History of the computer

first computer

Oct 31, 1936

first freely programmable computer
This was literaly the first computer that was programmed up to standards that are much lower than todays mighty computer but still marked a huge milestone for the making of the machine.

Inventors of the Modern Computer

Oct 31, 1942

Professor John Atanasoff and graduate student Clifford Berry built the world's first electronic-digital computer at Iowa State University between 1939 and 1942. The Atanasoff-Berry Computer represented several innovations in computing, including a binary system of arithmetic, parallel processing, regenerative memory, and a separation of memory and This is pretty important because tracing back your highspeed monitor or computer will lead to these people and computer.

The first successful high level programming language.

Oct 31, 1956

John Backus for IBM in 1954, and released commercially in 1957. Fortran is still used today for programming scientific and mathematical applications. Fortran began as a digital code interpreter for the IBM 701 and was originally named Speedcoding.
This was important because it was a program that performed language applications for the first time.

The first computer game invented.

Oct 31, 1962

It was in 1962 when a young computer programmer from MIT, Steve Russell fueled with inspiration from the writings of E. E. "Doc" Smith*, led the team** that created the first popular computer game. Starwar was almost the first computer game ever written
Their is a big gaming industry that dates back to this one computer game along with tennis for two and OXO which were not as popular.

networking

Oct 31, 1973

The ethernet is a system for connecting computers within a building using hardware running from machine to machine. It differs from the Internet, which connects remotely located computers by telephone line, software protocol and some hardware.
The first wired networking at home and on the internet.

first consumer computers

Oct 31, 1975

In the early 1970s, anyone wanting to use a computer had to wait in a long line as computers were few and far apart. The desire and the market was increasing for a computer that could be used at home or in the office, the "personal computer"
Computers were now becoming a widespread thing now that the everyday conumer could use a computer

word processor

Oct 31, 1980

Released in 1979 by Micropro International, WordStar was the first commercially successful word processing software program produced for microcomputers and the best selling software program of the early eighties.
This made the first actual paging document for writing papaers and such, was a huge hit in the 80's as well.

Microsoft begins the friendly war with Apple

Oct 31, 1985

On November 10, 1983, at the Plaza Hotel in New York City, Microsoft Corporation formally announced Microsoft Windows, a next-generation operating system that would provide a graphical user interface (GUI) and a multitasking environment for IBM computers.
I think this is important because it shows two very huge technology making companies at a competition as well as this marks the beggining of that rivalry.

Graphics and movies

Oct 31, 1992

“Terminator 2: Judgment Day” opens. Director James Cameron’s sequel to his 1984 hit “The Terminator,” featured ground-breaking special effects done by Industrial Light & Magic. Made for a record $100 million,
I think this is important because terminator is such a universal movie that everyone likes as well as $100 million.

Companies use computers now

Oct 31, 1994

Netscape Communications Corporation is founded. Netscape was originally founded as Mosaic Communications Corporation in April of 1994 by Marc Andreessen, Jim Clark and others. Its name was soon changed to Netscape and it delivered its first browser in October of 1994.
Small and big companies start to take hold of computers and they globalize the modern economy as we know it today.