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Category Archives: Computer history
First General-Purpose Computer Proposed
Seventy years ago today (April 2, 1943), John Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert of the Moore School at the University of Pennsylvania submitted a proposal for building an “electronic calculator” to the U.S. Army’s Ballistics Research Laboratory. The contract was … Continue reading
Posted in Computer history
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Phototransistor Invented
Today in 1950, the invention of the phototransistor was announced by Bell Telephone Laboratories. This was a transistor operated by light rather than electric current, invented by Dr. John Northrup Shive. Last year,, Bob Metcalfe reviewed a new history of Bell Labs, The Idea … Continue reading
Edward Tufte Reviews Pocket Calculators
In 1975, just before the birth of the PC industry, Edward Tufte wrote a review of pocket calculators for the American Journal of Political Science. He summarized the rate of advance of the computer technology of the day (citing Rein … Continue reading
Posted in Caclulators, Computer history, Memory
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First Internet Domain Name and a New Era for IT
Today in 1985, the first Internet domain name, symbolics.com, was registered. Bob Metcalfe connected this event with the thirty-year anniversary of the IEEE 802 standards committee starting its work on Local Area Networking and Metropolitan Area Networking standards: “These two … Continue reading
Posted in Computer history, This day in information
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The Evolution of Web Hosting (Infographic)
Cloud Hosting Infographic Created by PEER 1 Hosting
Posted in Cloud Computing, Computer history, World Wide Web
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The Homebrew Club and the Birth of Apple
Today in 1975, the Homebrew Computer Club met for the first time. Wikipedia: “Several very high-profile hackers and IT entrepreneurs emerged from its ranks, including the founders of Apple Inc. The short-lived newsletter they published was instrumental in creating the technological … Continue reading
Posted in Apple, Computer history, Innovation
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Magnetic Core Memory Patented
Today in 1956, Jay Forrester of MIT was awarded a patent for his magnetic core memory. It became the standard for computer memory until it was supplanted by solid state RAM in the mid-seventies. It has continued to be used, … Continue reading
Posted in Computer history, Memory, This day in information
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Lord Byron and the Luddites
Today in 1812, Lord Byron gave his first address as a member of the House of Lords, in a parliamentary debate on the Frame Breaking Act. Byron told his peers: “During the short time I recently passed in Nottingham, not twelve … Continue reading
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