Timeline: IBM Timeline

1911

Original Founding

In Endicott, New York, the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company, or CTR, is founded. The name is later changed to International Business Machines (IBM) in 1924 (Reed).

1928

First Public Address System

IBM invents the first public address system for school use (Reed).

1933

Begins Production of Electric Typewriters

IBM begins to produce electric typewriters, a precursor of the personal computer business that later comes to be (Reed).

1935

IBM Builds Machines for the Social Security Administration

IBM is selected to build data management machines for the new Social Security program by the Social Security Administration (Reed).

1943

IBM Creates the Vacuum Tube Multiplier

IBM created the Vacuum Tube Multiplier, which was the first completely electronic computing machine, that later led to the development of the Mark 1, the first modern computer (Reed).

1952

Creation of the IBM 701

Built their first commercial stored program computer, the vacuum tube based IBM 701. ("IBM 701").

1956

IBM Incorporates AI technology

IBM utilized artificial intelligence technology when Arthur L. Samuel programmed an IBM 704 to learn from its own experiences while playing checkers (Reed).

1957

IBM designs the language FORTRAN

IBM designs FORTRAN, which is a programming language that formed the basis for many other modern coding languages (Reed).

1958

IBM Introduces the RAMAC

Introduced the first computer disk storage system, the RAMAC, which was able to answer questions about world history in 10 different languages at the 1958 World’s Fair (Reed).

1958

Begins Use of Transistorized Computer Designs

Switched to transistorized computer designs with the 7000 and 1400 series machines (Reed).

1961

Development of the SABRE reservation system

IBM developed the SABRE reservation system which was made for American Airliners (Reed).

1969

Invents the Magnetic Stripe Card

IBM engineer Forrest Parry invents the magnetic stripe card, used in modern credit cards. Drivers license's and other identity cards followed suit later throughout the 1970s (Reed).

1981

IBM Creates the PC 5150

IBM created the Personal Computer 5150, one of the first computers used by consumers rather than businesses or government clients (Reed).

1981

IBM Partners Up with Microsoft

Partnered up with Microsoft to us MS-DOS as the operating system on their machines (Reed).

1991

IBM Shifts Towards Business Services

IBM’s mainstream profit center and business model shifted away from technology and more towards the growth of business services (Reed).

1997

Deep Blue Beats Chess Champion Garry Kasparov

IBM’s artificial intelligence, “Deep Blue”, beats world chess champion Garry Kasparov. This marks the first time a computer had beaten a world champion in a traditional chess match (Reed).