#computer-history

The article provides comprehensive technical information about floppy disks, covering their history, formats, storage capacities, and physical characteristics. It details various disk sizes from 8-inch to 3.5-inch formats and explains technical specifications like sector layouts and data encoding methods.

The ENIAC computer, which celebrates its 80th anniversary, was programmed by six women who used patch cords and switches to weave complex calculations. Their work established foundational computing concepts that continue to influence modern technology.

The video explores the fundamental principles of artificial intelligence using a 1979 PDP-11 computer, demonstrating that core AI concepts can be implemented on older hardware. It examines how basic AI algorithms function independently of modern computing power.

The Gypsy document editor, developed at Xerox PARC in the 1970s, pioneered direct manipulation editing with features like cut-and-paste and WYSIWYG display. It influenced modern word processing and graphical user interfaces, marking its 50th anniversary as a landmark in computing history.

Episode 179 of Advent of Computing explores the history and development of block-based programming languages. The discussion covers how visual programming environments like Scratch have influenced computer science education and programming accessibility.

The Itanium processor was Intel's ambitious 64-bit architecture designed to succeed x86, but it faced significant challenges in adoption and performance. Despite high expectations, Itanium struggled to gain widespread market acceptance against competing architectures.

The article describes how to hot-wire a Lisp Machine by bypassing the front panel to directly connect to the CPU bus. This allows for low-level debugging and hardware access when the machine is otherwise unresponsive.

The Timex Sinclair 1000 was the U.S. version of the Sinclair ZX81, released in July 1982 for $99. It sold 500,000 units that year.

This PDF document from Amdahl Corporation discusses computer architecture with references to 20,000 gates and 20 MIPS performance metrics. The technical paper appears to cover historical computing developments and system design considerations from the early 1990s.

The term "mainframe" originated with the IBM 701 computer in 1952, where "main frame" referred to the primary physical box of the system. The word's meaning evolved from describing a computer's physical cabinet to becoming synonymous with the central processing unit. By the 1970s, it began to denote large, powerful computers for business applications, a definition that solidified over decades.

A USB interface was created for Douglas Engelbart's 1960s keyset, a five-finger chorded input device from his groundbreaking "Mother of All Demos" presentation. The keyset, unlike Engelbart's other innovations like the mouse and hypertext, never gained widespread adoption.

IBM's System/4 Pi family of aerospace computers, introduced around 1967, were used in military aircraft, missiles, and spacecraft including the Space Shuttle and Skylab. The compact, powerful computers controlled critical systems like navigation, weapons delivery, and spacecraft orientation. Models included the TC tactical computer, CP customized processor, and EP extended performance variants.

Stewart Cheifet, longtime host of the PBS computer show Computer Chronicles, has died at age 87. He hosted the program from its 1984 start until its final episode in 2002, and most episodes are preserved at the Internet Archive with his active participation.

The article discusses the author's appreciation for computer history books, highlighting how they provide insight into the development of technology and the people behind it. It mentions several notable works that document key moments in computing evolution.

Hayes compatible modem refers to a de facto standard named after a defunct modem manufacturer. Many software programs advertise compatibility with Hayes modems or Hayes-compatible modems.

The Atari ST computer was introduced on April 8, 1985. It sold 50,000 units quickly after its release.

Osborne Computer Corporation, an early maker of CP/M computers and portable computing pioneer, liquidated on April 9, 1986 after three years of financial hardship. Its demise is generally attributed to its founder.

Intel announced the 486 CPU at Comdex on April 10, 1989. The chip was priced at $950 each when purchased in quantities of 1,000.

Cyrix introduced its 486SLC CPU on April 13, 1992. The company relied on other chipmakers like SGS Thomson and Texas Instruments to manufacture the processors since it lacked its own fabrication plants.

The Apple II was announced on April 16, 1977 as one of the first pre-built desktop computers, though it didn't ship until June of that year. It went on to sell approximately 6 million units.

The IBM 9020 was a fault-tolerant computer system developed for the FAA's National Airspace System in the late 1960s. It consisted of multiple IBM System/360 computers operating together as a single multisystem to meet air traffic control's high reliability requirements. The system featured redundant compute and I/O control elements with shared memory and sophisticated error recovery capabilities.

The article traces the evolution of cash automation through IBM's role in ATM development. It explains how early token-based cash machines evolved into modern ATMs with IBM's 2984 Cash Issuing Terminal, which introduced real-time account verification and encryption technology that influenced the Data Encryption Standard (DES).

The article traces Lotus Notes' origins to the PLATO educational computing system developed at the University of Illinois. PLATO's collaborative "notes" feature inspired Ray Ozzie and other PLATO alumni to create Lotus Notes as a groupware application. Lotus Notes became a flexible database-driven platform for email, collaboration, and business applications.

TeleCheck was a pioneering check guarantee service founded in 1964 that allowed retailers to verify personal checks via phone calls to a computer system. The company maintained a database of bad check writers and guaranteed reimbursement for bounced checks, while also acting as a debt collector.

The Micral, developed by French company R2E in 1973, was the world's first commercially available microcomputer based on the Intel 8008 processor. It preceded the Altair 8800 by two years and was initially designed for agricultural applications before finding broader commercial success.

The Tandy Corporation began as a leather goods company before expanding into electronics and computers, most notably producing the TRS-80 personal computer. This marked a significant transformation from its origins in the leather industry to becoming a major player in the early personal computing market.

The article discusses Tandy Corporation's expansion into color computers and portable devices, highlighting the evolution of their TRS-80 line. It covers how these products became more accessible and entered consumer markets.

Tandy Corporation's third installment explores the company's strategic shift toward IBM compatibility in the personal computer market. This move represented a significant transition in their business approach and product development strategy.

Acer was founded in 1976 by Stan Shih and his wife Carolyn Yeh, starting as a small electronics company in Taiwan. It grew to become one of the world's largest PC manufacturers, playing a key role in developing Taiwan's technology industry. The company has evolved through various business transformations over its nearly 50-year history.

The Osborne Computer Corporation experienced rapid growth followed by a dramatic collapse within just a few years. The company went from being a pioneering force in the portable computer market to bankruptcy in a remarkably short timeframe.