When we study the great inventions of the When we study the great inventions of the world, we find that they are either very world, we find that they are either very simple, basic things like the wheel or very simple, basic things like the wheel or very complex things like the computer. Some complex things like the computer. Some inventions were silly, some deadly serious, inventions were silly, some deadly serious, but even the inventions that were not but even the inventions that were not successful were not all failures either. successful were not all failures either. Each invention shed some light on the Each invention shed some light on the good intentions of the inventor and their good intentions of the inventor and their quest to improve the quality of life. Here quest to improve the quality of life. Here are some invention facts and myths meant are some invention facts and myths meant to amaze, inspire and amuse you.to amaze, inspire and amuse you.

962-COMMUNICATIONS 962-COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITESATELLITE  

Telstar is launched as the first "active" Telstar is launched as the first "active" communications satellite-active as in amplifying communications satellite-active as in amplifying and retransmitting incoming signals, rather than and retransmitting incoming signals, rather than passively bouncing them back to Earth. Telstar passively bouncing them back to Earth. Telstar makes real a 1945 concept by science fiction makes real a 1945 concept by science fiction

author Arthur C. Clarke, who envisioned a global author Arthur C. Clarke, who envisioned a global communications network based on communications network based on

geosynchronous satellites. Two weeks after geosynchronous satellites. Two weeks after Telstar's debut, President Kennedy holds a press Telstar's debut, President Kennedy holds a press conference in Washington, D.C. that is broadcast conference in Washington, D.C. that is broadcast

live across the Atlantic.live across the Atlantic.

GPSGPS

The first satellite in the modern Navstar The first satellite in the modern Navstar Global Positioning System (GPS) is Global Positioning System (GPS) is launched. (The GPS's precursor, TRANSIT, launched. (The GPS's precursor, TRANSIT, was developed in the early 1960s to guide was developed in the early 1960s to guide nuclear subs.) It is not until the year 2000, nuclear subs.) It is not until the year 2000, though, that President Clinton grants though, that President Clinton grants nonmilitary users access to an unscrambled nonmilitary users access to an unscrambled GPS signal. Now, cheap, handheld GPS GPS signal. Now, cheap, handheld GPS units can determine a person's location to units can determine a person's location to within 3 yards.within 3 yards.

1998-MP3 PLAYER1998-MP3 PLAYER

Depending on who you ask, the MP3 is either the Depending on who you ask, the MP3 is either the end of civilization (record companies) or the dawn end of civilization (record companies) or the dawn of a new world (everyone else). The Korean of a new world (everyone else). The Korean company Saehan introduces its MPMan in 1998, company Saehan introduces its MPMan in 1998, long before Apple asks, "Which iPod are you?" long before Apple asks, "Which iPod are you?" When the Diamond Rio hits the shelves a few When the Diamond Rio hits the shelves a few months later, the Recording Industry Association months later, the Recording Industry Association of America sues—providing massive publicity and of America sues—providing massive publicity and a boost to digital technology.a boost to digital technology.

1876 Telephone1876 Telephone  

Alexander Graham Bell patents his Alexander Graham Bell patents his telephone, built with the assistance telephone, built with the assistance of young self-trained engineer of young self-trained engineer Thomas A. Watson. Elisha Gray, who Thomas A. Watson. Elisha Gray, who developed a similar device at about developed a similar device at about the same time, will unsuccessfully the same time, will unsuccessfully challenge Bell's patent. challenge Bell's patent. 

1927 Television1927 Television

Philo Farnsworth demonstrates the Philo Farnsworth demonstrates the first television for potential investors first television for potential investors by broadcasting the image of a dollar by broadcasting the image of a dollar sign. Farnsworth receives backing sign. Farnsworth receives backing and applies for a patent, but ongoing and applies for a patent, but ongoing patent battles with RCA will prevent patent battles with RCA will prevent Farnsworth from earning his share of Farnsworth from earning his share of the million-dollar industry his the million-dollar industry his invention will create. invention will create. 

1970 Optical Fiber1970 Optical Fiber

Corning Glass announces it has Corning Glass announces it has created a glass fiber so clear that it created a glass fiber so clear that it can communicate pulses of light. GTE can communicate pulses of light. GTE and AT&T will soon begin and AT&T will soon begin experiments to transmit sound and experiments to transmit sound and image data using fiber optics, which image data using fiber optics, which will transform the communications will transform the communications industry. industry. 

1975 Microsoft1975 Microsoft

Old high school friends Bill Gates and Old high school friends Bill Gates and Paul Allen form a partnership known as Paul Allen form a partnership known as Microsoft to write computer software. Microsoft to write computer software. They sell their first software to Ed They sell their first software to Ed Roberts at MIT, which has produced the Roberts at MIT, which has produced the Altair 8800, the first microprocessor-Altair 8800, the first microprocessor-based computer. Gates soon drops out based computer. Gates soon drops out of Harvard. of Harvard. 

1976 Super Computer 1976 Super Computer 

Cray Research, Inc. introduces its first Cray Research, Inc. introduces its first supercomputer, the Cray-1, which can supercomputer, the Cray-1, which can perform operations at a rate of perform operations at a rate of 240,000,000 calculations per second. 240,000,000 calculations per second. Supercomputers designed by Seymour Supercomputers designed by Seymour Cray will continue to dominate the Cray will continue to dominate the market; the Cray 2, marketed in 1985, market; the Cray 2, marketed in 1985, will be capable of 1,200,000,000 will be capable of 1,200,000,000 calculations per second. calculations per second. 

1939 Digital Computer1939 Digital Computer

John Atanasoff and Clifford Berry of John Atanasoff and Clifford Berry of Iowa State College complete the Iowa State College complete the prototype of the first digital prototype of the first digital computer. It can store data and computer. It can store data and perform addition and subtractions perform addition and subtractions using binary code. The next using binary code. The next generation of the machine will be generation of the machine will be abandoned before it is completed abandoned before it is completed due to the onset of World War II. due to the onset of World War II. 

1965 Minicomputer1965 Minicomputer

Digital Equipment introduces the Digital Equipment introduces the PDP-8, the world's first computer to PDP-8, the world's first computer to use integrated circuit technology. use integrated circuit technology. Because of its relatively small size Because of its relatively small size and its low $18,000 price tag, Digital and its low $18,000 price tag, Digital sells several hundred units. sells several hundred units. 

1983 PC1983 PC In January "Time" names its 1982 "man" In January "Time" names its 1982 "man"

of the year -- the personal computer. of the year -- the personal computer. PC's have taken the world by storm, PC's have taken the world by storm, dramatically changing the way people dramatically changing the way people communicate. IBM dominates the communicate. IBM dominates the personal computer market, benefiting personal computer market, benefiting both from the production of its own both from the production of its own machines as well as "clones" produced machines as well as "clones" produced by other companies. by other companies. 

FACEBOOKFACEBOOK

Facebook is a social networking Facebook is a social networking service facebook has more than 845 service facebook has more than 845 million active users. Users must million active users. Users must register before using the site, after register before using the site, after which they may create a personal which they may create a personal profile,add other users as friends,and profile,add other users as friends,and exchange messages,including exchange messages,including automatic notifications when they automatic notifications when they update their profile.update their profile.

YAHOO !YAHOO !

Stanford University graduate Stanford University graduate students Jerry Yang and David Filo students Jerry Yang and David Filo created this popular Web portal in created this popular Web portal in 1994.It remains a favorite for 1994.It remains a favorite for email,photo sharing(it owns Flickr) email,photo sharing(it owns Flickr) and other services.and other services.

E-MAİLE-MAİL

Tech´s answer to the Pony Express. Tech´s answer to the Pony Express. Programs such as 1988´ Eudora Programs such as 1988´ Eudora made it easy to use.Inboxes have made it easy to use.Inboxes have been filling up ever since.Nearly 97 been filling up ever since.Nearly 97 billion e-mails are sent each day.billion e-mails are sent each day.

AMAZON.COMAMAZON.COM

Jeff Bezo´s baby began as an always-Jeff Bezo´s baby began as an always-in-stock book seller.It survived the in-stock book seller.It survived the tech bubble and now is the definitive tech bubble and now is the definitive big box online store. It was the big box online store. It was the second most-visited online retailer in second most-visited online retailer in December, after eBay.December, after eBay.

Since the late 1960s the Internet has grown from Since the late 1960s the Internet has grown from a single experimental network serving a dozen a single experimental network serving a dozen sites in the United States to a network of networks sites in the United States to a network of networks linking millions of computers worldwide. In linking millions of computers worldwide. In Inventing the Internet, Janet Abbate recounts the Inventing the Internet, Janet Abbate recounts the key players and technologies that allowed the key players and technologies that allowed the Internet to develop; but her main focus is always Internet to develop; but her main focus is always on the social and cultural factors that influenced on the social and cultural factors that influenced the Internets design and use. The story she the Internets design and use. The story she unfolds is an often twisting tale of collaboration unfolds is an often twisting tale of collaboration and conflict among a remarkable variety of and conflict among a remarkable variety of players, including government and military players, including government and military agencies, computer scientists in academia and agencies, computer scientists in academia and industry, graduate students, telecommunications industry, graduate students, telecommunications companies, standards organizations, and network companies, standards organizations, and network users.The story starts with the early networking users.The story starts with the early networking breakthroughs formulated in Cold War think tanks breakthroughs formulated in Cold War think tanks and realized in the Defense Department's creation and realized in the Defense Department's creation of the ARPANET. of the ARPANET.

It ends with the emergence of the Internet and its It ends with the emergence of the Internet and its rapidand seemingly chaotic growth. Abbate looks at rapidand seemingly chaotic growth. Abbate looks at

how academic and military influences and how academic and military influences and attitudes shaped both networks; how the usual lines attitudes shaped both networks; how the usual lines

between producer and user of a technology were between producer and user of a technology were crossed with interesting and unique results; and crossed with interesting and unique results; and

how later users invented their own very successful how later users invented their own very successful applications, such as electronic mail and the World applications, such as electronic mail and the World

Wide Web. She concludes that such applications Wide Web. She concludes that such applications continue the trend of decentralized, user-driven continue the trend of decentralized, user-driven

development that has characterized the Internet's development that has characterized the Internet's entire history and that the key to the Internet's entire history and that the key to the Internet's

success has been a commitment to flexibility and success has been a commitment to flexibility and diversity, both in technical design and in diversity, both in technical design and in

organizational culture.organizational culture.