Technology milestones of the late 20th century

20th century

Period: Jan 1, 1950 to Jan 1, 2000

The diner's credit card established

Jun 5, 1950

The Diner's credit card was established in 1950 and was the first credit card to be offered which could be used in multiple businesses. This would soon lead to many of the credit cards we see today such as American Express and the Visa card in 1958.

Bar code creation

Oct 7, 1952

The first bar code was created in oct. of 1952 by Joseph Woodland and Bernard Silver. Although this first model was not effective, they went on to modify their invention eventually developing the modern bar code.

The first H bomb tested

Nov 1, 1952

After much controversy, the development of the first thermonucular weapon, the Hydrogen Bomb began. Just a couple years later on November the 1st, it was tested. It shocked all those involved by its sheer power. When compared to the first atomic bomb dropped on japan, the H-bomb was over 450 times more powerfull.

The invention of the Microwave

Jan 1, 1955

In 1945 Raytheon's Percy Spencer stands in front of a magnetron (the power tube of radar) and feels a candy bar start to melt in his pocket: He is intrigued. When he places popcorn kernels in front of the magnetron, the kernels explode all over the lab. Ten years later Spencer patents a "radar range" that cooks with high-frequency radio waves; that same year, the Tappan Stove Co. introduces the first home microwave model.

The invention of the first transistors

Jan 1, 1956

John Bardeen, Walter H. Brattain, and William Shockley developed the first transistors leading to many technological developments including of course, the transistor radio.

Carbon Fiber invented

Oct 11, 1957

Later in the 1970s, Carbon fiber containing 85 percent fibers and possessing great strength were developed. This process used petroleum pitch as the raw material. The resulting Carbon Fiber is more durable and stronger than steel. Because of its low weight and tensile strength, carbon fiber is now very popular in the auto industry.

Float glass invented

Jan 1, 1959

In 1959, the technique for creating glass panes changed. Before 1959, glass panes were formed by rolling hot glass through two rollers creating an uneaven but cheap glass pane. But with the creation of the float glass method, molten glass would be melted on a vat of liquid tin creating a thin even sheet of glass.

The development of the micro-chip

Sep 26, 1959

The first Micro-chip or Integrated Circuit was created. This opened up for technological advancements by shrinking the size of the components needed in their construction.

IBM's SABRE system installed in American Airlines

Jan 1, 1960

In 1960, IBM created the SABRE (Semi-Automated Business Research Environment) system for American Airlines. This system enabled them to process thousands of customers in a fraction of the time. IBM later developed similar systems for the other major airlines revolutionizing the airline industry.

The first commercial satellite is launched

Apr 6, 1966

On April 6, 1966 the first commercial satellite was launched. Commercial satellites are owned by individual companies rather than non-profit entities like governments. They orbit the earth and transmit signals for cellular phone companies, television cable companies and Internet providers.

The ARPAnet opens

Mar 27, 1969

The ARPAnet or Internet as it later became, is a series of interconnective networks allowing the transmission of information from one computer to another. It was first created for use by the military, but once opened to the public expanded tremendously.

lunar landing

Jul 20, 1969

The first manned landing on the moon

First automated teller machines

Sep 2, 1970

Citizens and Southern National Bank in Valdosta, Ga., installed the country´s first automatic teller machine

invention of the microprocessor

Nov 6, 1971

In 1971, the company Intel introduced the worlds first single chip microprocessor; combining the central processing unit, memory, input controls, and output controls on one chip. This saved a significant amount of space over conventional machines and enabled the creation of small, personal technology not possible before. In addition, the chip exceeded it's predecessors in both power and storage.

Cell phones created

Apr 16, 1973

Martin Cooper makes the first call from a portable cellular device such as the "cell phones" we have today.

Ethernet invented

May 22, 1973

The invention of the ethernet in 1973 provided for greater security and protection in businesses worldwide

GPS launched

Jun 30, 1978

The first satellite in the modern Navstar Global Positioning System (GPS) is launched. (The GPS's precursor, TRANSIT, was developed in the early 1960s to guide nuclear subs.) It is not until the year 2000, though, that President Clinton grants nonmilitary users access to an unscrambled GPS signal. Now, cheap, handheld GPS units can determine a person's location to within 3 yards.

Computer "worm" or "virus"

Jan 1, 1979

John Shoch and Jon Hupp at the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center discover the computer "worm," a short program that searches a network for idle processors. Initially designed to provide more efficient use of computers and for testing, the worm had the unintended effect of invading networked computers, creating a security threat.

The first laptop computer

Jan 1, 1979

Designed in 1979 by a Briton, William Moggridge, for Grid Systems Corporation, the Grid Compass was one fifth the weight of any model equivalent in performance and was used by NASA on the space shuttle program in the early 1980's. A 340K byte bubble memory lap-top computer with die-cast magnesium case and folding electroluminescent graphics display screen.

Microsoft Windows established

Nov 10, 1983

The now famous Microsoft Windows was announced in 1983 and was the most inovative step towards graphical user interfacing of its time.

New Superconductors found

Feb 27, 1987

In 1987 scientists found a perovskite based material that superconducted at almost twice the temperature of any previous superconductor. A super conductor is a material that when cooled cunducts electricity perfectly without resistance.
http://www.superconductors.org/

The Hubble telescope launch

Apr 24, 1990

<a href='http://hubblesite.org/' >Spectacular pictures of stars, galaxies, nebulae and more The Hubble was one of the greatest steps man has taken to understanding the universe.

HTML created

Nov 1, 1990

Computer language HTML created
http://www.computerhope.com/learnhtm.htm

Mosaic web browser released

Jan 1, 1993

The mosaic web browser allowed the general population to search the internet for the first time.

Human Genome Sequenced

Feb 16, 1998

Through a process known as genetic sequencing, Craig Vinter and his company started and three years later, successfully completed the mapping of the human Genome