During World War II, British scientist Alan Turing designs the Colossus, an electronic computer created for the military to break German codes and. The computer’s existence is kept secret until the 1970s.
1945
a) John von Neumann poses in front of the electronics computer built at the institute for advanced Study. This computer and its von Neumann architecture served as the prototype for subsequent stored program computers worldwide.
1946
a) Dr. John W. Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert, Jr. complete work on the first large-scale electronic, general-purpose digital computer. The ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer) weighs 30 tons, contains 18,000 vacuum tubes, occupies a 30 x 50 foot space, and consumes 160 kilowatts of power.
1947
a) William Shockley, John Bardeen and Walter Brattain invent the transfer resistance device, eventually called the transistor. The transistor would revolutionize computers, proving much more reliable than vacuum tubes.
1949
a. At Cambridge University, Maurice Wilkes assembles the first practical stored program computer called the EDSAC.
1950
b. The ERA 1101 is built by the Engineering Research Associates of Minneapolis. It is one of the first commercially produced computer systems.
c. EDVAC was invented- It stands for Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer
1951
a) The first commercially available electronic digital computer, the UNIVAC 1 (UNIVersal Automatic Computer), is introduced by Remington Rand. Public awareness of computer increases when the UNIVAC correctly predicts that Dwight D. Eisenhower will win the presidential election.
1952
a) Dr. Grace hopper considers the concept of reusable software in her paper, ‘The education of a Computer.” The paper describes how to program a computer with symbolic notation instead of detailed machine language.
1953
a) The IBM model 650 is one of the first widely used computers. The Computer is so successful that IBM manufactures more than 1,000. IBM will dominate the mainframe market for the next decade.
b) Core memory, developed in the early 1950’s providing much larger storage capacity than vacuum tube memory.
1954
a) Gordon Teal from Texas Instruments perfects a silicon based junction transistor which brings a tremendous reduction in costs to build a computer.
b) IBM’s 650 magnetic drum calculator is also established as the first mass produced computer. Mass produced in the 50’s is 450 computers if you can believe that.
1955
a. The first fully transistorized computer TRADIC is announced by Bell Laboratories.
1956
a) The TX-0 is built by MIT researchers. It is the first general purpose, programmable computer that is built using transistors. Also, the era of magnetic disk storage is about to blossom when IBM ships a 305 RAMAC to Zellerbach Paper in San Francisco California.
1957
a) FORTRAN (FORmula TRANslation), an efficient, easy-to-use programming language, is introduced by John Backus.
b) The IBM 305 RAMAC computer is the first to use magnetic disk for external storage. The computer provides storage capacity similar to magnetic tape that previously was used but offers the advantage of semi-random access capability.
1958
a) Jack Kilby of Texas Instruments invents the integrated circuit which lays the foundation for high-speed computers and large-capacity memory. Computers built with transistors mark the beginning of the second generation of computer hardware.
1959
a) More than 200 programming languages have been created.
b) IBM introduced two smaller, desk sized computer: the IBM 1401 for business and the IBM 1620 for scientists.
c) IBM’s 7000 series mainframes become its first transistorized computer.
d) Also in 1959 Robert Noyce’s integrated circuit allows printing of electrical conducting channels directly on a silicon surface.
1960
a) COBOL, a high-level business application language, is developed by a committee headed by Dr. Grace Hopper.
1961
a) The number of computers has grown to 18,000. Third-generation computers, with their controlling circuitry stored on chips, are introduced. The IBM System/360 computer is the first family of compatible machines, merging science and business lines.
b) IBM introduces the term word processing for the first time with its Magnetic Tape/Selectric Typewriter (MT/ST). The MT/ST was the first reusable storage medium that allowed typed material to be edited without having to retype the document.
1964
a. IBM announces a family of six mutually compatible computers and 40 peripherals that work together called the System/360.
b. Also in 1964 Seymour Cray’s CDC supercomputer performs up to three million instructions per second which literally is a processing speed three times its closest competitor, IBM’s Stretch system.
c. In 1964 IBM’s SABRE reservation system is also setup up for American Airlines.
1965
a) Dr. John Kemeny of Dartmouth leads the development of the BASIC programming language.
b) Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) introduces the first minicomputer, the PDP-8. The machine is used extensively as an interface for time-sharing systems.
1966
a) Hewlett-Packard enters the all purpose computer business with its release of the HP-2115. The HP-2115’s computing power is that which is formerly found only in far larger computer systems before it.
1968
a) Alan Shugart at IBM demonstrates the first regular use of an 8-inch floppy disk.
b) In a letter to the editor titled, "GO TO Statements Considered Harmful," Dr. Edsger Dijkstra introduces the concept of structured programming, developing standards for constructing computer programs.
c) Computer Science Corporation (CSC) becomes the first software company listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
1969
a) Under pressure from the industry, IBM announces that some of its software will be priced separately from the computer hardware, allowing software firms to emerge in the industry.
b) The ARPANET 56Kbps network, a predecessor of the Internet, is established.
1970
a) Fourth-generation computers, built with chips that use LSI (large-scale integration) arrive. While the chips used in 1965 contained up to 1,000 circuits, the LSI chip contains as many as 15,000.
1971
a) Dr. Ted Hoff of Intel Corporation develops a microprocessor, or micro programmable computer chip, the Intel 4004.
1972
a) Intel’s 8008 microprocessor makes its debut.
b) Hewlett-Packard announces the HP-35.
c) Steve Wozniak builds his blue box which is a tone generator to make free phone calls.
1973
a) At the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center Robert Metcalfe devices the Ethernet method of networking.
b) Also in 1972 the Micral is the earliest commercial non-kit personal computer system based on a microprocessor. It used the Intel 8008 processor.
c) 1973 also saw the TV Typewriter designed by Don Lancaster. It provided the first display of alphanumeric information on your ordinary television.
1974
a) Researchers at the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center design the Alto which is the first workstation with a built-in mouse for input.
b) Also in 1974 Scelbi advertises the 8H computer. What makes the 8H special is the fact that it is the first commercially advertised U.S. computer based on a microprocessor. It used the Intel 8008 computer processor.
1975
a. Ethernet, the first local area network (LAN), is developed at Xerox PARC (Palo Alto Research Center) by Robert Metcalf.
b. MITS, Inc. advertises one of the first microcomputers, the Altair. The Altair is sold in kits for less than $400 and within the first three months 4,000 orders are taken.
c. Microsoft is founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen on April 4, 1975.
d. The first commercial packet switching network called Telenet is created. It is the civilian equivalent of ARPAnet.
e. Also in 1975 The January edition of Popular Electronics features on its cover the Altair 8800 computer which uses the Intel 8080 microprocessor.
f. 1975 also was the year of the visual display module prototype. It was designed by Lee Felsenstein, and it was the first implementation of a memory mapped alphanumeric video display for personal computer systems.
1976
a) Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak build the first Apple computer. A subsequent version, the Apple II, is an immediate success. Adopted by elementary schools, high schools, and colleges, for many students the Apple II is their first contact with the world of computers.
1977
a) Apple Computer introduces the Apple II computer system.
b) The TRS-80 is also introduced by Tandy Radio Shack.
c) Commodore also introduces the PET, or Personal Electronic Transactor.
1979
a. VisiCalc, a spreadsheet program written by Bob Frankston and Dan Bricklin, is introduced.
b. The first public online information services, CompuServe and the Source, are founded.
1980
a. IBM offers Microsoft Corporation co-founder, Bill Gates, the opportunity to develop the operating system for the soon-to-be announced IBM personal computer. With the development of MS-DOS, Microsoft achieves tremendous growth and success.
b. Alan Shugart presents the Winchester hard disk, revolutionizing storage for personal computers.
c. The first hard drive for microcomputers called the ST-506 is created by Seagate Technology.
d. Also in 1980 the first optical data storage disk contains 60 times the capacity of a 5 ¼-inch floppy disk.
e. Another sweet kick off for the 80’s is the invention of the computer “worm” by John Shoch from the Xerox Palo alto Research Center. This so called worm is a short program that searches a network for idle processors.
1981
a) The IBM PC is introduced, signaling IBM’s entrance into the personal computer marketplace. The IBM PC quickly garners the largest share of the personal computer market and becomes the personal computer of choice in business.
b) The first computer virus, Elk Cloner, is spread via Apple II floppy disks, which contained the operating system. A short rhyme would appear on the screen when the user pressed Reset after the 50th boot of an infected disk.
c) Xerox also introduces the Star which is the first personal computer with a graphical user interface (GUI).
d) The first portable computer is also completed by Adam Osborne. Like many inventions of the day it gets its name from the inventor and it’s called the Osborne I, go figure. But check this, the Osborne I portable computer weighed in at 24 pounds and sold for $1795 dollars at the time.
e) Also in 1981 Sony Corporation introduces and ships the first 3 ½-inch floppy disk drive and disks.
1982
a) 3,275,000 personal computers are sold, almost 3,000,000 more than in 1981.
b) Compaq, Inc. is founded to develop and market IBM-compatible PCs.
c) Hayes introduces the 300 bps smart modem. The modem is an immediate success.
1983
a) Instead of choosing a person for its annual award, TIME magazine names the computer Machine of the Year for 1982, acknowledging the impact of computers on society.
b) Lotus Development Corporation is founded. Its spreadsheet software, Lotus 1-2-3, which combines spreadsheet, graphics, and database programs in one package, becomes the best-selling program for IBM personal computers.
c) Apple introduces its Lisa computer incorporating a GUI very similar to that first introduced on the Xerox Star.
d) Compaq Computer Corporation introduces its first PC clone that uses the same software as the IBM PC.
1984
a) Apple introduces the Macintosh computer, which incorporates a unique, easy-to-learn, graphical user interface.
b) Hewlett-Packard announces the first LaserJet printer for personal computers.
c) Also in 1984 IBM releases the PC-AT which is three times faster than original PC’s. Its speed came from its usage of the Intel 286 processor.
d) The PC-AT also introduced a new computer bus called the 16-bit ISA bus.
1985
a) Philips introduces the CD-ROM.
1986
a. Microsoft has public stock offering and raises approximately $61 million.
b. Compaq announces the Deskpro 386 which is the first computer on the market to use Intel’s new 386 chips.
1987
a) IBM introduces its PS/2 computers making the 3 ½-inch floppy disk drive and VGA video standard for PC’s.
b) Also introduced with the PS/2 was its inclusion of the first plug-and-play computer bus for PC’s called MicroChannel Architecture (MCA).
1988
a) Microsoft surpasses Lotus Development Corporation to become the world's top software vendor.
b) After leaving Apple, Apple cofounder Steve Jobs unveils his own company called NeXT.
c) Also in 1988 Compaq and other PC makers develop a new computer bus called the Enchanced Industry Standard Architecture (EISA). What was especially unique about this bus was that unlike MicroChannel EISA remained backward compatible with the ISA bus.
1989
a) While working at CERN, Switzerland, Tim Berners-Lee invents the World Wide Web.
b) Nintendo introduces the Game Boy, its first handheld game console.
c) The Intel 486 becomes the world’s first 1,000,000 transistor microprocessor. It executes 15,000,000 instructions per second - four times as fast as its predecessor, the 80386 chip.
1990
a) The World Wide Web (WWW) is born after researcher Tim Berners-Lee develops HTML, the Hypertext Markup Language.
1991
a) Kodak announces the first digital SLR (single-lens reflex) camera. The Kodak DCS 100 is developed mostly for photojournalism purposes and stores the photos and batteries in a separate unit.
b) World Wide Web Consortium releases standards that describe a framework for linking documents on different computers.
1992
a) Microsoft releases Windows 3.1, the latest version of its Windows operating system. Windows 3.1 offers improvements such as TrueType fonts, multimedia capability, and object linking and embedding (OLE). In two months, 3,000,000 copies of Windows 3.1 are sold.
1993
a) Several companies introduce computers using the Pentium processor from Intel. The Pentium chip contains 3.1 million transistors and is capable of performing 112,000,000 instructions per second.
b) The U.S. Air Force completes the Global Positioning System by launching its 24th Navstar satellite into orbit. Today, GPS receivers can be found in cars, notebook computers, and smart phones.
c) Microsoft releases Microsoft Office 3 Professional, the first version of Microsoft Office for the Windows operating system.
d) The White House launches its Web site, which includes an interactive citizens' handbook and White House history and tours.
1994
a) Jim Clark and Marc Andreessen found Netscape and launch Netscape Navigator 1.0, a Web browser.
b) Linus Torvalds creates the Linux kernel, a UNIX-like operating system that he releases free across the Internet for further enhancement by other programmers.
c) Apple introduces the first digital camera intended for consumers. The Apple QuickTake 100 is connected to home computers using a serial cable.
d) Yahoo!, a popular search engine and portal, is founded by two Stanford Ph.D. students as a way to keep track of their personal interests on the Internet. Currently, Yahoo! has approximately 12,000 employees and more than 500 million unique visitors to its Web site.
e) Amazon is founded and later begins business as an online bookstore. Amazon eventually expands to sell products of all types and facilitates the buying and selling of new and used goods. Today, Amazon has approximately 17,000 employees.
1995
a) Sun Microsystems launches Java, an object-oriented programming language that allows users to write one program for a variety of computer platforms.
b) Microsoft releases Windows 95, a major upgrade to its Windows operating system. Windows 95 consists of more than 10,000,000 lines of computer instructions developed by 300 person-years of effort.
c) eBay, an online auction Web site, is founded. Providing an online venue for people to buy and sell goods, it quickly becomes the world’s largest online marketplace as it approaches 100 million active users worldwide.
1996
a) U.S. Robotics introduces the PalmPilot, an inexpensive user friendly personal digital assistant (PDA).
b) Microsoft releases Windows NT 4.0, an operating system for client-server networks.
1997
a) Intel introduces the Pentium II processor with 7.5 million transistors. The new processor, which incorporates MMX technology, processes video, audio, and graphics data more efficiently and supports programs such as movie editing, gaming, and more.
b) Microsoft releases Internet Explorer 4.0 and seizes a key place in the Internet arena.
1998
a. Google is founded and is now the most used search engine, capturing more than 60 percent of the market over other search engines.
b. Apple Computer introduces the iMac, the next version of its popular Macintosh computer. The iMac wins customers with its futuristic design, see-through case, and easy setup.
c. E-commerce booms. Companies such as Amazon.com, Dell, and E*TRADE spur online shopping, allowing buyers to obtain a variety of goods and services.
d. Microsoft ships Windows 98, an upgrade to Windows 95. Windows 98 offers improved Internet access, better system performance, and support for a new generation of hardware and software.
1999
a) Open source software, such as Linux operating system and the Apache Web server created by unpaid volunteers, begin to gain wide acceptance among computer users.
b) Microsoft introduces Office 2000, its premier productivity suite, offering new tools for users to create content and save it directly to a Web site without any file conversion or special steps.
c) Intel introduces the Pentium III processor. This processor succeeds the Pentium II and can process 3-D graphics more quickly. The Pentium III processor contains between 9.5 and 44 million transistors.
d) Governments and businesses frantically work to make their computers Y2K (Year 2000) compliant, spending more than $500 billion worldwide.
2000
a) Shawn Fanning, 19, and his company, Napster, turn the music industry upside down by developing software that allows computer users to swap music files with one another without going through a centralized file server.
b) Microsoft ships Windows 2000 and Windows Me. Windows 2000 offers improved behind-the scenes security and reliability.
c) E-commerce achieves mainstream acceptance. Annual e-commerce sales exceed $100 billion, and Internet advertising expenditures reach more than $5 billion.
d) Dot.com companies (Internet based) go out of business at a record pace — nearly one per day — as financial investors withhold funding due to the companies’ unprofitability.
e) Telemedicine uses satellite technology and video conferencing to broadcast consultations and to perform distant surgeries. Robots are used for complex and precise tasks.
f) Microsoft releases Windows Millennium Edition or Me, and Windows 2000.
g) The 1GHz milestone is hit when both Intel and AMD introduce processors running at 1GHz.
2001
a) Microsoft releases major operating system updates with Windows XP for personal computers and servers. Windows XP is significantly more reliable than previous versions, features a 32-bit computing architecture, and offers a new look and feel.
b) Intel unveils its Pentium 4 chip with clock speeds starting at 1.4 GHz. The Pentium 4 includes 42 million transistors.
c) Microsoft introduces Office XP, the next version of the world's leading suite of productivity software. Features include speech and handwriting recognition, smart tags, and task panes.
d) Wikipedia, a free online encyclopedia, is introduced. Additional wikis begin to appear on the Internet, enabling people to share information in their areas of expertise. Although some might rely on wikis for research purposes, the content is not always verified for accuracy.
2002
a) After several years of negligible sales, the Tablet PC is reintroduced as the next-generation personal mobile device.
b) Digital video cameras, DVD burners, easy-to-use video editing software, and improvements in storage capabilities allow the average computer user to create Hollywood like videos with introductions, conclusions, rearranged scenes, music, and voice-over.
c) Microsoft launches its .NET strategy, which is a new environment for developing and running software applications featuring ease of development of Web-based services.
d) DVD burners begin to replace CD burners (CD-RW). DVDs can store up to eight times as much data as CDs. Uses include storing home movies, music, photos, and backups.
e) Intel ships its revamped Pentium 4 chip with the 0.13 micro processor and Hyper-Threading (HT) Technology, operating at speeds of 3.06 GHz. This new development eventually will enable processors with a billion transistors to operate at 20 GHz.
2003
a) Wireless computers and devices, such as keyboards, mouse devices, home networks, and wireless Internet access points become commonplace.
b) Microsoft ships Office 2003, the latest version of its flagship Office suite. More than 400 million people in 175 nations and 70 languages are using a version of Office.
c) In an attempt to maintain their current business model of selling songs, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) files more than 250 lawsuits against individual computer users who offer copyrighted music over peer-to peer networks.
d) MySpace, an online social network, is founded. MySpace allows users to share information, photos, and videos, as well as stay in touch with their friends and make new friends. MySpace eventually grows to nearly 200 million users, making it one of the more popular and successful online social networks.
2004
a. Companies such as RealNetworks, Microsoft, Sony, and Wal-Mart stake out turf in the online music store business started by Apple Computer.
b. USB flash drives become a cost-effective way to transport data and information from one computer to another.
c. Flat-panel LCD monitors overtake bulky CRT monitors as the popular choice of computer users.
d. 106 million, or 53 percent, of the 200 million online populations in America accesses the Internet via broadband.
e. Major retailers begin requiring suppliers to include radio frequency identification (RFID) tags or microchips with antennas, which can be as small as one-third of a millimeter across, in the goods they sell.
f. The smart phone overtakes the PDA as the mobile device of choice.
g. Facebook, an online social network originally available only to college students, is founded. Facebook eventually opens registration to all people and grows to more than 110 million users with more than 10 billion photos, 30 million of which are uploaded daily.
h. Linux, the open source operating system, makes major inroads into the server market as a viable alternative to Microsoft Windows, Sun’s Solaris, and the UNIX operating systems.
i. Sony unveils its PlayStation Portable (PSP). This handheld game console is the first to use optical discs.
j. Mozilla releases its first version of the Firefox Web browser. Firefox offers innovative features not available in Internet Explorer 6, including tabbed browsing and a Search box. Firefox quickly gains popularity and takes market share away from Microsoft’s Internet Explorer.
k. Apple Computer introduces the sleek iMac G5. The new computer’s display device contains the system unit.
2005
a) Apple releases the latest version of its popular pocket-sized iPod portable media player. First it played songs, then photos, then podcasts, and now, in addition, up to 150 hours of music videos and television shows on a 2.5" color display.
b) YouTube, an online community for video sharing, is founded. YouTube includes content such as home videos, movie previews, and clips from television shows. In November 2006, Google acquires YouTube.
c) Microsoft introduces Visual Studio 2005. The product includes Visual Basic, Visual C#, Visual J#, Visual C++, and SQL Server.
d) Spam, spyware, phishing, pharming, spim, and spit take center stage, along with viruses, as major nuisances to the 801 million computer users worldwide.
e) Microsoft unveils Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005. This operating system focuses on delivering media content such as music, digital photos, movies, and television.
f) Microsoft releases the Xbox 360, its latest game console. Features include the capability to play music, display photos, and network with computers and other Xbox games.
g) Blogging and podcasting become mainstream methods for distributing information via the Web.
2006
a. Web 2.0, a term coined in 2004, becomes a household term with the increase in popularity of online social networks, wikis, and Web applications.
b. Sony launches its PlayStation 3. New features include a Blu-ray Disc player, high-definition capabilities, and always-on online connectivity.
c. Microsoft and Mozilla release new versions of their respective Web browsers. Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 7 and Mozilla’s Firefox 2 offer easier browsing through the use of tabs and allow search capabilities directly from the toolbar.
d. Text, picture, and video messaging continue to increase as popular communications methods. In addition to people sending informal messages to each other, businesses and other institutions use messaging to allow people to vote in polls, receive targeted advertisements, and view news updates.
e. Nintendo Wii is introduced and immediately becomes a leader in game consoles. The Wii is being used in revolutionary ways, such as training surgeons.
f. Intel introduces its Core 2 Duo processor family. Boasting record-breaking performance while using less power, the family consists of five desktop computer processors and five mobile computer processors. The desktop processor includes 291 million transistors, yet uses 40 percent less power than the Pentium processor.
g. IBM produces the fastest supercomputer, Blue Gene/L. It can perform approximately 28 trillion calculations in the time it takes you to blink your eye, or about one-tenth of a second.
h. Nintendo releases the Nintendo DS Lite, a handheld game console with new features such as dual screens and improved graphics and sound.
i. Apple begins selling Macintosh computers with Intel microprocessors.
2007
a. Video blogs, or vlogs, grow in popularity along with YouTube. Vlogs allow users to video their message instead of entering text via a regular blog. The growth in the popularity of vlogs is attributed to several factors, including the use of video portable media players. Podcasting also increases in popularity for the same reasons. A podcast is distinguished from other digital audio formats by its capability to be downloaded automatically.
b. Intel introduces Core 2 Quad, a four-core processor made for dual-processor servers and desktop computers. The larger number of cores allows for more energy-efficient performance and optimizes battery performance in notebook computers.
c. Apple introduces the iPhone and sells 270,000 phones in the first 2 days. iPhone uses iTouch technology that allows you to make a call simply by tapping a name or number in your address book. In addition, it stores and plays music like an iPod. Also, Apple sells its one billion songs on iTunes.
d. VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) providers expand usage to include Wi-Fi phones. The phones enable high-quality service through a Wireless-G network and high-speed Internet connection.
e. Apple releases its Mac OS X version 10.5 “Leopard” operating system, available in a desktop version and server version. The system includes a significantly revised desktop, with a semitransparent menu bar and an updated search tool that incorporates the same visual navigation interface as iTunes.
f. Wi-Fi hotspots are popular in a variety of locations. People bring their computers to coffeehouses, fast food restaurants, or bookstores to access the Internet wirelessly, either free or for a small fee.
g. Blu-ray Discs increase in popularity, overcoming and replacing HD DVD in less than one year. A Blu-ray Disc can store approximately 9 hours of high definition (HD) video on a 50 GB disc or approximately 23 hours of standard-definition (SD) video.
h. Half of the world’s population uses cell phones. More and more people are using a cell phone in lieu of a landline in their home.
i. Microsoft releases Office 2007. New features include the most significant update to the user interface in more than a decade, including the introduction of the Ribbon, which replaces the toolbars in most of the programs, and the capability to save documents in XML and PDF formats.
j. Microsoft ships the latest version of its widely used operating system, Windows Vista. Vista offers the Basic interface and the Aero interface, which offers several graphical features, including transparent windows. Internet Explorer 7 is included with Windows Vista.
2008
a) Microsoft introduces Windows Server 2008, the successor to Windows Server 2003.
b) Bill Gates retires from Microsoft. He continues as chairman and advisor on key development projects.
c) Dell offers a hybrid computer. Smaller than a desktop computer but larger than a notebook computer, these hybrid computers contain features comparable to their larger counterparts and can work more easily in a home entertainment environment.
d) Netflix, an online movie rental company, and TiVo, a company manufacturing digital video recorders (DVRs), make Netflix movies and television episodes available on TiVo (DVRs).
e) WiMAX goes live! The advantage of this technology is the capability to access video, music, voice, and video calls wherever and whenever desired. Average download speeds are between 2 Mbps and 4 Mbps. By year’s end, Sprint has approximately 100 million users on its network.
f) Smart phones become smarter. Smart phones introduced this year include enhanced features such as touch screens with multi-touch technology, mobile TV, tactile feedback, improved graphics, GPS receivers, and better cameras.
g) Computer manufacturers begin to offer solid state drives (SSDs) instead of hard disks, mostly in notebook computers. Although SSDs have a lower storage capacity, are more expensive, and slightly more susceptible to failure, they are significantly faster.
h) Mozilla releases Firefox 3, the latest version of its Web browser. Firefox 3 offers greater security, a more user-friendly interface, and other improvements to enhance the Web browsing experience.
i) Google releases its new Web browser. Google Chrome uses an entirely unique interface and offers other features such as dynamic tabs, crash control, and application shortcuts.
2009
a. In February 2009, federal law requires that all full-power television stations broadcast only in digital format. Analog television owners are required to purchase a converter box to view over-the-air digital programming.
b. Some educational institutions begin to phase out computer labs, or reduce their hours, because of the increase in the number of students who own notebook computers and bring them to school.
c. Individuals and enterprises increase their focus on green computing. Computer manufacturers not only sell more energy-efficient hardware, they also provide easy ways in which customers can recycle their old computers and devices.
d. Web applications continue to increase in popularity. Web apps make it easier to perform tasks such as word processing, photo editing, and tax preparation without installing software on your computer.
e. Intel enhances its Core processor family by releasing multi-core processors with additional cores. Each additional core can increase the number of instructions that can be processed at a given time.
f. Microsoft releases the latest version of its Office suite. This version is available in multiple editions and continues to help people work more efficiently. An edition of this version of Office also is available as a Web application.
g. Microsoft releases the newest version of its Windows operating system, Windows 7. This version provides greater stability and security; a more flexible, user-friendly interface; and requires fewer computing resources to operate.
h. Notebook computer sales continue to rise, overtaking desktop computers. Advances in technology and decreasing notebook computer prices have businesses as well as individuals rapidly replacing desktop computers with more notebook computers.
i. Microsoft releases Internet Explorer 8, also known as IE8. IE8 offers new features such as InPrivate Browsing, Accelerators, and support for WebSlices.
j. Virtualization in servers, storage devices, and clients is more widely used in an effort to reduce hardware and support costs.
k. Decreases in storage costs and increases in Internet connection speeds persuade more users to use cloud storage for their data. Cloud storage also provides users with the convenience of accessing their files from almost anywhere.
l. Ubuntu, a Linux-based operating system, continues attempts to attract users by offering an easy to-use, stable operating system. Ubuntu provides an intuitive interface with which both Windows and Mac users quickly can become familiar.
m. Computers and mobile devices promote fitness by offering games and programs to help users exercise and track their progress. These games and programs also are used to assist with physical rehabilitation.
n. Social networking revolutionizes communications. Schools, radio stations, and other organizations develop their own social networks to facilitate communications.
Dennis is a young blogger who is founder of CS Online Journal. He is 19 years old and living in Tabaco City, Philippines.Currently, he is taking-up Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. Running this site is his pastime, He loves to.....
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