Significant Computer Inventions of the 1980s

  • IBM 5150 Personal Computer

    IBM 5150 Personal Computer
    Inventor: Thomas Watson. The IBM 5150 Personal Computer was a game changer. It was extremely expensive but is believed to be the reason for the software boom. After the IBM 5150 Personal Computer, companies began quickly developing video games, PC applications and more.
  • Phillips Compact Disc (CD)

    Phillips Compact Disc (CD)
    Inventor: James Russell. The first compact disc (CD) was developed in 1982 by Phillips and Sony. The CD became extremely popular as it was known to have stored more data than the actual hard drive of a PC.
  • Motorola DynaTAC 8000x Mobile Phone

    Motorola DynaTAC 8000x Mobile Phone
    Inventor: Martin Cooper. We can't talk about the 80s without mentioning the first ever mobile phone. Motorola changed the world with the first ever mobile phone. It was big and heavy but it didn't require you to find a pay-phone whenever you needed to give someone a call. The DynaTAC 8000x had enough power to allow it's user to speak on the phone for just one hour but it worked and it really changed the industry.
  • Sony Betamovie BMC-100P Camcorder

    Sony Betamovie BMC-100P Camcorder
    Inventor: Jerome Lemelson. Sony revolutionized the way recording was done with the first ever camcorder. The Betamovie BMC-100P allowed individuals to record anything and everything they so chose. Though it was portable, it wasn't lightweight and it was bulky. Despite this, it became an instant hit across the world with companies like JVC and Kodak following suit with their own camcorders just a year later (1984).
  • Fujifilm Disposable Camera

    Fujifilm Disposable Camera
    Inventor: Fujifilm. The disposable camera helped every day folks carry a camera with them wherever they go. Unlike the heavy and expensive camera equipment the world was so used to, the Fujifilm changed the industry by developing a camera you could hold in one hand.