The purpose of this brief article is to provide a barebones timeline concerning computer history. In fact, this overview focuses on the computer history from their basic inception in 1936 to the advent of Microsoft Windows in the mid-1980s. This listing and overview is not attempting to be all-inclusive computer history. Rather, we attempt only to provide a basic timeline regarding the computer history and the development of the computer as we have come to know computers in this day and age.
1936 – the first freely programmable computer is designed.
1944 – the Harvard Mark One computer is designed.
1946 – the ENIAC One computer is invented relying on vacuum tube technology.
1948 – computer memory is designed and utilized for the first time.
1951 – the first computer to predict Presidential election winners is used.
1953 – IBM lands in the computer scene.
1954 – FORTRAN brought into use, the first high level programming language.
1962 – first computer game invented.
1964 – mouse invented
1969 – ARPAnet created (the original Internet).
1970 – first dynamic RAM chip available
1971 – first microprocessor brought into use.
1971 – the floppy disk hits the scene.
1973 – networking brought into use.
1974 – first consumer computers brought onto the market.
1976 – Apple Computer consumer products reach the general market.
1979 – word processors hit the market
1981 – home computers begin their march into the mainstream
1984 – Apple Macintosh makes home computers affordable
1985 – Microsoft Windows reaches the consumer.
Again, we do emphasize that this represents only a quick overview of computer history. The progression of the computer history, in reality, has not been made in a single line. Rather, there has been a great deal of back and forth and weaving around in computer history that have led us to where we are today in the 21st century.