What Were Computing Firsts, From ENIAC to Programmable Machines?

The history of computing is filled with groundbreaking achievements that have paved the way for the modern, digital world. From the early machines like ENIAC to the development of the first programmable computers, these "firsts" represent key moments in the evolution of technology. Below, we explore some of the most significant computing firsts that have shaped the field of computing and information technology.

The First Electronic Computer: ENIAC

Launch Date

ENIAC: December 1945

Details

• ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer) was the first general-purpose electronic digital computer. It was developed by John W. Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert at the University of Pennsylvania.
• ENIAC was capable of performing complex calculations much faster than previous mechanical calculators and was used primarily for artillery trajectory calculations during World War II.
• ENIAC used over 17,000 vacuum tubes, consumed about 150 kilowatts of electricity, and occupied a space of about 1,800 square feet.

Impact

• ENIAC's development marked a major milestone in the history of computing, demonstrating that computers could handle large-scale calculations electronically rather than mechanically.
• Although it was later replaced by more advanced machines, ENIAC's architecture influenced the design of future electronic computers.

The First Stored-Program Computer: EDVAC

Launch Date

EDVAC: 1949

Details

• EDVAC (Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer) was the first computer to use the stored-program architecture, which allowed the machine to store instructions and data in memory.
• Unlike ENIAC, which had to be manually reprogrammed for each new task, EDVAC was designed to automatically execute stored instructions, making it far more versatile and efficient.
• EDVAC was developed by John von Neumann, who proposed the concept of stored-program computing, which is still the basis for modern computers today.

Impact

• EDVAC’s architecture set the standard for future computers and laid the groundwork for the development of modern computing systems that could store and execute programs directly from memory.

The First High-Level Programming Language: Fortran

Launch Date

Fortran: 1957

Details

• Fortran (Formula Translation) was the first high-level programming language developed by IBM for scientific and engineering calculations.
• Fortran allowed programmers to write instructions in a more human-readable format, which was then translated into machine code by a compiler, making it much easier to write programs compared to earlier machine languages or assembly code.
• Fortran is still in use today for scientific and engineering applications due to its ability to handle complex numerical computations efficiently.

Impact

• Fortran’s creation marked a major milestone in the development of software. It revolutionized programming by introducing higher levels of abstraction, making computers accessible to a wider range of users and applications.

The First Computer Mouse

Creation Date

Computer Mouse: 1964

Details

• The first computer mouse was invented by Douglas Engelbart at the Stanford Research Institute in California.
• Engelbart’s invention was originally intended as a pointing device for the oN-Line System (NLS), a pioneering hypertext system. The mouse had two buttons and was used to move a cursor around the screen, allowing users to interact with digital interfaces more intuitively.
• The invention of the mouse was a significant breakthrough in human-computer interaction, leading to the development of graphical user interfaces (GUIs).

Impact

• The computer mouse became a fundamental part of modern computing and revolutionized user interfaces by allowing users to interact with computers in a more natural and intuitive way.

The First Personal Computer: Altair 8800

Launch Date

Altair 8800: 1975

Details

• Altair 8800, developed by Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems (MITS), is considered the first commercially successful personal computer.
• The Altair 8800 was sold as a kit that users had to assemble themselves. It was based on the Intel 8080 microprocessor and had no keyboard or screen but could be controlled through switches and LEDs.
• The Altair 8800 sparked the personal computer revolution, inspiring the development of other early personal computers, including the Apple I and the IBM PC.

Impact

• The Altair 8800 introduced the concept of personal computers to a broader audience and laid the foundation for the home computing industry.

The First Commercial Operating System: UNIX

Creation Date

UNIX: 1969

Details

• UNIX was developed at AT&T Bell Labs by Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie, and others as a multi-user, multitasking operating system.
• UNIX was revolutionary for its time because of its simplicity, portability, and powerful command-line interface. It became the basis for many modern operating systems, including Linux, macOS, and others.
• UNIX was one of the first operating systems to be written in the C programming language, making it highly portable across different hardware platforms.

Impact

• UNIX’s design principles of modularity and flexibility influenced the development of later operating systems and provided the foundation for much of modern computing.

The First Portable Laptop: Osborne 1

Launch Date

Osborne 1: 1981

Details

• Osborne 1 was the first commercially available portable computer. It weighed 24 pounds and had a 5-inch screen, with a full keyboard and two floppy disk drives.
• Despite its limited computing power by today’s standards, the Osborne 1 was a breakthrough in personal computing, offering portability in a way that had never been seen before.
• The Osborne 1’s success helped kickstart the portable computer market, paving the way for the development of smaller, lighter laptops.

Impact

• The introduction of portable computers like the Osborne 1 laid the groundwork for the portable computing revolution, which eventually led to the development of modern laptops and ultrabooks.

The First Web Browser: WorldWideWeb (later renamed Nexus)

Launch Date

WorldWideWeb (Nexus): 1990

Details

• WorldWideWeb (later renamed Nexus) was the first web browser created by Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the World Wide Web. It was used to view websites and hypertext documents on the newly created web.
• The browser allowed users to view text and images, link to other documents, and interact with the earliest version of the web, making it the foundation for the modern internet browsing experience.

Impact

• The development of the first web browser was a key moment in the history of the internet. It enabled users to access and share information globally, which eventually transformed communication, business, education, and entertainment.

The First Smartphone: IBM Simon

Launch Date

IBM Simon: 1994

Details

• IBM Simon was the first smartphone, developed by IBM and released in 1994. It combined the functionality of a mobile phone with features such as a touchscreen, email, faxing, and an address book.
• The IBM Simon set the stage for future smartphones by incorporating features we now take for granted, such as a graphical user interface (GUI), email capabilities, and the ability to run apps.

Impact

• The IBM Simon was a precursor to the smartphones of today, demonstrating the potential for integrating telecommunications with computing and internet access on portable devices.

More Links

1. How do tools like stethoscopes help doctors?
2. What are world cuisines like sushi, biryani, or falafel?
3. What causes auroras, and why do they appear near the poles?
4. What major space "firsts" were led by countries and individuals?
5. Which planet spins fastest, and what does that show about planetary motion?

You are here: