History of Computers: 1950s-2020s

• History of computers from the 1930s to the 2020s

1950s - UNIVAC I

• The first commercially successful computer was the UNIVAC I
• The UNIVAC I's use in businesses and governments marked the start of computer commercialization

1960s - Mainframe Computers

• Large corporations and government institutions widely used mainframe computers
• These powerful, expensive machines were used for complex calculations and storing large amounts of data

1970s - Microprocessors & Apple

• With the introduction of the microprocessor (Intel 4004) and the founding of Apple Computer Inc., personal computers became a possibility
• This enabled individuals to own computers

1980s - Personal Computers (PCs)

• IBM introduced its first PC in 1981
• Microsoft developed MS-DOS
• Apple launched the Macintosh in 1984
• Computers became more affordable and widely used in homes, schools, and offices

1990s - Internet Boom

• The World Wide Web (WWW) was invented by Tim Berners-Lee in 1991
• Browsers like Mosaic and Netscape emerged
• The Internet revolutionized communication, business, and information access

2000s - Mobile & Social Media Era

• There was a rise in mobile computing, smartphones (iPhone 2007), and social media platforms
• Examples of social media platforms include Facebook (2004) and Twitter (2006)
• People became more connected digitally, changing how information is shared and consumed

2010s - Cloud Computing & AI

• There was growth of cloud computing with services like AWS and Google Cloud
• AI grew substantially through machine learning and virtual assistants like Siri & Alexa
• Businesses moved data to cloud services
• AI became integrated into everyday technology

2020s - Quantum Computing & Advanced AI

• Significant advancements occurred in quantum computing, AI (GPT-3, GPT-4), and automation
• Computing power increased exponentially
• These advancements changed scientific research, cybersecurity, and machine learning capabilities