Memorable Historical Events
Below are listed some significant historic events of the last 30 years, most events from this list found their way into radio broadcasts and headlines of various newspapers around the world.
Please keep in mind that these events are not necessarily the most important news of the past 30 years, although some events did actually change the world as a consequence.
In the compiling of this list of events, we found 'somewhat perplexing' that bad news prevailed. We have decided to leave it to the psychologists to explain why unforeseen good news seems to be less memorable than that of unfortunate news and tragic events.
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IT Trivia
"1959
The Development of COBOL
There are many languages out there, but none has influenced as many others as COBOL. What makes COBOL stand out is the fact that there are still machines chugging along, running COBOL apps. Yes, these apps could (and possibly should) be rewritten to a modern standard. But for many IT administrators, those who don't have the time or resources to rewrite legacy apps, those programs can keep on keeping on."
The Development of COBOL
There are many languages out there, but none has influenced as many others as COBOL. What makes COBOL stand out is the fact that there are still machines chugging along, running COBOL apps. Yes, these apps could (and possibly should) be rewritten to a modern standard. But for many IT administrators, those who don't have the time or resources to rewrite legacy apps, those programs can keep on keeping on."
"1970
The Creation of UNIX
Although many would argue that Windows is the most important operating system ever created, UNIX should hold that title. UNIX started as a project between MIT and AT&T Bell Labs. The biggest initial difference (and most important distinction) was that it was the first operating system to allow more than one user to log in at a time. Thus was born the multi-user environment. * Note: 1970 marks the date the name "UNIX" was applied."
The Creation of UNIX
Although many would argue that Windows is the most important operating system ever created, UNIX should hold that title. UNIX started as a project between MIT and AT&T Bell Labs. The biggest initial difference (and most important distinction) was that it was the first operating system to allow more than one user to log in at a time. Thus was born the multi-user environment. * Note: 1970 marks the date the name "UNIX" was applied."
"1987
IBM's PS/2 Microcomputer
IBM's rollout of its PS/2 microcomputer came on two levels. The ads raved about the classy technical specs: a blazingly fast internal architecture, plug-and-play BIOS, keyboard and mouse interfaces that are still in use today (and are still called the PS/2 interface) and a floppy disk format (1.44M) that was so good it lasted as long as the technology."
IBM's PS/2 Microcomputer
IBM's rollout of its PS/2 microcomputer came on two levels. The ads raved about the classy technical specs: a blazingly fast internal architecture, plug-and-play BIOS, keyboard and mouse interfaces that are still in use today (and are still called the PS/2 interface) and a floppy disk format (1.44M) that was so good it lasted as long as the technology."
"1991
Linus Torvald's Work on Linux
No matter where you stand on the Linux versus Windows debate, you can't deny the importance of the flagship open source operating system. Linux brought the GPL and open source into the forefront and forced many companies (and legal systems) into seeing monopolistic practices as well as raising the bar for competition. Linux was also the first operating system that allowed students and small companies to think in much bigger ways than their budgets previously allowed them to think."
Linus Torvald's Work on Linux
No matter where you stand on the Linux versus Windows debate, you can't deny the importance of the flagship open source operating system. Linux brought the GPL and open source into the forefront and forced many companies (and legal systems) into seeing monopolistic practices as well as raising the bar for competition. Linux was also the first operating system that allowed students and small companies to think in much bigger ways than their budgets previously allowed them to think."
"1996
Steve Jobs Rejoins Apple
All that needs to be said here is: iPod. Had Jobs not come back to Apple, the iPod most likely would never have been brought to life. Had the iPod not been brought to life, Apple would have withered away. Without Apple, OS X would never have seen the light of day. And without OS X, the operating system landscape would be limited to Windows and Linux."
Steve Jobs Rejoins Apple
All that needs to be said here is: iPod. Had Jobs not come back to Apple, the iPod most likely would never have been brought to life. Had the iPod not been brought to life, Apple would have withered away. Without Apple, OS X would never have seen the light of day. And without OS X, the operating system landscape would be limited to Windows and Linux."
"1999
The Creation of Napster
File sharing. No matter where you stand on the legality of this issue, you can't deny the importance of P2P file sharing. Without Napster, file sharing would have taken a much different shape. Napster (and the original P2P protocols) heavily influenced the creation of the BitTorrent protocol. Torrents now make up nearly one-third of all data traffic and make sharing of large files easy. Napster also led to the rethinking of digital rights (which to some has negative implications)."
The Creation of Napster
File sharing. No matter where you stand on the legality of this issue, you can't deny the importance of P2P file sharing. Without Napster, file sharing would have taken a much different shape. Napster (and the original P2P protocols) heavily influenced the creation of the BitTorrent protocol. Torrents now make up nearly one-third of all data traffic and make sharing of large files easy. Napster also led to the rethinking of digital rights (which to some has negative implications)."
The Julian Assange Story!
The Steve Jobs Story!
Ancient History
"Long before recorded history mankind had found lumps of metal and hammered it into useful shapes. However, at some unknown time in early Mesopotamia the ability to purify metal from ore, then smelt and form it using heat, unearthed a new world of tools. Rocks rich in copper, tin, and lead could now be more readily used and they came into demand.
Sometime around 6000 BCE copper smelting became common, which later lead to uncovering the secrets of bronze and iron smelting. Better tools, such as plows and scythes, as well as weapons and armour revolutionized society at every level and time."
Sometime around 6000 BCE copper smelting became common, which later lead to uncovering the secrets of bronze and iron smelting. Better tools, such as plows and scythes, as well as weapons and armour revolutionized society at every level and time."
Metal Working
"Standardized earthenware plumbing pipes with broad flanges making use of asphalt for preventing leakages appeared in the urban settlements of the Indus Valley Civilization by 2700 BC. Plumbing originated during the ancient civilizations such as the Greek, Roman, Persian, Indian, and Chinese civilizations as they developed public baths and needed to provide potable water, and drainage of wastes.
Improvement in plumbing systems was very slow, with virtually no progress made from the time of the Roman system of aqueducts and lead pipes until the 19th century. Eventually the development of separate, underground water and sewage systems eliminated open sewage ditches and cesspools."
Improvement in plumbing systems was very slow, with virtually no progress made from the time of the Roman system of aqueducts and lead pipes until the 19th century. Eventually the development of separate, underground water and sewage systems eliminated open sewage ditches and cesspools."
Plumbing
"The world's first recorded chemist is considered to be a woman named Tapputi, a perfume maker who was mentioned in a cuneiform tablet from the second millennium BC in Mesopotamia. She distilled flowers, oil, and calamus with other aromatics then filtered and put them back in the still several times.
Recently, archaeologists have uncovered what are believed to be the world's oldest perfumes in Pyrgos, Cyprus. The perfumes date back more than 4,000 years. The perfumes were discovered in an ancient perfumery. At least 60 stills, mixing bowls, funnels and perfume bottles were found in the 43,000-square-foot (4,000 m2) factory. Four of the perfumes have been re-created from residues found at the site."
Recently, archaeologists have uncovered what are believed to be the world's oldest perfumes in Pyrgos, Cyprus. The perfumes date back more than 4,000 years. The perfumes were discovered in an ancient perfumery. At least 60 stills, mixing bowls, funnels and perfume bottles were found in the 43,000-square-foot (4,000 m2) factory. Four of the perfumes have been re-created from residues found at the site."
Chemistry
"The wheel originated in ancient Sumer (modern Iraq) in the 5th millennium BC, originally in the function of potter's wheels. The wheel reached Europe and India (the Indus Valley civilization) in the 4th millennium BC. Near the northern side of the Caucasus several graves were found, in which since 3700 BC people had been buried on wagons or carts. The earliest depiction of what may be a wheeled vehicle is on the Bronocice pot, a circa 3500 BC clay pot excavated in southern Poland.
What is particularly interesting about the wheel is that wheels only occur in nature in the microscopic form, so man's use of the wheel could not have been in mimicry of nature."
What is particularly interesting about the wheel is that wheels only occur in nature in the microscopic form, so man's use of the wheel could not have been in mimicry of nature."
The Wheel