Explore CHM’s informative and engaging timelines to learn something new about key events, people, documents, and artifacts in the history of computing.
Do you know where the term “bug” comes from to describe a computer error? It was often used by pioneering computer scientist Grace Hopper in 1945 when an actual bug—a moth— got stuck between relay contacts of the Harvard Mark II computer she was working on. The moth was found during checkout of the Mark II prior to delivery to its customer, the Naval Weapons Laboratory in Dahlgren, VA.
This comprehensive chronology of technology and culture includes important people, inventions, and events of the computing revolution as well as untold stories and hidden histories.
Why is Silicon Valley in California? In 1956, Bell Labs’ star scientist William Shockley left New Jersey and headed west to found his own company. His talented team soon deserted their mercurial boss to start Fairchild Semiconductor and its innovative silicon chips spawned a vibrant new industry.
From the first documented semiconductor effect in 1833 to the transition from transistors to integrated circuits in the 1960s and 70s, explore milestones in the development of the extraordinary silicon chips that power the information age.
Trace the early history of our connected world in this timeline.
How many bits of data can fit into an area the size of a postage stamp with today’s magnetic storage techniques? More than 1 trillion.
From simple punched cards, to magnetic tape, CDs, and thumb drives to the all pervasive “cloud,” storage devices have evolved through a complex history of technological innovation and intense worldwide competition. Learn about important people, processes, and products in computer data storage.
