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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). -
First Public Address System
IBM invents the first public address system for school use (Reed). -
Begins Production of Electric Typewriters
IBM begins to produce electric typewriters, a precursor of the personal computer business that later comes to be (Reed). -
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). -
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). -
Creation of the IBM 701
Built their first commercial stored program computer, the vacuum tube based IBM 701. ("IBM 701"). -
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). -
IBM designs the language FORTRAN
IBM designs FORTRAN, which is a programming language that formed the basis for many other modern coding languages (Reed). -
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). -
Begins Use of Transistorized Computer Designs
Switched to transistorized computer designs with the 7000 and 1400 series machines (Reed). -
Development of the SABRE reservation system
IBM developed the SABRE reservation system which was made for American Airliners (Reed). -
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). -
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). -
IBM Partners Up with Microsoft
Partnered up with Microsoft to us MS-DOS as the operating system on their machines (Reed). -
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). -
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). -
IBM Sells Computing Division to Lenovo
IBM sells its personal computing division to Lenovo, which shifted its main focus even more so towards the business services model (Reed).