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2000 BCE
Abacus
More than 4,000 years ago the abacus was created in Babylon as a calculating machine. -
Binary Systems
A textile merchant demonstrated that machines could be controlled by binary systems. -
Algorythms
Scientists Turing and Church claimed that a computer could solve any mathematical problem that could be represented by an algorithm, and this allowed the development of the first computer. -
1st Generation of Computers - Machine Language
Machine language is born, allowing that mechanical processes convert into electrical processes, saving time and space. -
Sputnik & Consequences
During the Cold War the first unman satellite Sputnik I was sent into orbit by the Soviet Union. The fear of a Missile Gap emerged and the US created DARPA (Defense Advanced Reseach Projects Agency), that later on developed ARPANET. -
2nd Generation of Computers - Transistor
The appearance of the transistor allowed the development of circuits, improving the performance of computers. -
Decentralization of Information Systems Architecture
US spy planes discovered missiles in Cuba that could reach the US. This brought fear of an atomic conflict. At that time information systems had a centralized architecture, which was converted into decentralized in order to avoid the risk of the whole systems being destroyed by one single attack. -
3rd Generation of Computers - Chips
Chips were developed, consuming less energy and reduced notably the size of computers. -
4th Generation of Computers - Micro Chips and Micro Processors and the Personal Computers
The development of Micro Chips and Micro Processors made personal computers available for everybody, in companies and even in homes. -
5th Generation of Computers - Internet
Operating systems with interface design appear and Internet is born to the human world. -
Internet
The US network ARPANET created by DARPA, the US military network created by a US corporation named RAND, the UK commercial network created by the National Physical Laboratory, and the French CYCLADES scientific network were the foundations for the development of the modern Internet, after the TCP/IP was created following the recommendations of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). -
Friends Reunited
With Friends Reunited people could connect with old school friends, look at their pictures and communicate through messages. It was like the first Facebook and the first social media to pass the test of time. -
Blogs and Instant Messaging Services
The first type of social media first heat the mainstream in 1997 with the appearance of blogging. The Internet had then 1 million websites and AOL introduced the chat function. -
6th Generation of Computers? - Notebook, Tables & Smart Phones
Though the 6th generation is not exactly defined, it is clear that now the user can take control of its computer. The user is no longer passive, and can program and design its own apps and develop software. -
Friendster
With more than 70 million computers connected to the Internet, Friendster appeared in 2002, and reached 100 million users. -
My Space, Podcasts, Flickr & LinkedIn
My Space was almost a clone of Friendster but passed the test of time. It allowed editing profiles and allowed bands to show their music and gain fans. In 2003 also Podcasts, Flickr and LinkedIn appeared. -
Facebook
Facebook was launched at Harvard college and was known to the students as their own Friendster. -
Bebo & YouTube
Bebo (blog early blog often) was launched. This social network allowed users to create little apps to separate it from its competitors. YouTube was also created in 2005, as a website where users could store and view videos. -
Twitter
Twitter was created as a microblogging site that allowed to send and receive twits not only to family but also to celebrities, breaking the barriers between them and their fans. In 2006 My Space continued to grow and became the most popular networking site by then. -
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Rise & Fall of many Social Media Networks
By 2008 a quarter of the Earths population used Internet. My Space, Twitter and Facebook survived. Facebook surpassed My Space in the amount of users. -
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New Social Media
From 2009 to the present we have seen new social media networks and apps, all looking at different aspects of the industry. Tumblr, Pinterest, Google +, Wordpress and Pinterest have been launched, among others. Some older social media networks such as My Space and Bebo had to redesign to survive, and others such as Friendster had to close their doors. Social media is now part of people and companies day to day lives. There are some negative effects of social media such as privacy issues.
