The computer age did not really begin until the first computer was made available to the public in 1951. The history of computer can be categorized into 5 generations according to their significant advance in technology.
First Generation (1951-1957): The Vacuum Tube Age
1951: The first commercially available electronic digital computer – the UNIVAC – built with vacuum tubes was introduced by Dr.John W. Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert Jr. This computer was based on their earlier ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer) design completed in 1946.
1952: A6 Compiler – the first example of software that converts high-level language symbols into instructions that a computer can execute was introduced by a development team led by Dr. Grace Hopper, former U.S. Navy programmer.
1951-1953: IBM adds computers into its business equipment products and sells over 1,000 IBM 650 systems.
1957: Introduction of first high-level programming language – FORTRAN (FORmula TRANslator).
Second Generation (1958-1963): The Transistor Age
1958: Introduction of computers built with transistors – a 1947 Bell Laboratories invention.
1959: Introduction of the removable disk pack, providing users with fast access to stored data.
ERMA (Electronic Recording Machine Accounting) – the first technology that can read special characters, such as digitized information was introduced by General Electric Corporation.
1960: Introduction of first business application programming language – COBOL (Common Business Oriented Language) – based on English like phrases.
1963: Introduction of the first computer industry standard character set – ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) that enables computers to exchange information.
Third Generation (1964-1969): The Integrated Circuit Age
1964: Introduction of computers built with an integrated circuit (IC), which incorporates multiple transistors and electronic circuits on a single silicon chip.
IBM introduces its System/360 line of compatible computers, which can all use the same programs and peripherals.
1965: The first minicomputer was introduced by Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC).
Introduction of the BASIC programming language.
1969: Introduction of ARPANET and the beginning of the Internet.
IBM announces its decision to offer unbundled software, priced and sold separately from the hardware.
Fourth Generation (1970-1990): The Microprocessor Age
1970: Introduction of computers built with chips that used LSI (large-scale integration).
1971: A microprogrammable computer chip – the Intel 4004 microprocessor was developed by Dr. Ted Hoff of Intel Corporation.
1975: First local area network (LAN) – Ethernet – developed at Xerox PARC (Palo Alto Research Center).
The MITS, Inc., Altair becomes the first commercially successful microcomputer, selling for less than $400 a kit.
1977: Apple Computer, Inc., founded by Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs, and Apple I introduced as an easy-to-use “hobbyist” computer.
1979: Introduction of the first public information services – Compuserve and the Source.
1980: IBM asks Microsoft founder, Bill Gates, to develop an operating system – MS-DOS – for the soon-to-be released IBM personal computer.
1981: Introduction of the IBM PC, which contains an Intel microprocessor chip and Microsoft’s MS-DOS operating system.
1984: The Macintosh Computer, with a unique, easy-to-use graphical user interface was introduced by Apple.
1985: Microsoft introduces its Windows graphical user interface.
1989: Introduction of Intel 486 – the first 1,000,000 transistor microprocessor.
1990: Microsoft releases Windows 3.0, with an enhanced graphical user interface and the ability to run multiple applications.
Fifth Generation (1991-2005 and beyond): The Age of Connectivity
1991: Release of World Wide Web standards that describe the framework of linking documents on different computers.
A version of UNIX called the Linux operating system was developed by Linus Torvalds, a graduate student at the University of Helsinki.
1992: The Newton Message Pad – a personal digital assistant (PDA) that incorporates a pen interface and wireless communications was introduced by Apple.
1993: Introduction of computer systems built with Intel’s Pentium microprocessor.
Introduction of the Mosaic graphical Web browser, which led to the organization of Netscape Communications Corporation.
1995: Intel begins shipping the Pentium Pro microprocessor.
Microsoft releases Windows 95, a major upgrade to its Windows operating system.
1997: Microsoft releases Office 97 with major Web enhancements integrated into its applications.
1998: Microsoft releases Office 98 integrated with Internet Explorer 4.0; antitrust legislation intensifies.
1999: Microsoft releases Office 2000, featuring extensive Web integration and document collaboration, soon followed by Windows 2000.
2001: Microsoft releases Windows XP and Office XP with enhanced user interfaces, better integration and collaboration tools, and increased stability.
Apple releases Mac OSX with a UNIX backbone and new interface.
2002: Microsoft initiates its .NET platform that allows users to create a profile for use across platforms and allows developers to create Web services quickly.
2004: CAN-SPAM Act enacted, requiring unsolicited e-mail to be labelled and making it illegal to use deceptive headers and anonymous return addresses. The law also requires unsolicited e-mail to allow recipients to opt out and authorizes the FTC to create a “do-not-e-mail” registry.
2005: Wireless connections (WiFi) to the Internet, called hot spots, allow the public to access the Internet at airports, hotels, and many cafes. Many expect WiFi connections to be available almost everywhere in the next few years – from doctors’ offices to airplanes. By 2007 it is expected that nearly 20 million people will use WiFi to access the Web.
Over the years, until now, many computer and Web applications have been launched. Devices have been created.
The release of Windows Vista and Windows 7 on 2007 and 2009 respectively are results of development in
operating system. Many gadgets with embedded computer have been created, mostly in portable form.
