Computer history - 1982

Updated: 11/12/2023 by Computer Hope

Major computer events in 1982

Compaq logo

Compaq Computer Corp. was founded in 1982 by Rod Canion and other Texas Instruments Incorporated engineers. Compaq was the first company to introduce a clone of the IBM PC (the Compaq Portable in 1983) and became IBM's biggest challenger in the corporate market.

The Intel 80286 was introduced on February 1, 1982.

The CD-ROM (compact disc read-only memory) format was developed by Denon in 1982. The first CD (compact disc) was created at a Philips factory in Germany on August 17, 1982.

New computer products and services introduced in 1982

Microsoft released FORTRAN (Formula Translation) for the PC (personal computer), COBOL (Common Business Oriented Language) for MS-DOS, and Multiplan for the Apple II and CP/M machines.

Hayes released the Smartmodem 1200, a modem with 1,200 bits per second transfer rates.

WordPerfect Corporation introduced WordPerfect 1.0, a word processing program that became a popular word processing program.

Pitfall! for the Atari 2600

On April 20, Activision released Pitfall! for the Atari 2600. It sold four million cartridges, making it the fourth-best-selling Atari 2600 game of all time, after Donkey Kong, Space Invaders, and Pac-Man.

The first luggable computer was introduced.

The Commodore 64 (C64), an 8-bit computer with 64 kilobytes of memory and Commodore BASIC, began to be sold.

SCSI (small computer system interface) was completed in 1982.

SGI introduced the IRIX operating system.

Microsoft re-branded PC-DOS (originally 86-DOS) to MS-DOS in 1982. MS-DOS version 1.25 was later released in 1982.

5ESS Switch

The 5ESS switch was first deployed in Seneca, Illinois, on March 25, 1982.

Sony began selling the first audio CD players on October 1, 1982.

The XT (extended technology) bus was introduced in 1982.

AutoCAD was introduced in December 1982.

Van Suwannukul created the Hercules Graphics Adapter in 1982.

IBM markets its first two industrial robotic systems - 7565 and 7535 manufacturing systems - which can be programmed with IBM-developed AML (A Manufacturing Language), the world's most advanced commercially available robotic control language.

IBM announced the IBM 3084, the company's top-of-the-line computer, with four central processing units offering up to 64 million characters of main memory and 48 channels.

IBM released the 3800 Printing Subsystem, Model 3.

IBM announced the IBM Personal Typewriter.

IBM released the Scanmaster I, for storing and retrieving image documents from a host computer.

IBM introduced the 6361 Fastdraft System, a low-cost drafting system using a light pen and a CRT (cathode ray tube) screen.

The QNX real-time operating system was released for the 8088 processor.

RCS (revision control system) was released in 1982.

The Vectrex video game console was released in 1982.

Computer and technology-related events in 1982

On January 18, 1982, Time Magazine released its first cover dedicated to video games titled "Video Games Are Blitzing the World."

Chroot was added to BSD (Berkeley Software Distribution) on March 18, 1982.

The field of quantum computing was introduced by Richard Feynman.

DEC (Digital Equipment Corporation) released the Rainbow 100.

Peter Norton created Norton Utilities.

Sony released its first Trinitron monitor.

Jack Kilby was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

Microsoft established a subsidiary in England to begin foreign sales efforts.

The HX-20 was the first notebook-sized portable computer introduced by Epson.

Apple Computer was the first personal computer manufacturer to hit the $1 billion mark for annual sales.

On August 12, 1982, IBM announced the IBM Personal Computer for $1,565.00.

Smiley emoticon

Professor Scott Fahlman created a post on a bulletin board mentioning using several characters to represent a smiley face and frowning face on September 19, 1982. His idea became known as emoticons.

Rich Skrenta, a 15-year-old high school student, created the first computer virus, The Elk Cloner.

The first permanent artificial heart was implanted into Barney Clark on December 2, 1982.

The first resistive touch screen was developed by George Samuel Hurst in 1975 but wasn't produced and used until 1982.

Computer companies and organizations founded in 1982

Sun was incorporated in February 1982, with four employees.

EA (Electronic Arts) was founded on May 28, 1982.

ABCD (Association of Better Computer Dealers) was founded in 1982. The company would later become CompTIA.

Access Software was established in 1982.

Adobe was founded in 1982.

Autodesk was established in 1982.

BTC was founded in 1982.

Diamond Multimedia was founded in 1982.

ENSONIQ was founded in 1982.

Hercules was founded in 1982.

Labtec was founded in 1982.

Lotus Development Corporation was founded in 1982.

LucasArts was founded in 1982.

Maxtor was founded in 1982.

MIC (Microfloppy Industry Committee) was established in 1982.

MicroProse was founded in 1982.

MidWest Micro was founded in 1982.

MiTAC was founded in 1982.

Number Nine was founded in 1982.

Orchid Technology was founded in 1982.

SGI was founded in 1982.

Sigma Designs was founded in 1982.

Signal Technology was founded in 1982.

SyQuest Technology was founded in 1982.

Symantec was founded in 1982.

Computer company events in 1982

AT&T agreed to divest itself of the Bell operating companies that provided local exchange service in the U.S. government antitrust suit against AT&T that started in 1974.

Expandor, Inc. changed its name to Black Box Corporation in 1982.

Kyoto Ceramic Company changed its name to Kyocera in 1982.

Computer-related TV shows and movies released in 1982

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan was released on June 4, 1982.

The movie Blade Runner was released on June 25, 1982.

Disney released Tron on July 9, 1982, the first movie to use computer-generated special effects.

Computer pioneers born in 1982

Ben Silbermann

Anthony Casalena was born on April 24, 1982.

Ryan Block was born on June 25, 1982.

Anand Shimpi was born on June 26, 1982.

Ben Silbermann was born on July 14, 1982.

Veronica Belmont was born on July 21, 1982.

Computer pioneer deaths in 1982

Haskell Curry passed away on September 1, 1982 (Age: 81).

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