††††In 1981 IBM launched computer/DOS. In 1983, Apple launched the mouse, while in 1987 the first laptop computer was invented by Clive Sinclair. It weighed less than 1 kg (2 pounds).
Modern computers use special programs, known as operating systems, to control their basic functions.
In 1970 a system called Unix was developed for small and medium-sized computers. By 1976, CP/M (Control Program for Microcomputers) was widely used in 8 bit computers. In 1981, MS/DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating System) was adopted by IBM for their personal computers, and in 1985 Microsoft developed Windows. This allowed a mouse and icon system to give instructions, following the lead set by Apple Macintosh.
