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Enquire, the Pre-Internet Internet
In 1980 Tim Berners-Lee invented "Enquire." This was a hypertext program that would be used at CERN to be used by the workers to share files and information. This was the predecessor to the internet. (Image: By Paul Clarke - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=53878695) -
IBM and the First Personal Computer (PC)
In 1981, IBM created the first microcomputer that could be used for personal use. (image: By Rama & Musée Bolo - File:IBM_PC-IMG_7271.jpg, CC BY-SA 2.0 fr, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=94784371) -
MS DOS
Along with the IBM PC came MS DOS, or Microsoft Disk Operating System. The OS was not stored on a local drive. It was run from disks that were inserted into the PC. -
Lotus 1-2-3
In 1983, the first "Killer Application" software is created. The Lotus 1-2-3. A 'killer application' is an application that is extremely vital to corps operations of business. The Lotus 1-2-3 was the first spreadsheet type software that could calculate information entered into the document on screen. (Image: By Jonathan Schilling - Own work, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=86262752) -
Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)
Many would argue that the pinnacle of technology is video games. Nintendo had previously released arcade games, and in 1983 released the Family Computer, or Famicom. It was originally released in Japan, and alterations were made as it was released in North America in October of 1983, and then across the world.
(Image: By Evan-Amos - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=19135654) -
The World Wide Web
The world wide web, or 'the web', gave us the ability to share information and resources over the internet using hypertext transfer protocol. This would be used by CERN, government agencies, and a few other closed source entities. It would not be open to the public until 1991. (Image: By Fakefunk - https://www.w3.org/Illustrations/LetsShare.ai.ps, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=114182179) -
The 1980's
Overall, major progression was made in the 1980s. Computer language had long been established before the 80s, but C++ was release that build on A, B, and C programming languages, PERL was created in 1987, hard drives and flash memory made major advancements in the 80s, cell phones became bigger in the public domain. Overall, the 1980s were the beginning of the boom that would transform the world into our technology era.