Charles Babbage’s 1822 Difference Engine: The Foundation of Modern Computing
Learn how Charles Babbage's 1822 Difference Engine laid the groundwork for automated calculation and modern computing.
Read moreDiscover the key moments, people, technologies and ideas that shaped the digital world.
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Discover how five programmers incorporated the Free Software Foundation in 1985, turning a $150 mail-order Emacs tape business into the organizational home of the free software movement.
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Every event, person, and turning point in the archive, laid out in one continuous span — from the first mechanical calculators to today.
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Linux began as one student’s side project and grew into the foundation of the modern Internet. Follow its story from Linus Torvalds’ first announcement in 1991 through GNU, the kernel releases, Red Hat, Debian, Ubuntu and Android to containers, cloud computing and today’s infrastructure — a timeline of the people, ideas and communities that built Linux.
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View full timelineIn 1980, Atari registered copyrights for *Asteroids* and *Lunar Lander*, helping establish legal protections for video games as creative works.
Read moreDiscover how Donkey Kong's 1981 release in Japan marked a milestone for Nintendo and introduced Mario to the world.
Read moreDiscover how a computer synchronization error in 1981 caused the first automatic delay of a Space Shuttle launch, highlighting safety in space missions.
Read moreLearn how early product announcements caused the Osborne Effect, leading to Osborne Computer's collapse in 1983 and shaping tech marketing strategies.
Read moreDiscover how the Apple Lisa revolutionized user interfaces despite its high cost and limited success, paving the way for today’s computers.
Read moreDiscover how Microsoft’s 1983 release of the two-button mouse transformed computer interfaces and set the standard for future peripherals.
Read moreDiscover the history of the Motorola DynaTAC 8000X, the first commercial mobile phone launched in 1983, revolutionizing personal communication.
Read moreDiscover how Alexey Pajitnov created Tetris in 1984 and how it became one of the most influential video games worldwide.
Read moreDiscover how Apple’s 1984 Super Bowl ad revolutionized tech marketing and turned the Macintosh into a symbol of innovation and rebellion.
Read moreLearn how John Resig created jQuery, making JavaScript easier and influencing web development.
Read moreLearn how Mark Zuckerberg’s 1984 birth led to the creation of Facebook, transforming online social connections from a simple project to a global platform.
Read moreDiscover how Dell was founded in 1984 and transformed the PC industry with direct sales and build-to-order models.
Read moreLearn how Connecticut launched ConnNet in 1985, one of the earliest public computer networks providing online access to information for residents and businesses.
Read moreLearn how symbolics.com became the first .com domain in 1985 and marked the beginning of the modern commercial internet.
Read moreDiscover how five programmers incorporated the Free Software Foundation in 1985, turning a $150 mail-order Emacs tape business into the organizational home of the free software movement.
Discover Richard Hamming’s insights on tackling important problems, cultivating courage, and achieving great research breakthroughs.
Read moreDiscover how the SCALA system monitored Chernobyl, its role in the disaster, and vital lessons for nuclear safety and control systems.
Read moreReleased on July 13, 1987, Metal Gear revolutionized action games by introducing stealth gameplay and complex storytelling, shaping future game design.
Read moreExplore how the 1989 NES release of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles influenced licensed games and gaming culture.
Read moreLearn how Tim Berners-Lee's 1989 proposal at CERN led to the creation of the Web, transforming global information sharing.
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