40+ Years of Technology...and Counting
When people ask about my tech experience, I invariably start by saying I have been in tech since the first PCs came out. Yes, it’s been over 40 years. Here are some of the technological highlights that stood out to me over the last few decades.
Keypunch Machine
When I was in college, keypunch machines were used to type out one line of code per card until we have stacks well into the hundreds, sometimes thousands. They were fed into a mainframe so our code could be stored on tape. To save time, many of us skipped adding sequence numbers to the end of each card. Dropping a huge stack of cards just once was enough to start putting that extra effort to add those sequencing numbers back in.
By the time I graduated, the first IBM personal computer was released and a whole new world opened up. Technology was changing rapidly. I was fortunate enough to be working in a tech department of a very large financial firm that wanted to be at the forefront. We worked with the early pioneers offering to beta test any hardware or software we could get our hands on. From installing and repairing computers, introducing field office personnel all over the country to the world of personal computers, programming with state-of-the-art software, to working with a team to install the first business network on a large scale in Connecticut, it was an exciting time to see everything that was happening in the world of technology.
On a personal note, even back then, being a young, female technology supervisor was not an issue. My manager, director, and vice president were all female so I was appreciative to have great female tech leadership role models.
Start of a New Era
Early model TRS-80
Personal computers made to be used by just one individual at a time started to develop in the 1970s with Apple II, Tandy Radio Shack TRS-80, and the Commodore Business Machine as the most recognized models. The TRS-80, with its entry-level pricing of $399, became the favorite of small businesses and schools. Then Apple II came out with VisiCalc, the first electronic spreadsheet software, leading the charge for a variety of application software options.
Just for fun, here are some memorable technological breakthroughs over the last 40 years. This is not a complete list, but a few stood out to me over time.
Early 1980s
IBM Model 5150
Prior to 1980. IBM was known for its business computer systems like the popular IBM System 370 but on August 12, 1981, IBM came out with its first microcomputer. Model 5150, also known as the IBM PC, which had an initial price of $1565. It had 2 5.25” floppy disks storing 160 KB per disk side for a total of 320 KB of storage on one disk. One disk ran the operating system and the other was used to store data. A hard disk was not an option as the power supply was not adequate enough.
Adobe started in 1982 starting with the Adobe PostScript page description language.
In 1983 and 1984, IBM released the Model 5160 (aka the “XT”) with a 10MB hard drive, but it was the Model 5170 (aka the “AT” for “Advanced Technology”) that really had some possibilities for business use. It touted a new 80286 processor and introduced the AT Bus (later known as the ISA bus) allowing RAM expansion from 286KB to 16MB. A 20MB hard drive was standard. Pricing ranged from $4000-$6000 depending on optional features.
Compaq Portable
PC software was developed quickly and names like Lotus 1-2-3 for spreadsheets, dBase for database development, and WordPerfect or Microsoft Word quickly became the holy grail of software for DOS-based personal computers.
Compaq Portables were also released in March 1983 priced from $2995 to $3590 depending on if it had a single half-height 5+1⁄4" 360 KB diskette drive or dual, full-height diskette drives. It was shaped like a suitcase and the right size to qualify as a carry-on for flights. Still, it was a cumbersome 28 pounds.
Apple released a model called Lisa which had a graphical user interface allowing users to start applications and find files using a new device called a mouse. Apple’s Lisa laid the groundwork for the Apple Macintosh which became known for providing the earliest personal desktop publishing in 1984. The Macintosh allowed the planning of text and graphics on a display screen as they would appear on the printed page.
Macintosh’s graphic interface took hold and in 1983, Microsoft introduced Windows which emulated Macintosh’s user-intuitive capabilities and was the graphic user interface for MS-DOS.
The DynaTAC 8000X (aka “the Brick”) was the first cordless phone weighing over 2 pounds and having a battery life of 30 minutes. The price? A crazy $4000.
Adobe expands by launching Illustrator, a vector-based drawing program for the Apple Macintosh. By 1989, it releases Photoshop.
Later 1980s
Speed and memory capacity was the goal during the late 1980s. New microprocessors like the Intel 80386 made personal computers like the Compaq 386 and IBM PS/2s quicker and had more memory capabilities.
Computer size was also a focus. There were a multitude of pre-cursers to the laptop and mini computers: the Toshiba T1100, the IBM PC Convertible, the Epson L3S, and others.
Beginning of the World Wide Web
Tim Berner-Lee at CERN
While working at CERN, Tim Berners-Lee proposed to create a global hypertext project, which later became known as the World Wide Web. From 1991 to 1993 the World Wide Web was born. Not only was Berners-Lee credited as the first web designer, but he also created Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) which is still used by web designers today.
Search engines were just beginning and tools like Archie, Veronica, and Gopher replaced the tedious need to scroll through pages of FTP files to find a file.
Early 1990s
The Internet was open for commercial use for the first time.
Apple Powerbook
The Apple PowerBook series, introduced in October 1991, pioneered changes that are now standard on most laptops, including room for a palm rest.
IBM PS/2 Notebook was released in 1992 with the first clamshell design laptop with a color screen.
Also in 1992, IBM released its ThinkPad with a clamshell design similar to the PS/2 line some with a color display. They also pioneered came with the distinctive red TrackPoint pointing device.
AOL’s original logo
AOL goes public in 1993
CERN released Web source code and made it public domain starting an avalanche of Web development.
Microsoft released Windows NT 3.1, the first version of the newly developed Windows NT operating system. "NT" was an initialism for "New Technology". It was a fully 32-bit operating system replacing the older File Allocation Table (FAT) which was used by DOS and the DOS-based Windows operating systems.
Mid 1990s
Yahoo’s original logo
In 1994 Yahoo was created at Stanford University with the yahoo.com domain launched in 1995.
IBM’s version of the first smartphone, the SPC was released but only worked in 15 states by 1994
Amazon’s original logo
Amazon officially launched in 1995
Microsoft 95 introduced many features that have been part of the product ever since, including the Start menu, the taskbar, and Windows Explorer, More than one million units were sold in the first four days following the release, and within two years, Windows 95 was installed on more computers than any other operating system.
Also in 1995, Ebay started as AuctionWeb and MySQL was created as an open source database management system.
By 1996, the total number of Web users surpassed 36 million and the Palm Pilot was introduced.
Ask.com original logo
A few other notables: WebTV was released and Ask.com (aka Ask Jeeves) becomes a popular was to scour the internet.
Later 1990s
In 1997, Microsoft released Internet Explorer 4 which integrated Internet Explorer and the web into the user interface and also brought many new features into Windows, such as the ability to display JPEG images as the desktop wallpaper and single window navigation in Windows Explorer.
The rewriteable compact disk (CD-RW) was introduced allowing data or media files to be re-written up to 1,000 times ,
Netflix original logo
In 1997, Netflix is launched starting out as a per-movie rental. It became a full subscription service in 1999.
Microsoft released Visual Studio which allows coders to develop software using block diagrams instead of text.
GoDaddy was founded in 1997, now the world’s largest domain registrar.
1998 started out with a splash of color as Apple released its first iMac in vibrant blue. Selling for $1,300 it included a 233-MHz G3 processor, 4GB hard drive, 32MB of RAM, a CD-ROM drive, and a 15" monitor. This product release was known as the most significant step in Apple's return from near-bankruptcy in the middle 1990s.
Early Google branding
Google was created on Stanford University’s network in 1996, but incorporated in 1998.
Paypal was founded with the original name, Confinity.
In 1999 Apple launched its first iBook laptop and the Blackberry released its first device, the 850, a two-way pager that allowed email service over wireless networks.
Early 2000’s
SanDisk Flashdrive
The USB flash drive (aka thumb drive or memory stick) was introduced with SanDrive being one of the major players.
Also in 2000, Sharp released the first camera phone, the J-SH04, which weighed only 4 ounces.
Mac OS X, Windows XP, and iTunes were released in. 2001.
The 3G network was released and cell phones start to connect wirelessly. For the first time, smartphones can send email attachments and can be used for video conferencing.
LinkedIn original logo
Paypal was acquired by eBay in 2002 and LinkedIn was launched as a social networking app for professionals.
MySpace was announced in 2003 and by 2005 became a major social networking site with 100 million users.
WordPress, a content management system used to create websites, was released as open-source software and Squarespace launched as a blog hosting service.
Gmail original logo
Mid 2000s
In 2005, YouTube begins as a global online video-sharing and social media platform.
Amazon Prime was first offered.
Lenovo bought out IBM’s PC businesses primarily to focus on the ThinkPad.
Google purchased Android.
Skype took hold as over 50 million use it to teleconference over the internet.
Facebook original logo
Although created in 2004, Facebook launched to the public in 2006, the same year as Twitter.
In 2006, Apple launches its first MacBook laptop to replace the old iBook and Powerbook.
Amazon starts to offer Prime Video.
Late 2000s
Dropbox was announced as a cloud-based service for convenient storage, sharing, and access to files in 2007.
Amazon released its first Kindle and Hulu is launched
Also in 2007, Apple launched its first iPhone. The first release had a touchscreen, iPod, camera, full internet access capabilities (the first of its kind), and a wide LCD screen designed for video. It was lightweight and available in 4GB ($499) or 8GB ($599) models.
The first MacBook Air was available for sale in 2008, Apple’s first ultralight laptop weighing only three pounds.
The first Android phone, the HTC Dream, was released in 2008..
Peer-to-peer networks were used to generate “crypto-currency” and Bitcoin was born in 2009.
Cloud-based storage became available for online backups of data for individuals and businesses.
3G networks became the norm and, with the rising popularity of smartphones, mobile marketing generated steam.
Google’s Android mobile platform made that audience even larger.
Oracle bought SunMicrosystems taking control of the Java programming language.
Early 2010s
in 2010. Apple released its first iPad with a built-in high-definition camera, access to the iTunes Store, and audio-video capabilities, but with a nine-inch screen, Multiple apps and games make the iPad instantly successful.
Instagram original logo
Instagram was launched originally only for OS users. Even so, the app had over one million users within two months.
Pinterest launched but did not gain steam until 2012 when it had over 11 million users.
Facetime is introduced on iPhones.
Adobe’s Creative Cloud became subscription and cloud-based in 2011.
in 2012 Apple introduced the Retina display for the MacBook Pro laptop and iPad tablet.
Facebook acquired Instagram.
Originally called Surface for Windows, Surface Pro was launched in 2013.
Microsoft Office 365 offered a subscription-based software product offering Word, Excel, OneNote, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, and Publisher.
Zoom was released and quickly overtakes Skype and other online conferencing tools.
Mid 2010s
In 2014, ApplePay was released and Amazon released the first version of FireTV streaming devices
The first Apple Watch became available in 2015 and Microsoft released Windows 10
By 2016, TikTok was well on its meteoric rise in popularity.
Samsung released Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge.
Apple released Apple AirPods wireless headphones.
Later 2010s
Facebook added Facebook Stories in 2017.
Twitter expanded from 140 to 280 characters allowed per tweet and YouTubeTV starts a streaming service.
In 2018, the European Union GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) law went into effect stating that companies must provide the ability for people to view, download, and delete data about themselves that is stored on the companies’ servers. Also, if a company has a data breach, it must be disclosed within 72 hours of it being discovered.
T-Mobile merged with Sprint
Google Pay was formed when Google Wallet and Android Pay merged and Google Ad Manager was launched.
Google+ shuts down in 2019 and Apple TV+ launches
Microsoft releases a foldable smartphone called Surface Duo
Early 2020s
In early February 2020, the outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus in China caused significant disruption to the worldwide technology industry. Google announced the temporary closure of all offices in mainland China, and all Apple stores in China were closed indefinitely.
Google acquires FitBit to compete against the Apple Watch in 2020.
Google shut down Google Play Music, as its features and content were moved to YouTube Music.
In 2021, the term “metaverse” was becoming popularized and Facebook changes its name to Meta.
The Anonymous group (a hacktivist group formed in 2004) declared cyberwar on Russia after it invaded Ukraine in 2022. Russia later declared Meta guilty of "extremist" activity and banned Facebook and Instagram.
Amazon announced it was retiring Alexa and Elon Musk purchased Twitter.
Today
Thank you for traveling down tech memory lane with me. Over the last 40 years there were so many other technological advances, cybersecurity concerns, global issues, start-ups, aquisitions, closures, etc that it was just impossible to include them all. I know this is just the tip of the iceberg.
Today’s technology is changing fast with the advances in artificial intelligence to generate content both in text and images. There are significant concerns about the legitimacy and ethical decisions surrounding AI generated content. Feel free to read more here.
The total number of websites is a staggering 1 billion with over 200 million currently active. Over 250,000 websites are being created every day. That’s 175 new websites every minute. With this much competition, businesses have a hard time standing out, especially if they are not well-versed in the latest technological trends. Consider contacting me at Charlotte’s Web Designs, LLC. With over 40+ years working in technology plus countless years in marketing and design, I can help you take your business to the next level.