Computer History

"Who invented the computer?" is not a question with a simple answer. The real answer is that many inventors contributed to the history of computers and that a computer is a complex piece of machinery made up of many parts, each of which can be considered a separate invention.
This series covers many of the major milestones in computer history (but not all of them) with a concentration on the history of personal home computers.

Computer HistoryYear/Enter
Computer HistoryInventors/Inventions
Computer HistoryDescription of Event
1936
Konrad Zuse - Z1 Computer
First freely programmable computer.
1942
John Atanasoff & Clifford BerryABC Computer
Who was first in the computing biz is not always as easy as ABC.
1944
Howard Aiken & Grace HopperHarvard Mark I Computer
The Harvard Mark 1 computer.
1946
John Presper Eckert & John W. MauchlyENIAC 1 Computer
20,000 vacuum tubes later...
1948
Frederic Williams & Tom KilburnManchester Baby Computer & The Williams Tube
Baby and the Williams Tube turn on the memories.
1947/48
John Bardeen, Walter Brattain & Wiliam ShockleyThe Transistor
No, a transistor is not a computer, but this invention greatly affected the history of computers.
1951
John Presper Eckert & John W. MauchlyUNIVAC Computer
First commercial computer & able to pick presidential winners.
1953
International Business MachinesIBM 701 EDPM Computer
IBM enters into 'The History of Computers'.
1954
John Backus & IBM FORTRAN Computer Programming Language
The first successful high level programming language.
1955(In Use 1959)
Stanford Research Institute, Bank of America, and General ElectricERMA and MICR
The first bank industry computer - also MICR (magnetic ink character recognition) for reading checks.
1958
Jack Kilby & Robert NoyceThe Integrated Circuit
Otherwise known as 'The Chip'
1962
Steve Russell & MITSpacewar Computer Game
The first computer game invented.
1964
Douglas EngelbartComputer Mouse & Windows
Nicknamed the mouse because the tail came out the end.
1969
ARPAnet
The original Internet.
1970
Intel 1103 Computer Memory
The world's first available dynamic RAM chip.
1971
Faggin, Hoff & MazorIntel 4004 Computer Microprocessor
The first microprocessor.
1971
Alan Shugart &IBMThe "Floppy" Disk
Nicknamed the "Floppy" for its flexibility.
1973
Robert Metcalfe & XeroxThe Ethernet Computer Networking
Networking.
1974/75
Scelbi & Mark-8 Altair & IBM 5100 Computers
The first consumer computers.
1976/77
Apple I, II & TRS-80 & Commodore Pet Computers
More first consumer computers.
1978
Dan Bricklin & Bob FrankstonVisiCalc Spreadsheet Software
Any product that pays for itself in two weeks is a surefire winner.
1979
Seymour Rubenstein & Rob BarnabyWordStar Software
Word Processors.
1981
IBMThe IBM PC - Home Computer
From an "Acorn" grows a personal computer revolution
1981
MicrosoftMS-DOS Computer Operating System
From "Quick And Dirty" comes the operating system of the century.
1983
Apple Lisa Computer
The first home computer with a GUI, graphical user interface.
1984
Apple Macintosh Computer
The more affordable home computer with a GUI.
1985
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft begins the friendly war with Apple.
SERIES
TO BE
CONTINUED

More threat coming from india and brazil

The number of viruses sent over email has increased by 300 percent in the last three months, according to managed security firm, Network Box.
Analysis of Internet threats by Network Box in July 2009 shows the number of viruses is at its highest so far this year, peaking at around 12 viruses per customer per hour.
An increasing number of these viruses (5.2 per cent) are originating from India, which is the fourth largest source of Internet threats behind the US (16.59 per cent), Brazil (14.11 per cent) and Korea (6.2 per cent). This is notable as it is the first time that such a significant proportion of the world’s Internet threats have originated from India.
It is unsurprising that India is making inroads as a major threat source, according to Simon Heron, Internet Security Analyst for Network Box: “India is a major economic force, with an increasing IT infrastructure and IT industry. A growing middle class with disposable income means an increasing take-up in computers and bandwidth. However, the economy remains difficult to regulate. This results in significant numbers of illegal copies of operating systems, which don’t get patched or updated. They then become infected and so in turn become sources of malware.”
Although the percentage of threats coming from the US is still high at 16.59 per cent, it has reduced from 21 per cent in June. The US has also reduced its proportion of spam slightly from 11.2 per cent to 10.2 per cent. Brazil has overtaken the US as the single biggest source of the world’s spam, now producing more than 12.6 per cent.
Heron says this is in part a result of the sheer volume of spam and malware coming from other parts of the world: “The major reason for a decreasing proportion of attacks from the US is the increase from other areas, particularly Brazil, China, Korea and India.
“However, over the past year we’ve also seen the US close down three significant data centres acting for botnets. The most notable one was McColo, but the demise of EstDomains and Atrivo has also contributed to a slow down in the number of threats coming from the US. The global picture, though, shows spam levels back to the same levels, or higher, than before these hosting companies were closed down.”
Phishing attacks have also significantly increased from last month, now making up more than 36 (36.52) per cent of all viruses, against around five per cent last month.
For more information on security issues, see Network Box, or visit Simon Heron’s blog or follow Simon on Twitter.

New push technology system..............!

Managed security company, Network Box, has completed the migration of its patented new HQPUSH system to all 11 of its network operating centers (NOCs) throughout the world. Network Box has pioneered the use of push technology (pushing updates to customers as soon as they are available, rather than relying on system updates). The new system offers improved performance and lets Network Box push out security updates to its customers more effectively.
Since it was founded in 1999, Network Box has used push technology to get updates onto its unified threat management (UTM) appliances, on client sites. The new HQPUSH system allows Network Box to monitor continuously all of its sources of security signatures and to push out changes almost immediately. Updates are concurrently installed on regional NOCs within three seconds of their release and on all end-user Network Box UTM devices – globally – within 45 seconds.

Simon Heron, Internet Security Analyst at Network Box, says: “Pushing updates to clients as soon as they are available has obviously benefits over waiting for a system to update – clients have the most up-to-date protection available, all the time. The new HQPUSH system is even faster, minimizing latency. In other words, it speeds up the time between the update being available, and it being on our clients’ appliances.”

Push technology offers a number of additional significant advantages over pull technology (in which the end-user requests the updates). For example, push technology enables the managed security provider to make certain that updates are correctly installed and activated. It also makes optimum use of the provider’s network for delivering updates, in both resource utilisation and source of updates.

More information is available from Network Box. A Network Box white paper on push technology can be accessed here.

Safe online shopping

If you have wondered how safe is online shopping, you are like many other people with the same question. Online shopping can be very safe if you know how to protect your personal information.
When you ask how safe is online shopping you will get a variety of answers. Online shopping has come a long way over the years and it is not what it used to be. You can find many secure sites out there that keep your name and personal information completely confidential. The number one thing you can do to shop safely online is to only deal with reputable companies. They should boast about how secure their checkout is and how they will never share your personal information.
You may be at more risk with shopping in person. You should think about how many times you freely give out your credit card and personal information. This may pose a bigger risk than online shopping. The odds are you are just as likely to be a victim of identity theft shopping in person compared to online shopping.
So the next time you ask yourself how safe is online shopping, you will understand that there are many ways to safely complete online transactions. If you are careful with what companies you do business with, you will help prevent any fraudulent activities from happening to you. Online shopping can be a fun way to do your shopping, and it is much more convenient than driving to a store and waiting in a long line. If you have a little trust, you will find that the experience is much more secure than you might have thought.