"Who invented the computer?" is not a question with a simple answer. The real answer is that many inventors contributed to the history of computers and that a computer is a complex piece of machinery made up of many parts, each of which can be considered a separate invention.
This series covers many of the major milestones in computer history (but not all of them) with a concentration on th
Computer HistoryYear/Enter
Computer HistoryInventors/Inventions
Computer HistoryDescription of Event
1936Konrad Zuse - Z1 Computer
First freely programmable computer.
1942John Atanasoff & Clifford BerryABC Computer
Who was first in the computing biz is not always as easy as ABC.
1944Howard Aiken & Grace HopperHarvard Mark I Computer
The Harvard Mark 1 computer.
1946John Presper Eckert & John W. MauchlyENIAC 1 Computer
20,000 vacuum tubes later...
1948Frederic Williams & Tom KilburnManchester Baby Computer & The Williams Tube
Baby and the Williams Tube turn on the memories.
1947/48John Bardeen, Walter Brattain & Wiliam ShockleyThe Transistor
No, a transistor is not a computer, but this invention greatly affected the history of computers.
1951John Presper Eckert & John W. MauchlyUNIVAC Computer
First commercial computer & able to pick presidential winners.
1953International Business MachinesIBM 701 EDPM Computer
IBM enters into 'The History of Computers'.
1954John Backus & IBM FORTRAN Computer Programming Language
The first successful high level programming language.
1955(In Use 1959)Stanford Research Institute, Bank of America, and General ElectricERMA and MICR
The first bank industry computer - also MICR (magnetic ink character recognition) for reading checks.
1958Jack Kilby & Robert NoyceThe Integrated Circuit
Otherwise known as 'The Chip'
1962Steve Russell & MITSpacewar Computer Game
The first computer game invented.
1964Douglas EngelbartComputer Mouse & Windows
Nicknamed the mouse because the tail came out the end.
1969ARPAnet
The original Internet.
1970Intel 1103 Computer Memory
The world's first available dynamic RAM chip.
1971Faggin, Hoff & MazorIntel 4004 Computer Microprocessor
The first microprocessor.
1971Alan Shugart &IBMThe "Floppy" Disk
Nicknamed the "Floppy" for its flexibility.
1973Robert Metcalfe & XeroxThe Ethernet Computer Networking
Networking.
1974/75Scelbi & Mark-8 Altair & IBM 5100 Computers
The first consumer computers.
1976/77Apple I, II & TRS-80 & Commodore Pet Computers
More first consumer computers.
1978Dan Bricklin & Bob FrankstonVisiCalc Spreadsheet Software
Any product that pays for itself in two weeks is a surefire winner.
1979Seymour Rubenstein & Rob BarnabyWordStar Software
Word Processors.
1981IBMThe IBM PC - Home Computer
From an "Acorn" grows a personal computer revolution
1981MicrosoftMS-DOS Computer Operating System
From "Quick And Dirty" comes the operating system of the century.
1983Apple Lisa Computer
The first home computer with a GUI, graphical user interface.
1984Apple Macintosh Computer
The more affordable home computer with a GUI.
1985Microsoft Windows
Microsoft begins the friendly war with Apple.
SERIES
TO BE
CONTINUED e history of personal home computers.