A Brief History of Information Technology

The Jacquard loom was the first "programmable" device

The Babbage difference engine was the first programmable computational device

The adding machine was the first practical calculator

For many decades filing cabinets were the primary data storage media

Individuals used Rolodexes to manage their contacts. Inserting cards maintained sort order

The slide rule was an early calculator with greater capabilities

Pneumatic tubes were an early information network

The ENIAC was the first "real" computer

Electronic caluclators put computational power in the hands of individuals

The IBM PC was the first personal computer adequate for business use

The iMac G3 was the first home computer designed specifically for access to the web

The smart phone puts massive computational ability and vast information networks in the palm of the hand