The 1960s :: Technology and Computing's Expansion

• 1960 :: The PDP-1 is introduced, the precursor to the minicomputer. It included a cathode ray tube display, and had the first computerized video game, Space War. It cost $120,000 and there were about 50 sold. COBOL- Common Business Oriented Language is introduced. It's hoped that it can be used on any computer with an existing compiler with minimum qualifications.
• 1961 :: IBM introduces the IBM 1401. Demand for the mainframe soared to 12,000. At this time, IBM dominated the market with an 81 percent share.
• 1962 :: Virtual memory arrives, which allowed a computer to use it's storage capacity to run outside programs and switch between multiple tasks. LINC [ Laboratory Instrumentation Computer] offers the first real time lab data processing. Paul Baran publishes paper outlining packet switching, On Distributed Communication Networks.
• 1963 :: ASCII [ American Standard Code for Information Interchange] is developed, allowing computers of different manufacturers to share data. The Rancho arm is developed. The first artificial robotic arm controlled by a computer, it's six joints gave it the flexibility of a human arm and was designed as a tool for the handicapped. J.C.R Licklider pens visionary memo to ARPA staff, "To Members and Affiliates of the Intergalactic Computer Network". The first computer mouse is invented. Development of the oNLine System begins. Tandy buys Radio Shack.
• 1964 :: This was a big year for computing history, first with the debut of BASIC. An easy to learn language, it was developed at Dartmouth College. IBM's SABRE reservation system debuts at American Airlines. It used telephone lines to link 2,000 terminals in 65 cities with two 7090 computers and delivered flight information in 3 seconds. The CDC 6600 is introduced. Performing a whopping 3 million calculations, it quickly became the fastest computer in the world at the time. It was 3xs faster than the IBM Stretch, and used smaller computers to funnel data to a larger processor.
• 1965 :: Object oriented languages get a boost with the development of Simula. It was the first of it's kind to group data & instructions into blocks called objects. The acoustically coupled modem gets an upgrade courtesy of Jon Van Geen of Stanford Research Institute. His device reliably received bits of data despite line noise heard on long distance lines. Hewlett Packard enters the computing game with the 2115, which supported a number of programming languages and packed the same power as much larger systems of the time. Larry Roberts connects computers via dedicated phone line. Moore's Law is first published in Electronics Magazine.
• 1967 :: The first internal pacemaker is produced with integrated circuits. LOGO is invented by Seymour Papert. A drawing program intended for kids, it uses an electronic turtle.
• 1968 :: The Apollo Guidance Computer orbits the Earth with Apollo 7. A year later it steered Apollo 11 to the lunar surface. Data General introduces the Nova minicomputer. Intel Corporation is founded.
• 1969 :: The Stanford Arm becomes the first successful electrically powered, computer controlled robotic arm. 5 years later, it could assemble a Ford Model T water pump. This arm led directly to commercial production, and its designer later created the legendary PUMA systems. Bell Labs employees create the even more legendary UNIX operating system. The almighty ARPANet is born, grandaddy of the internet as we know it. The first Interface Message Processor is installed at UCLA.