Computer history - 1955
Major computer events in 1955
MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) introduced the Whirlwind machine on March 8, 1955, a revolutionary computer that was the first digital computer with magnetic core RAM (random-access memory) and real-time graphics.
Bell Labs introduced its first transistor computer. Transistors are faster, smaller, and create less heat than traditional vacuum tubs, making these computers more reliable and efficient.
New computer products and services introduced in 1955
IBM introduced the first IBM 702.
IBM introduced the IBM 608 transistor calculator, the first all solid-state computing machine commercially marketed.
IBM engineers jointly developed magnetic core storage units, a dramatic improvement over cathode ray tube memory technology.
IBM announced the 858 Cardatype accounting machines, high-speed printers.
Computer and technology-related events in 1955
Konrad Zuse completed the Z22, the seventh computer model and the first computer that used magnetic storage memory.
Thomas Watson, IBM's president, was featured on the front of Time Magazine on March 28, 1955.
John McCarthy coined the term AI (artificial intelligence) in 1955 at Dartmouth College.
An Wang was issued U.S. patent #2,708,722 on May 17, 1955, for the invention of the magnetic "Pulse Transfer Controlling Device," which made magnetic core memory a reality.
The ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer) was turned off for the last time. It's estimated to have performed more arithmetic than the entire human race before 1945.
Light pens were developed around 1955, and in the 1960s, they became commonly used with graphics terminals, like the IBM 2250
Computer pioneers born in 1955
John Gustafson was born on January 19, 1955.
Toru Iwatani was born on January 25, 1955.
Vinod Khosla was born on January 28, 1955.
Steve Jobs was born on February 24, 1955.
Grady Booch was born on February 27, 1955.
Steve Gibson was born on March 26, 1955.
Eric Schmidt was born on April 27, 1955.
Dave Winer was born on May 2, 1955.
James Gosling was born on May 19, 1955.
Dave Raggett was born on June 8, 1955.
Tim Berners-Lee was born on June 8, 1955.
Tim Bray was born on June 21, 1955.
Donna Dubinsky was born on July 4, 1955.
Thomas Lane was born on September 18, 1955.
Andreas (Andy) von Bechtolsheim was born on September 30, 1955.
William (Bill) H. Gates was born on October 28, 1955.
Ray Ozzie was born on November 20, 1955.
Carol Shaw was born in 1955.
Lap Hui was born in 1955.
Norman Margolus was born in 1955.
Sandra Lerner was born in 1955.
Tom Jennings was born in 1955.
Computer pioneer deaths in 1955
Hubert Booth passed away on January 14, 1955 (Age: 83).
Albert Einstein passed away on April 18, 1955 (Age: 76).