Computers

Computers, originally used to easily compute mathematical problems, became the most important invention of today's world. The first truly significant in the development of the computer occured when Konrad Zuse (what a baller name), in 1936, created the firstprogrammable computer, upgraded from a bunch of wires that did addition or multiplication...

The next big step came in 1951, when the UNIVAC computer became the first commercially available computer. However, computers were practiacally useless to the average person until...

1962: Steve Russell at MIT creates the first ever computer game: Spacewar! (not pong) Although this does'nt really have much to do with mass comms, it'll lead to the eventual creation of internet gaming.

But, the most important invention of computers came in 1969, when government installations created a wired network to connect one military base to another. This of course, marked the beginning of the internet.

In 1979, a word processor was invented (like Microsoft Word), giving a very practical use to common people. This obviously resulted in a huge rise in computer sales (mainly for businesses.)

In 1981, IBM sells the first computer for the home.

1982: The "luggable computer" is released, a small, lightweight (30 lbs!) computer that improved greatly from the humongous predecessors.

In 1983, the personal computer goes wireless. These notebook computers, however, cost a whopping $500 bucks at the cheapest,a rare earning for the common person.

1984: The RAM, or Random-Access Memory, is invented, a unique new device for storing any sort of information when recorded electronically. Beats a floppy drive...

In 1990, Microsoft becomes the first company EVER to excede $1 billion in sales, showing the true power and desire for computers.

August 6, 1991: The biggest release EVER. The World Wide Web is launched to the public. This will rapidly grow to become quite possibly the most important creation ever in the history of man. The WWW is first used an a large scale by the president and white house, who opened a US white house web page as well as email addresses for the president, VP, and first lady.

For the next 16, years, the internet developed into a giant, complex web of information sharing and communications, including email, instant messaging and more!

This amazing new form of communications completely changed the world in the most fascinating amount yet. Leaders had a new way to talk to their people, people had a new way to gather information, and the recent rise in internet videos has led to a system where everybody and anybody can see anything they desire - even politicians giving speeches.

http://www.computerhope.com/history/

Mass Communications Intro (1945-Present)

Mass communication develops greatly during this time period. Technology increases greatly, and mass communication becomes international commonplace. Cell phones, televisions, and radios are merely simple tools that define the start of mass communication. During this period not only does the technology grow, but programs and software develops as well in order to supplement these technologies. This makes the world of communication greater and simpler for the common man.

Cold War Communication

During the years of the Cold War when nuclear threats and fears ran high, the US government established a "Hot Line" between Moscow and Washinton in 1963. This was established by Kennedy directly after the Cuban Missle Crisis in 1962 - one year after. The reason for the establishment of this hot line, was the realization that the so called "primitive" methods of communication were not up to par if a nuclear crisis were to occur. An example of such primitive means would be the Soviet ambassador relying on a bicycle courier to relay messages for him. Instead of using voice of video, written words are used in code (of course). An example of usage of the hot line is during the Arab-Israeli conlflict in 1969. Even today the hotline is still in use - the CIA believes that it should remain in use "as long as these two sides have submarines roaming the oceans and missiles pointed at each other." Another example of a revolutionary use of mass communication was on October 4th, 1957 when the USSR launched Sputnik I...

Post-WWII Advancements

Although many inventions like the television, radio, camera, and computer were already in development before and during the war, afterwards the world experienced a rapid revolution in these technologies.

The primary invntion in development after the war was the camera and tv. As amazing of an invention as it was, the tv was still lagging behind the real world's standards: because the camera could not take enough pictures per seconds, when watched, figures seemed to move in a fast motion. However, in 1947, with the invention of the transistor, the camera and it's motion picture couter part could tape at real time.

The computer also underwent this amazing transformation. Before the 1940's, computers, which were used mainly for computing mathematical stuff, not only tool a massive amount of space, but also a very long time to do the work. Of course, as time went on, this invention developed into the smaller, quicker devices we know today.


Post WWII developments also gave way to inventions like wireless technology (cellphone, laptop, etc...) and massive computer developments (internet, GPS, weaponry).