Computers | A short recap

• 1837: Charles Babbage conceives the idea of a programmable computer and designs a mechanical machine called the Analytical Engine.
• 1937: John Atanasoff and Clifford Berry design and build the Atanasoff-Berry Computer, the first electronic digital computer.
• 1941: Konrad Zuse builds the Z3 computer, the first working programmable computer, in Germany.
• 1943: Colossus, the world’s first electronic computer, is built in Britain to break encrypted German messages during World War II.
• 1945: The Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC) is completed at the University of Pennsylvania, becoming the world’s first general-purpose electronic computer.
• 1951: The UNIVAC I, the first commercial computer, is installed at the United States Census Bureau.
• 1958: Jack Kilby invents the integrated circuit, paving the way for the development of smaller and more powerful computers.
• 1969: ARPANET, the precursor to the internet, is created by the United States Department of Defense.
• 1971: Intel releases the first microprocessor, the Intel 4004, marking the beginning of the era of personal computing.
• 1976: Apple Computer is founded by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, and releases its first computer, the Apple I.
• 1981: IBM introduces the IBM Personal Computer (IBM PC), which becomes the standard for personal computers.
• 1985: Microsoft releases Windows 1.0, its first graphical user interface operating system.
• 1991: Tim Berners-Lee develops the World Wide Web, revolutionizing the way people access and share information.
• 2007: Apple releases the iPhone, a smartphone that combines a mobile phone with computer features and internet connectivity.
• 2011: IBM’s Watson computer defeats human champions on the television quiz show Jeopardy!, showcasing the potential of artificial intelligence.
• 2021: Scientists at Google and elsewhere develop a quantum computer capable of performing calculations that are beyond the capabilities of classical computers, opening up new possibilities for solving complex problems in fields such as materials science and cryptography.