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Visual Intensity 4
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Visual Intensity - Issue 4 (1994-05-29)(Dual 4Mat)(Disk 2 of 3).adf
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Computing
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063
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063
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1978-01-04
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{td{L{:
= H I S T O R Y O F C O M P U T I N G =
{C{6
Compiled by Lone Ranger/Dual Format
{A{5Although this is by no means
comprehensive it offers details of
both hardware and software
developments with some additional
hacking and phreaking information to
spice it up a bit.
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 The Abacus
{A{6Significance {4:{7 First counting machine
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Arabic
Numerals
{A{6Significance {4:{7 The decimal system -
made arithmetic easy
{I{9Date {4:{7 1617
{A{6Invention/Event/Release :
Logarithms/Napiers bones
{A{6Significance {4:{7 John Napier`s
discovery provided, among other
things, the theoretical foundation of
the slide rule, later invented by
William Oughtred
{td
{I{9Date {4:{7 1617
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Leibnitz
mechanical calculator
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Using toothed gears
the machine could multiply. It was
the first of its type
{I{9Date {4:{7 1642
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Pascal`s
mechanical adder
{A{6Significance {4:{7 First adding machine.
You turned dials to input numbers and
the answer would be displayed in
little windows at the top of the
machine. Perhaps this was the start
of the input>process>output cycle
{I{9Date {4:{7 1670s
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Leibnitz`s
discovery of binary arithmetic
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Theoretical foundation
of computer processing
{I{9Date {4:{7 1821
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Babbage`s
difference machine
{A{6Significance {4:{7 A general purpose
mechanical calculator
{td
{I{9Date {4:{7 1840s
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Babbage`s
analytical engine
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Too complex to be
constructed using purely mechanical
technology, but showed the way for the
earliest electronic machines
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Jacquard
loom cards
{A{6Significance {4:{7 The first form of
stored programs, invented by Joseph
Jacquard. They were punched cards and
they were used in weaving looms to
control the patterns of the loom.
{I{9Date {4:{7 1854
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 The laws of
thought by George Boole
{A{6Significance {4:{7 The foundations of
logic and binary arithmetic
{I{9Date {4:{7 1865
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 USSS
established
{A{6Significance {4:{7 US Secret Service
founded
{td
{I{9Date {4:{7 1877
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Patent for
the telephone
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Alexander Graham
Bell`s apparatus
{I{9Date {4:{7 1878
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 First
Teenage males flung off phone system
by enraged authorities
{A{6Significance {4:{7 First phone phreakers?
{I{9Date {4:{7 1880
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Edison`s
Electric light bulb
{A{6Significance {4:{7 The beginning of the
electric age
{I{9Date {4:{7 1887
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Hollerith
cards
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Used in US census,
this was the first mechanical
calculating machine which could sort
data as well as add. The company
founded eventually to become IBM
Probably the first true data
processing machine
{td
{I{9Date {4:{7 1900
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 First
electronic valve
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Edison`s light bulb
plus one extra plate
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 First
triode
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Lee de Forest`s
thermionic device which permitted
amplification
{I{9Date {4:{7 1924
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 IBM founded
{I{9Date {4:{7 1936
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Turing`s
paper: 'On computable numbers'
{A{6Significance {4:{7 The first theoretical
proposal for a general purpose
computing machine
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Zuse`s Z1
{A{6Significance {4:{7 The practical
realisation of Babbage`s Engine using
electro-mechanical relays from
telephones
{I{9Date {4:{7 1938
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Schreyer`s
proposal to use Computing becomes
all-electronic thermionic valves for
rapid switching
{td
{I{9Date {4:{7 1940s
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 During the
40s, the first computer to run a
stored program was made at Manchester
University. The Cambridge University
computer EDSAC (Electronic Delay
Storage Automatic Computer) was built,
and later in America EDVAC (Electronic
Discrete Variable Automatic Computer)
was built. Both these led to
developments in the stored program
concept
{I{9Date {4:{7 1943
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Harvard
Mark 1
{A{6Significance {4:{7 IBM`s
electro-mechanical computer
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Collossus
{A{6Significance {4:{7 The code-cracker built
to defeat Enigma at Bletchley Park.
It was all-electronic with 2000
thermionic valves.
{td
{I{9Date {4:{7 1946
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 ENIAC
{A{6Significance {4:{7 18000 valve computer,
used over 200kW of electricity and
took up a large area
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 The
Von-Neumann machine
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Proposal for a readily
reprogrammable computer (the early
ones had to be rewired in order to
change function) and also one which
could call up other stored programs as
needed
{I{9Date {4:{7 1947
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Remington
Univac I [Later Sperry]
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Computer with programs
on tape, not cards
{I{9Date {4:{7 1948
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Shockley`s
transistor
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Thermionic valves
required vast power sources,
over-heated and failed easily. The
transistor, or solid state valve,
promised more compact, more reliable,
more complex and much smaller
computing machines.
{td{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 John Van
Neumann
{A{6Significance {4:{7 He designed a computer
called Maniac, it was then thought of
as artifical life, he termed it
"automata". It self replicated. This
is the first discovery of what we know
today as viruses or worms
{I{9Date {4:{7 1950
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Shockley`s
p-n-p device
{A{6Significance {4:{7 First usable
transistor
{I{9Date {4:{7 1950s
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 IBM 70x
series
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Hybrid (valve and
transistor) computers
{I{9Date {4:{7 1953
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 LEO -
Lyon`s Electronic Office
{A{6Significance {4:{7 First computer used
for commercial applications
{I{9Date {4:{7 1950s
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 DYNAMO
{A{6Significance {4:{7 DYNAmic mOdels is a
programming language. It is a
continuous simulation language.
Typically used on mainframes
{td{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Second
Generation
{A{6Significance {4:{7 2nd generation of
computers was the development of
transistors
{I{9Date {4:{7 1956
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Fortran
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Programming language
for scientific and mathematical
applications, still in use today. The
first high level language. Developed
by IBM, the name meant Formula
Translation
{I{9Date {4:{7 1957
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Sputnik
launched
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Impetus for major US
computer development programs
{I{9Date {4:{7 1958
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 COBOL
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Programming language
developed by US Department of Defense,
designed to produce programmed
solutions to commercial data
processing problems. Offers powerful
file handling. Name meant Common
Business Orientated Language
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 ALGOL
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Programming language
developed by an international
committee for scientific applications.
Contains powerful mathematical
functions
{td{I{9Date {4:{7 1959
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Texas
unveils the first integrated circuit
{A{6Significance {4:{7 The first complex
electronic building block
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 IBM 709 TX
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Transistorised
computer
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 LISP
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Programming Language.
LISP is a high level LISt Processing
(hence the name) language. Its
emphasis on symbol manipulation has
made in widely used in Artifical
Intelligence fields.
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Hacking
{A{6Significance {4:{7 One of the earliest
reports of computer crime. The case,
as descibed by Dr Ken Wong a computer
security expert of the time, involved
a large catering firm. The company
had a series of standing orders, kept
on computer, with a large number of
suppliers. From time to time
suppliers lost their contracts, the
applications programmer employed by
the company replaced the lost contract
suppliers names with fictious new
companies and the cash was taken by
the programmer via a series of
specially set up bank accounts
{td{I{9Date {4:{7 1960s
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 CTSS,
Multics
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Time-sharing operating
systems - each user gets the illusion
of having sole control of a mainframe
{A{6Invention/Event/Release :
Datacrime/Hacking
{A{6Significance {4:{7 One of the many
reported cases of the time involved
bank deposit slips. Customers of
banks would usually deposit money
using slips from a ready-made book
which contained details of the
customers name and account number
printed in a machine readable code
(MICR). However for the benefit of
customers who had forgotten their
deposit books there were blank deposit
slips left on desks in the public
area. The fraudster replaced the
blank slips with ones with his MICR
code on. Subsequent customers used
these slips as normal. But when the
deposit slips were processed, money
was deposited into the fraudsters
account because that`s what the MICR
code told the computer to do
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 "Hacker"
used at MIT
{A{6Significance {4:{7 The first people to
call themselves hackers were at MIT in
the US. They were bright kids who
borrowed the mainframes of the age
outside normal working hours to
discover what the machines could do
{td{I{9Date {4:{7 1961
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 DEC PDP-1
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Predecessor of
mini-computing
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 First
'underground' computer games -
spacewars
{A{6Significance {4:{7 The arrival of the
hacker; old sense of word, see above
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 RPG
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Programming language,
Report Program Generator developed by
IBM for commercial applications.
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Blue box
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Bell Telephones in the
US finds the first 'blue box' so
called because the engineers found the
device on a blue metal chassis. A
blue box is a device that ensures all
outgoing calls from the phone its
connected to are free by using the
2600Hz tone [see Cap n Crunch].
{I{9Date {4:{7 1962
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Telstar
launched
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Commercial satellite
communications - transportable
applications
{td
{I{9Date {4:{7 1963
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 IBM 360
{A{6Significance {4:{7 First computer family
- other families that appeared shortly
after included Control Data 6000,
Sperry Rand 1108, GE 600 & Honeywell
200
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 PL/1
{A{6Significance {4:{7 IBM Programming
language designed to combine the
facilities offered by COBOL and those
offered by FORTRAN, intended as a
universal language for all
applications
{I{9Date {4:{7 1964
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Invention
of BASIC
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Beginner`s programming
language which allowed programmers to
trace what was happening during
execution - early programs had to be
run and run until they would compile.
Developed by Kemeny and Kurtz at
Dartmouth College USA
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 DEC PDP-6
{A{6Significance {4:{7 The first
mini-computer (semi personal)
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 $5m worth
of software theft
{td{A{6Significance {4:{7 $5million worth of
software was offered to Texaco, who
declined and reported the perpetrator
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 3rd
generation computers
{A{6Significance {4:{7 The integrated circuit
allows computers to be faster, smaller
and yet be more reliable. Integrated
circuits are many electrical circuits
placed on one slice of silicon
{I{9Date {4:{7 1960s
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 On-line
retrival systems
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Introduced as
electronic index to research material
for the internal use of large
companies and government, these became
the earliest form of electronic
publishing
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Cap 'n'
Crunch whistle
{A{6Significance {4:{7 In America, Cap 'n'
Crunch cereal gives away a promotional
whistle, which gives a 2600Hz whistle.
The 2600Hz pitch sound was used by the
Tel. Companies to tell the phone
system the call has been hung up and
to stop charging. Therefore phreakers
could call a freephone number, send
the 2600Hz pitch sound and then dial
the number they wanted for a free
call. John Draper a famous phreaker
got his handle 'Captain Crunch' from
the cereal whistle
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Hacking :
First salami case
{td{A{6Significance {4:{7 The first Salami(or
rounding down) case in the UK. The
salami technique involves taking very
small amounts from a large amount of
accounts - typically the fractions of
units of a currency generated when
calculating intrest on an account.
These tiny amounts are put into the
hackers account and the cash collects.
The other alternative is to claim the
small amounts taken from the accounts
are service charges because the
amounts will be so small people won`t
bother to complain
{I{9Date {4:{7 1968
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Software
Theft
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Celebrated case
involving airline management software
known as BOADICEA it was plagiarised
and offered out by employees of the
developer. This was important because
then all software was written uniquely
for each customer.
{I{9Date {4:{7 1969
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 UNIX
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Multi-user,
Multi-tasking operating system devised
by Bell Telephones
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 CICS
{A{6Significance {4:{7 IBM`s Customer
Information Control System - online
transaction processing.
{td{I{9Date {4:{7 1970
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 DEC PDP-11
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Top selling
mini-computer family
{I{9Date {4:{7 1970s
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 ARPAnet
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Experimental
packet-switching network linking many
major US government agencies, research
institutes and companies - used by
hackers to keep contact
{I{9Date {4:{7 1970
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Pascal
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Programming language,
designed for scientific and
engineering use, today used as an
educational language in the main
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Hacking
case
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Involving theft of
resources. Hugh Jeffrey Ward, a
programmer was working on a CAD
program, he needed a facility to print
the results on a plotter. He knew
there was one available at the company
he worked at (A computer time share
bureau) and made some enquires. He
got hold of the listing to the plotter
module he needed via the phone from
work and got some punched cards (usual
form of input then). He got caught
with the cards in his bin and when the
computer activity logs were checked
{td{7sufficient evidence was found to
convict him of "stealing a trade
secret"
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Theft of
data files
{A{6Significance {4:{7 The 2 million name and
address Encylopaedia Britannica was
offered for sale (it was stored on
tapes)
{I{9Date {4:{7 1971
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Intel
produces first micro-processor (4004)
{A{6Significance {4:{7 This was only 4 bit
and for hand held calculators or
process control
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Yippie
Phone Phreaks start YIPL magazine
{A{6Significance {4:{7 First phone phreaking
newsletter
{I{9Date {4:{7 1972
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Pong
invented by Nolan Bushnell
{A{6Significance {4:{7 The first ever
consumer video game - led to founding
of Atari.
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Calculators
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Simple calculators
cost $150/£80. The first ones were
from Sir Clive Sinclair but later to
be dominated by Japanese manufactures
{td{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Lockheed
DIALOG founded
{A{6Significance {4:{7 First large scale
commercial online bibliographic
database service
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Intel
produces first 8bit micro processor
{A{6Significance {4:{7 The immediate
predecessor of the chips found in the
early home and personal computers
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Ramparts
magazine seized in blue-box rip off
scandal
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Phone Phreaking
equipment published
{I{9Date {4:{7 1973
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Micom
Wordprocessor
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Invented by Steve
Dorsey, this was the first 'electronic
office' product. Word processors were
dedicated products until personal
micros arrived
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 First DIY
terminal project published
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Enter the hobbyist
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 YIPL
newsletter
{A{6Significance {4:{7 September, YIPL
changes name to TAP, the Technological
Assistance Program. It continues to
{td{7publish phone phreaking and tapping
information
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 COMAL
{A{6Significance {4:{7 COMmon Algorithmic
Language was created by Christensen
and Benedict Loefstedt in Denmark. It
was developed out of dissatifaction
with BASIC, which doesn`t offer proper
structured programming
{I{9Date {4:{7 1974
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Intel 8080
chip
{A{6Significance {4:{7 The first really
successful driver for personal micros,
predecessor of Z80
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 CP/M
operating system
{A{6Significance {4:{7 The first
microcomputer operating system that
was not manufacturer specific. CP/M
still in use in late 1980s
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Radio
Electronics 'Build your own
MiniComputer' article
{A{6Significance {4:{7 The beginnings of
hobbyist computing
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 First
external hack?
{A{6Significance {4:{7 A 15 year old
schoolboy broke into a London time
sharing bureau from his schools
teletype terminal
{td{I{9Date {4:{7 1975
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Zilog
produces the Z80 Chip
{A{6Significance {4:{7 The outstanding
success of microcomputer chips
{A{6Invention/Event/Release :
MITS Altair 8800
{A{6Significance {4:{7 The first production
personal computers, soon joined by
Tandy TRS-80
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 The 6502
chip was designed Micro Office Systems
designed the 6502 chip. They were
owned by Commodore
{I{9Date {4:{7 1970s
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 CHILL
{A{6Significance {4:{7 An ALGOL derivative
language that was developed to do
realtime telecommunications systems
programming
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Electronics
developments (4th generation
computers)
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Continued advances in
electronics made it possible to put an
ever increasing number of circuits on
a single chip (known first a large
scale integration and now very large
scale integration or VLSI). VLSI has
helped make computers cheaper, smaller
and more reliable
{td{I{9Date {4:{7 1977
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Hayes modem
{A{6Significance {4:{7 One of the first low
cost modems - devices allowing
computers to communicate over the
phone lines
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Apple II
first shown
{A{6Significance {4:{7 At the West Coast
Computer Fair in San Francisco in
April
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 The
Commodore PET
{A{6Significance {4:{7 The Commodore PET (or
Personal Electronic Translator) was
launched at the Chicago CES. The
first real personal computer. In its
original form it had 4k memory
{I{9Date {4:{7 1978
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 1st
personal BBS
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Ward Christensen &
Randy Seuss create first personal
computer bulletin board system
{I{9Date {4:{7 1979
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Visicalc
{A{6Significance {4:{7 The first micro-based
business application; businessmen
brought Apples because of Visicalc,
not vice versa
{td{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Wordstar
{A{6Significance {4:{7 One of the longest
running successes in microsoftware
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Prestel
{A{6Significance {4:{7 The first mass-market
public access database
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Apple II
gains floppys
{A{6Significance {4:{7 The first
microcomputer to use floppy disks
instead of tapes which were slow in
comparision. The floppy drive gave
the Apple II the competitive edge and
many hobbists were attracted to the
machine
{I{9Date {4:{7 1980s
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Long
distance hack
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Ronald Mark Austin who
hacked from California to Norway, well
publicised "teen hacker" story
{I{9Date {4:{7 1980
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Sinclair
ZX80
{A{6Significance {4:{7 The first ultra-cheap
micro, later followed by the ZX81
(1981) and the Spectrum (1982)
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Microsoft
MS-DOS operating system
{td{A{6Significance {4:{7 The operating system
for PC`s, still used widely. It was a
clone of CP/M for the 8080 put
together in 6 weeks by Tim Paterson,
who is said to have regretted it ever
since.
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4 : {7 Motorola
68 00
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Powerful chip later to
appear in Apple Lisa and Macintosh,
Sinclair QL etc.
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Theft of
CPU time
{A{6Significance {4:{7 A system analyst was
convicted of theft of CPU time because
at the insurance company, where he
worked, he had set up a whole series
of private programs on a IBM 3101;
they included a football pools aid, a
household inventory, and a picture
printing program that could create
pics of Mickey Mouse or Raquel Welch
{I{9Date {4:{7 1981
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 IBM PC
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Although neither the
first nor the best business-orientated
personal computer (Commodore had a
8bit machine and Victor/Sirius a 16bit
machine). IBM`s marketing power made
the PC the standard product for
several years to come
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Japanese
project
{A{6Significance {4:{7 The Japanese announce
a national project to create the new
{td{7generation of computers that would
among other things function with
ordinary language input. Similar
projects were announced in Europe and
USA. Current prototypes of these
machines are using PARALLEL processing
(several processors simulateously
calculating, instead of the usual one
processor)
{I{9Date {4:{7 1982
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 BBC micro
{A{6Significance {4:{7 The machine launched
with the BBC`s massive computer
literacy TV programmes. The BBC
computer was widely adopted in the UK
educational system but not much
elsewhere
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Lotus 1-2-3
{A{6Significance {4:{7 The first big software
success for the IBM PC; previous
software had been ported across from
earlier microcomputers and did not
make full use of the machine`s
capabilities
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Intel 80186
& 80286 chips
{A{6Significance {4:{7 The foundation chips
for more sophisticated PC`s; the 80286
would appear in the IBM AT
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Cyberspace
comes into use
{A{6Significance {4:{7 William Gibson coins
term cyberspace
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 "414" gang
raided
{td{A{6Significance {4:{7 Early bust of hackers
in Milwaukee
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 AT&T
dismantled
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Dismantled into
divestiture
{I{9Date {4:{7 1983
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Apple LISA
{A{6Significance {4:{7 The first affordable
icon-driven desktop micro. Icons made
computers much easier for the
non-specialist to use. LISA was not
quite the first to use them - Xerox
had been the true inventor and LISA
was not a commercial success, but its
ideas would be used later in the Apple
Macintosh and the GEM operating
system. It used the 16bit Motorola
68000 chip.
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 IBM PC/XT
{A{6Significance {4:{7 The hard-disk PC
becomes the standard for business
desktop use.
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Tandy 100
{A{6Significance {4:{7 First successful
'lap-top' micro
{PM
{td{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 'Wargames'
released
{A{6Significance {4:{7 First computer hacking
film legendised hacking and helped the
spread of new BBS and kids trading
pirate software. As well as Wargames
there was a TV spin-off called
WhizKids
{I{9Date {4:{7 1984
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Apple
Macintosh
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Icon based operating
system, still in use today where Apple
owns around an eighth of the market
share
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 IBM AT
{A{6Significance {4:{7 The next development
for the PC, using the 80286 chip
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Digital
Research GEM
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Icon-driven operating
system
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 New laws in
US
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Congress passes
Comprehensive Crime Control Act giving
USSS jurisdiction over credit card
fraud and computer fraud
{td{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 New laws in
UK
{A{6Significance {4:{7 The Data Protection
act, keeping checks on what
information can be stored on computer
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 LOD formed
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Legion of Doom formed
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 2600
magazine formed
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Hacker/Phreak mag run
by E Goldstein
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 WESC
published
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Whole Earth Software
Catalog published
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Prince
Philip`s mailbox hacked
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Steve Gold and Robert
Schifreen hack HRH Duke of Edinburgh
mailbox on Prestel and they also
modified the foreign exchange.
Attracted a fair amount of publicity
for UK hackers.
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Commodore
C64
{A{6Significance {4:{7 New home computer
offering 64k of RAM (hence the name).
Probably the best hardware for 8 bit
machines.
{td{I{9Date {4:{7 1985
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Intel`s
80386 chip
{A{6Significance {4:{7 A faster chip than
before bringing some multitasking
capability to the PC
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 First
police BBS
{A{6Significance {4:{7 First 'sting' BBS
established to catch hackers
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 WELL goes
online
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Whole Earth `Lectronic
Link computer conference system goes
on line
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Amiga 1000
shown at CES
{A{6Significance {4:{7 In Chicago the first
Amiga was shown with the slogan "Only
the Amiga makes it possible". It cost
around a thousand pounds and was
expensive for the time
{I{9Date {4:{7 1986
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Commodore`s
Amiga 500 & Atari ST
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Machines using the
68000 processor offering high
resolution screens and considerable
power at a low cost
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Amstrad
PCW8512
{td{A{6Significance {4:{7 An innovation not in
technology but in pricing; a complete
WP with printer for £400/$550. Later
Amstrad produced IBM PC clone at same
price
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 New
Computer laws
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Computer Fraud and
Abuse act passed Electronic
Communications and Privacy act passed
also.
{I{9Date {4:{7 1987
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 IBM PS/2
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Family of replacements
for the original IBM PC, bringing
multitasking to the affordable desktop
computer, based on the 80386 chip
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 OS/2
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Launched by IBM &
Microsoft as a front end for MS DOS
used on PC systems. Microsoft have
since gone on to develop Windows,
another front end for DOS but very
popular among PC owners and probably
due to the growth in the PC market
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Computer
Fraud and Abuse Task Force formed
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Chicago Federal
prosecutors form a task force
{I{9Date {4:{7 1988
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 E911
document stolen
{td{A{6Significance {4:{7 Big case in the US,
where a document was downloaded which
contained details of the BellSouth
Emergency services phones, followed
closely by the USSS
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Steve Gold
mailbox hack
{A{6Significance {4:{7 The long running court
case is finally brought to an end
because of a high court decision in
April that logging onto a system using
anothers ID or name isn`t fraud.
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Amiga
Viruses
{A{6Significance {4:{7 The first amiga virus
was written by a group of swiss
hackers calling themselves the Swiss
Cracking Association (or SCA for
short). It was a boot sector virus
and easily cured
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Internet
worm
{A{6Significance {4:{7 In US Robert Morris
jr`s worm causes havoc in the internet
and recieves worldwide press coverage,
it was said to have cost $1 million to
put the systems back into order.
{td{I{9Date {4:{7 1989
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Prophet and
other phreaks busted
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Courtesy of US Secret
Service
{I{9Date {4:{7 1990
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Major crash
of AT&T
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Martin Luther King day
crash strikes AT&T long distance calls
nationwide, crash due to phreakers
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Busts
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Many busts again by US
Secret Service in "Operation
Sundevil". During the busts 42
computers and 23,000 floppy disks were
seized
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Electronic
Frontier Foundation established
{A{6Significance {4:{7 EFF founded by Mitch
Kapor(Lotus123) and John Perry Barlow.
The group looks at rights to
information
{I{9Date {4:{7 1991
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 EFF files
law suit
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Law suit filed against
Chicago Task force by EFF due to their
handling of recent busts
{td{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Amiga 500
discontinued
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Commodore drops the
A500
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Amiga 500+
released
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Replacement for A500
offering WB2
{I{9Date {4:{7 1992
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Amiga500+
discontinued
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Commodore drops the
500+ in favour of the new A600
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Amiga 1200
released
{A{6Significance {4:{7 In late 93, the Amiga
1200 is released, offering improved
AGA graphics, AA chip set and a 32 bit
CPU. The replacement for the A500
{I{9Date {4:{7 1993
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 CD32
released
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Commodore`s second
attempt at CD-Rom Amigas after the
failed CD-TV. Based on the Amiga1200
with some extra chips in.
{A{6Invention/Event/Release {4:{7 Visual
Intensity
{td
{A{6Significance {4:{7 Dual Format releases
Visual Intensity!
{I{9Date {4:{7 1994
{A{5 ?
{A{:
End.