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Colossus Computer
During WWII, British codebreakers created new technology to help them read private German dispatches. In January of 1944, the first Colossus computer was working at Bletchley Park. Although different kinds of computers had been created prior to Colossus, this computer was the first to merge digital, programmable, and electronic aspects of computing into one system. -
ENIAC Computer
The world's first electronic digital computer, ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer), was completed in 1946 with the help of researchers at the University of Pennsylvania. The researchers ended up receiving nine additions to their original contract, which ended up costing a total of $486,804.22 on behalf of the government of the United States. -
Invention of the Transistor
The invention of the transistor in 1947 formed computers that are now referred to as "Second Generation" computers. Although it made one large section of the computer much more compact, the other parts of the hardware were still extremely large and could only be used by universities and governments. -
Electronic Controls Company
Some individuals who helped create the ENIAC computer J. Presper Eckert and John Mauchly created the first computer company: Electronic Controls Company. This helped encourage new advancements in technology. -
First Printer
In 1953, the first high-speed printer was developed by Remington-Rand for use on the Univac computer. -
The First Integrated Circuit/Microchip
Although computers with microchips did not begin to be sold until 1963, the first integrated circuit was created in 1958. This invention helped create minicomputers, which allowed smaller companies to begin buying and using computers. This new microchip was used in small processing units such as the one used to analyze flight data abot the US Navy's F14A `TomCat' fighter jet. -
ARPANET
ARPANET was created by the US Department of Defense for researching in 1969. It was the first wide area packet switching network, which can be seen as the precursor to today's internet. -
Fourth Generation Computers
In 1971, fourth generation computers were developed. A microprocesser was implemented in computers along with the Intel's invention of the RAM chip. This is the primary working memory in a computer, used for the temporary storage of programs and data in which the data can be accessed directly and modified. -
First Laptop Computer
The first laptop was created by Adam Osbourne, who founded his company, Osbourne Computer, in 1981. The first laptop was called the Osbourne 1. It weighed 24 pounds and cost $1795. -
Audio CD
The first audio CD was created in 1982. -
First Touch Screen Computer
The first touch screen computer was created in 1983 by Hewlett Packard. -
First CD-ROM
The first CD-ROM was created in 1984.
