A short history of computers and a look into the future.

1. MyThoughtsafter 50 Years Never trust anything that can think for itself if you can't see where it keeps its brain. J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets, 1999 Change your thoughts and you change your world. Norman Vincent Peale

3. Driven by Moore’slaw.

4. Hardware centric innovations. Intel introduces the 4.77-MHz 8088 microprocessor.

5. IT isseen as the department of expertise for computer relatedfunctions, user terminals move into the organization.

7. Control Data Corporation announces and delivers the 3600 computer, 603 tape drive, and 405 card reader.

10. Intel announces a 1 KB RAM chip, which has a significantly larger capacity than any previously produced memory chip.

11. Unix is developed at AT&T's Bell Laboratories.

13. Intel creates the first 4004 microprocessor

16. Atari is founded and ships Pong, the first commercial video game.

17. Bill Gates and Paul Allen form the Traf-O-Data company

19. The term "microcomputer" first appears in print, in reference to the Micral.Gary Kildall writes a simple operating system in his PL/M language, called CP/M.

20. IBM introduces the IBM 3340 hard disk unit, known as the Winchester.

21. ScelbiComputer Consulting Company offers the first computer kit in the U.S. using a microprocessor.

22. Bob Metcalfe invents the Ethernet connectivity system.

24. Bravo, the first WYSIWIG program, is developed for the Xerox Alto computer.

25. Popular Electronics publishes an article by MITS announcing the Altair 8800 computer.

26. Motorola introduces its 6800 chip, an 8-bit microprocessor.

27. Brian Kernighan and Dennis Ritchie develop the C programming language.

29. Gates and Allen's Traf-O-Data company is renamed Micro-Soft.

30. The first issue of Byte magazine is published.

32. Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak form the Apple Computer Company, on April Fool's Day.

33. Wang Laboratories announces a word-processing system using advanced computer technology.

34. The Apple I computer board is sold in kit form, and delivered to stores by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak.

35. Zilogreleases the 2.5-MHz Z80.

36. The trade name "Microsoft" is registered.

37. Advanced Micro Devices and Intel sign a patent cross-license agreement, giving AMD the right to copy Intel's microcode.

38. U.S. Robotics is founded.

41. Microsoft ships "Microsoft FORTRAN" for CP/M-based computers.

42. Radio Shack (a division of Tandy Corp.) announces the TRS-80 microcomputer.

44. Atari announces the Atari 400 and 800 personal computers.

45. Dennis Hayes begins Hayes Microcomputer Products.

46. Microsoft begins developing BASIC for the Intel 8086 processor.

47. Taito develops and releases the Space Invaders arcade game in Japan and arcade centers.

50. Software Arts demonstrates VisiCalc at the 4th WC Computer Faire.

51. Intel introduces the 4.77-MHz 8088 microprocessor.

52. Bob Metcalfe founds 3Com Corporation.

53. Motorola's 68000 16-bit microprocessor appears.

54. Personal Software releases VisiCalc for the Apple II.

55. Atari develops the Asteroids computer game.

56. Alan Shugart founds Seagate Technologies, a maker of hard disk drives.

57. IBM introduces the IBM 3800 laser printer.

60. Software drives hardware, VisiCalcis the first game changer.

61. Owners and users of technology are further removed from a central IT structure

63. Microsoft Corp. announces its first hardware product, the Z-80 SoftCard for the Apple II.

64. Satellite Software International ships WordPerfect 1.0 for Data General minicomputers.

65. Seattle Computer Products decides to make their own disk operating system (DOS).

66. Seagate Technologies announces the first Winchester 5.25-inch hard disk drive.

67. Apple Computer becomes a publicly held company.

68. Seattle Computer Products renames QDOS to 86-DOS, releasing it as version 0.3.

69. Philips and Sony create the CD-Audio standard for optical disk storage of digital audio.

70. Intel introduces the 8087 math coprocessor.

72. Microsoft reorganizes into Microsoft Incorporated.

73. Microsoft buys all rights to DOS from Seattle Computer Products, and the name MS-DOS is adopted.

74. IBM introduces its first desktop computer, the Datamaster.The first IBM PCs roll off the assembly lines.

75. IBM announces the IBM 5150 PC personal computer, in New York.

76. Apple Computer introduces its first hard drive, the 5MB ProFile, for US$3,500.

77. Novell Data Systems ships the Novell Data Management Computer, with the ability to share its hard drive space with other computers.

78. Hayes Microcomputer Products advertises the Smartmodem 300, which becomes the industry standard.

79. College professor James Clark found Silicon Graphics.

80. Intel and Advanced Micro Devices agree to collaborate on the design and production of new products.

81. 1981 IBM Personal Computer (PC) Model: 5150 Released: September 1981 Price: US $1,565 ~ $3,000 CPU: Intel 8088, 4.77MHz RAM: 16K, 640K max Display: 80 X 24 text Storage: dual 160KB 5.25-inch disk drives Ports: cassette & keyboard only 5 internal expansion slots OS: PC-DOS v1.0

83. Sharp introduces the Sharp PC-1500 Hand Held Personal Computer.Intel introduces the 6-MHz 80286 microprocessor.

84. Sun Microsystems is founded.

85. IBM first offers CP/M-86 for the IBM PC.

86. Microsoft releases MS-DOS 1.1.

87. The first IBM PC clone is released by Columbia Data Products.IBM ships the 200,000th IBM PC.

88. Hercules announces the Hercules Graphics Card.

89. Lotus Development announces of Lotus 1-2-3.

90. VisiCorpannounces the VisiOn graphical user interface.

91. Apple Computer becomes the first personal computer company to reach US$1 billion in annual sales.

92. Microsoft ships its Multiplan spreadsheet program to IBM for testing and marketing.

93. Mouse Systems introduces the first commercial mouse for the IBM PC.

95. Media Distributing offers a 44MB hard drive.

96. Sony Electronics announces the 3.5 inch floppy disk and drive, double-sided, double-density, holding up to 1MB.

97. Lotus Development ships Lotus 1-2-3 Release 1.0 for MS-DOS.

98. Microsoft introduces Multi-Tool Word for DOS.

99. The one millionth Apple II is made.

100. AT&T Bell Labs designs C++.

101. Texas Instruments withdraws from the personal computer market.

102. Microsoft formally announces Microsoft Windows.

103. Satellite Software International ships WordPerfect 3.0.

104. In an obscure television market Apple Computer runs its "1984" Macintosh ad.

105. Borland International is founded by Philippe Kahn.

106. Novell introduces the NetWare network operating system for the IBM PC.

108. Commodore announces that during 1983 Commodore sold US$1 billion worth of computers.

109. IBM announces the IBM Portable PC.

110. Silicon Graphics begins shipping its first 3-D graphics workstations.

111. Motorola adds the 68020 32-bit processor to its line.

112. Commodore announces the Commodore 16.

113. Commodore purchases Amiga Corporation.

114. IBM announces the PC-AT.

115. IBM announces the Enhanced Graphics Adapter.

116. Microsoft releases MS-DOS 3.0 for PCs.

117. Microsoft gives a demonstration of the final version of Windows to IBM.

118. The number of hosts on the Internet reaches 1000. (see 2010)

119. Several companies introduce 2400 baud modems at COMDEX.

120. Sierra On-Line releases King's Quest.

121. Hewlett-Packard introduces the LaserJet laser printer.

122. Philips announces CD-ROM players for personal computers.

124. Compaq Computer reports second year revenues of US$329 million.

125. Atari introduces the 520ST.

126. Apple Computer co-founder Steve Wozniak resigns from Apple Computer.

127. IBM abandons production of the IBM PCjr.

128. Computer company Gateway 2000 is formed.

129. Apple Computer releases the Apple ImageWriter II printer.

130. Intel introduces the 16-MHz 80386DX microprocessor.

131. IBM introduces its token ring network.

132. Microsoft ships Microsoft Windows 1.0.

133. Apple Computer and Microsoft sign an agreement regarding Microsoft's use of Apple's visual display.

134. VisiCorpfiles for bankruptcy.

135. Nintendo introduces the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US.

136. Novell introduces NetWare 2.0 network operating system.

138. IBM announces the IBM RT Personal Computer.

139. Microsoft releases MS-DOS 3.2.

140. IBM boosts the speed of the IBM PC AT by replacing the CPU with a 8-MHz Intel 80286.

141. Compaq Computer joins the Fortune 500 list faster than any company in history.

142. Microsoft first sells shares to the public.

143. Apple Computer discontinues the original Macintosh.

144. WordPerfect ships WordPerfect 4.2.

145. Ashton-Tate ships the one millionth copy of dBase.

146. Lotus Development releases a French version of Lotus 1-2-3 v2.0 in France.

147. MIPS Technologies unveils the 8-MHz R2000 32-bit CPU. With 110,000 transistors.

148. Adobe introduces Adobe Illustrator.

149. NEC Home Electronics introduces its NEC JC-1401P3A Multisyncmonitor.

151. Apple Computer introduces the open architecture Macintosh II.

152. Apple Computer makes its 1 millionth Macintosh personal computer.

153. U.S. Robotics unveils its 9600 bps Courier HST modem.

154. IBM introduces the IBM Personal System/2 (PS/2) line.

155. IBM unveils its Video Graphics Array (VGA).

156. IBM introduces its Micro Channel Architecture (MCA).

157. IBM and Microsoft announce Operating System/2 (OS/2).

158. IBM announces DOS 3.3 for PCs.

159. Microsoft announces Microsoft Windows 2.0.

160. Advanced Micro Devices files suit against Intel.

161. Sun Microsystems introduces its first SPARC-based system.

162. Microsoft acquires Forethought.

163. Apple Computer creates the Claris software company.

164. Microsoft ships Microsoft Bookshelf, the first CD-ROM application.

165. Microsoft unveils the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.

166. Microsoft releases Microsoft Word 4.0 for the PC.

167. Borland International ships the Quattro spreadsheet program.

169. Apple Computer releases its first Ethernet networking product.

170. Spectrum Holobyte introduces Tetris.

171. Apple Computer sues Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard for copyright infringement.

172. Intel introduces the 25-MHz 80386DX microprocessor.

173. Motorola unveils the 88000 processor.

174. Apple Computer contracts with Quantum Computer Services to create AppleLink.

175. Microsoft releases MS-DOS 4.0.

176. Intel introduces the 16-MHz 80386SX microprocessor.

177. Compaq Computer introduces its first laptop PC with VGA graphics.

178. Steve Jobs of NeXT Inc. unveils the first NeXT computer.

179. Digital Research transforms CP/M into DR DOS.

180. The bus standard used on IBM AT compatibles is given the name Industry Standard Architecture.

181. W.H. Sim founds Creative Labs, Inc.

182. Hewlett-Packard introduces the HP DeskJet inkjet printer.

184. The VESA graphics standard emerges.

185. Intel begins production of the 80486 microprocessor.

186. Intel announces the 25-MHz 486 microprocessor.

187. Intel introduces the 33-MHz version of the 80386DX microprocessor.

188. Microsoft releases Microsoft Word 5.0 for DOS.

189. The Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) is formed.

190. Apple Computer introduces 1.4MB floppy drives for the Macintosh.

191. Apple Computer and Microsoft announces an alliance to develop a new font standard.

192. Cyrix introduces the FasMath 83D87 math coprocessor.

193. WordPerfect ships WordPerfect 5.1.

194. At Fall Comdex, IBM and Microsoft strongly endorse each other's operating systems.

195. Xerox files a US$150 million lawsuit against Apple.

196. Intel unveils the i860 RISC processor.

197. Creative Labs introduces the Sound Blaster.

199. Intel introduces the 33-MHz 486 microprocessor.

200. Microsoft introduces and ships Microsoft Windows 3.0.

201. Digital Research releases DR DOS 5.0.

202. The US Federal Trade Commission begins an investigation of Microsoft Corp.

203. Microsoft's sales revenues hit US$1 billion for the past year.

204. Acer Incorporated buys Alto Computer Systems for US$94 million.

205. The IEEE approves the 10BASE-T Ethernet specification.

206. IBM and Microsoft end cooperative work on operating systems.

207. Apple Computer discontinues many of it's Macintoshes.

208. IBM introduces the XGA MCA graphics card.

209. Apple Computer's AppleLink - Personal Edition is renamed America Online.

210. Motorola announces a new line of single-chip RISC processors.

211. A judge rules that competitors to Intel can use the x86 designation.

213. Microsoft releases MS-DOS 5.0.

214. Intel introduces the 50-MHz 486 microprocessor.

215. Microsoft changes the name of the operating system shared with IBM called OS/2 v3.0 to Windows NT 3.0.

216. The ban on business is lifted on the Internet.

217. Apple Computer ships its System 7.0 Macintosh operating system for US$100.

218. The PCMCIA card specification v2.0 is released.

219. Apple Computer unveils the Macintosh PowerBook 100.

220. IBM and Intel sign a 10-year joint development agreement to create a series of integrated processors.

221. Hewlett-Packard introduces its first color image scanner, the HP Scanjet IIc.

222. Pixar begins work with the Walt Disney Company on a full-length computer animated film.

225. NEC introduces the first double-speed CD-ROM drive.

226. Microsoft launches its first TV advertising campaign, for Windows.

227. Intel and Microsoft announce the Advanced Power Management (APM) specification for laptop computers.

228. Intel introduces the i486DX2 microprocessor, with clock speeds of 25/50-MHz (external/internal).

229. Microsoft ships Windows 3.1.

230. IBM and Microsoft sign a "divorce" document.

231. Advanced Micro Devices begins work on a fifth-generation x86 processor (in the class of Intel's Pentium chip).

232. Apple Computer introduces the PowerBook 145.

233. Intel introduces the 66-MHz i486DX2 microprocessor.

234. Intel introduces the 66-MHz OverDrive chip as a companion to the 486SX/33.

235. Digital Equipment unveils the 150-MHz Alpha 21064 64-bit microprocessor.

236. Novell buys Unix Systems Laboratories from AT&T, gaining all rights to the Unix source code.

238. Images of the 1990’s 1993 1998

240. NeXT announces that it will drop its hardware line.

241. Apple Computer ships the 10 millionth Macintosh computer.

242. Digital Equipment announces the 200-MHz Alpha 21064 processor.

243. Intel introduces the Pentium processor.

244. The Software Publishers Association reports that MS-Windows applications are outselling MS-DOS programs for the first time.

245. Microsoft formally launches Windows NT 3.1.

246. The United States Environmental Protection Agency officially launches the Energy Star program.

247. Apple Computer introduces the Newton MessagePad 100 personal digital assistant at Macworld Expo.

248. PC Gamer, the first computer magazine devoted totally to computer gaming, begins publication.

249. Apple Computer discontinues the Apple II line of computers.

250. Benny S. Lee, of Everex Systems, Inc. is sentenced to one year in prison for manufacturing and selling counterfeit MS-DOS software.

252. Intel ships its 100-MHz IntelDX4 435 processor.

253. Novell buys WordPerfect Corporation for US$850 million.

254. Mosaic Communications releases Netscape Navigator 1.0, a world-wide web browser.

255. Microsoft is granted a trademark to the name "Windows" for software products.

256. Borland International sells its Quattro Pro spreadsheet to Novell for about US$140 million.

257. U.S. Robotics ships the Courier v.34 28.8Kbps modems. List price: US$329 internal, US$349 external.

258. Microsoft announces and ships Windows NT Workstation 3.5 and Windows NT Server 3.5.

259. Intel confirms that about 2 million Pentium chips have been shipped with a defective floating-point unit.

260. WordStar International, Spinnaker Software, and SoftKey Software Products merge companies.

261. Iomega Corp. introduces its Zip drive and Zip disks, floppy disk sized removable storage in sizes 100MB.

263. Microsoft asks Netscape Communications to agree to not develop Netscape Navigator for Windows 95 and successors. Netscape refuses.

264. Apple Computer introduces the first commercial color laser printer, the Color Laser Printer 12/600PS.

265. Iomega introduces the Jaz line of high capacity removable cartridge drives.

266. Microsoft releases Windows NT v3.51.

267. U.S. Robotics begins shipping enhanced Courier V.Everything modems capable of transmitting data at up to 33.6Kbps.

268. Microsoft releases Windows 95.

269. Microsoft introduces Office 95.

270. Digital Equipment announces its Alpha 21164 processor running at 333-MHz.

271. Novell announces its decision to exit from the personal productivity applications business.

272. Intel announces the Pentium Pro microprocessor at speeds of 150-, 180-, and 200 MHz.

273. Sony Electronics introduces its 32-bit game system, PlayStation.

275. Corel purchases WordPerfect, Quattro Pro, and the PerfectOffice application suite from Novell for US$180 million.

276. Santa Cruz Operations releases SCO UnixWare 2.1.

277. Silicon Graphics buys Cray Research, at a cost of about US$765 million.

278. Corel releases Corel WordPerfect Suite 7, and Corel Office Professional Suite.

279. Intel introduces the 200-MHz Pentium processor, in small quantities. Price is US$599.

280. Nintendo announces the Nintendo 64, a 64-bit console system.

281. Microsoft releases Windows NT 4.0.

282. Microsoft releases Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0.

283. Microsoft unveils Windows CE operating system for hand-held PCs.

284. Seagate Technology introduces the Cheetah ST19101 9.1 GB, a 10,000 RPM hard disk drive.

285. Microsoft unveils Microsoft Office 97 at Fall Comdex.

287. Steve Jobs announces an investment of US$150 million from Microsoft.

288. Apple Computer releases the Mac OS 8.0.

289. Apple announces it will only sell computers via the CompUSA retail chain and online via the Apple Store.

290. Netscape Communications releases the Netscape Communicator suite, which includes Navigator 4.

291. Motorola announces it is leaving the Macintosh market.

292. Sun Microsystems takes legal action against Microsoft for using non-standardized Java in Internet Explorer 4.

293. Apple announces the G3 processor, which is twice as fast as a comparably megahertz-rated Pentium II chip.

294. Tim Berners-Lee awarded the Institute of Physics' 1997 Duddell Medal for inventing the World Wide Web.

296. Microsoft ships Windows 98.

297. Netscape announces that it will make its source code available to anyone who wants it.

298. Value of internet stocks such as Yahoo! and Infoseekskyrocket.

299. Apple Computer ceases development of its Newton operating system and Newton OS-based products.

300. Apple Computer releases the iMac.

301. Intel releases the Pentium II 300, 333, 400, 450, and faster processors to the market.

303. The growth of browser usage, running on the HTML language, changed the way in which information-display and retrieval was organized.

304. The widespread network connections led to the growth and prevention of international computer viruses on MS Windows computers, and the vast proliferation of spam e-mail became a major design issue in e-mail systems, flooding communication channels and requiring semi-automated pre-screening.

306. WWW is now the new reality, newsprint and books are on the way out.

307. Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter, MP3 players are the tip of the iceberg.

309. Official Launch of Windows 2000 - Microsoft's replacement for Windows 95/98 and Windows NT. Claimed to be faster and more reliable than previous versions of Windows. It is actually a descendant of the NT series, and so the trade-off for increased reliability is that it won't run some old DOS-based games.

310. To keep the home market happy Microsoft has also released Windows ME, the newest member of the 95/98 series.

311. AMD released an Athlon clocked at 1 GHz.

312. Intel releases very limited supplies of the 1 GHz Pentium III chip.

314. The New Role of IT Technical expertise is only one of the talents required to be successful in the new IT IT as a profession will decline in importance unless it re-invents itself. IT will become either a service (water, or electric company) model or a leader of collaboration and re-engineering We will see a “digital battleground” evolve quickly with “digital terrorists” soon to follow.

315. Other Changes 2020+ Copyright, patents and intellectual property rights will change radically or will be swept away. Workplace roles will change radically, just as the “secretary” and dictation are almost gone. The LinkedIn type paradigm will promote ad hoc teams of “experts” to tackle issues.

316. More Changes Connectivity will be a non-issue as the WWW will move to new technology and/or structure or it will be replaced and WIFI will be ubiquitous. Quantum and organic devices will make today’s fastest technology look like a Conestoga wagon. We will have a new unified theory of physics and time altering technology will become the new frontier

317. Flexible and embedded technology will become as common as gene manipulation and genetic engineering. The StarTrek inspiration will be replaced by a new inspiration for today’s children(Avatar?). Closed societies will wither but social, and religious groups will struggle to influence the societal changes and conflicts will deepen as we become more “electronically connected”.

318. 3D displays, virtual keyboards, gesture reading appliances, self healing technology, and embedded intelligence will begin to redefine our societies with everyone within reach electronically. “Professional interaction engineering applications” will be the new game changer. Technology will be less visible and more enabling.

319. Every individual will have a “one point of contact” like a single telephone number (Google) of today. Privacy issues and control issues will take years to settle. Big brick and mortar businesses will change or go under. The web and UPS! Education will become a way of life not just 4 year degrees and advanced degrees.

320. Other’s thoughts Some more thoughts; “brick and mortar going down, toll booths being COMPLETELY automated and tied to the state database of car registry so it charges you by car, check out lines at stores being automated and linked to bank accounts with RFID on products, RFID tags on kids backpacks so when they arrive at school roll is taken and if your kid isn't there the parents are notified, GPS reporting in most all devices. Most of these things I believe to be not even that far off.” Your thoughts????