Today, 92% of all Americans have access to a computer(Anderson) in the form of a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer. The first analog computers were developed during WW2, and they rapidly advanced into the 50s, and 60s. However, by the 70s the Digital Age was on the horizon. Giants like Apple, IBM, and Microsoft pushed development through the 80s; the PC Revolution had begun. The PC Revolution had a profound impact of millions of lives, transforming not only America but the entire world by opening new sales markets, and changing the way they interact with other humans.
Microsoft, IBM, Dell, and Hewlett-Packard(HP) are now well known companies, producing PCs, PC software, and other PC related products. However, they were not the first, nor were they the last competitors to enter the grand world of personal computing. The rapid development of PCs opened up new jobs fields in software development, IT management, computer systems analysis, and database administration. Jobs in marketing and production related positions expanded as well. Last but not least is the extreme growth and expansion the PC development brought economically.
In the beginning of the PC revolution companies such as, Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems(MITS), and Commodore turned out small computers designed for hobbyists but not on a large enough scale to be considered mass production. It wasn’t until Bill Gates and Paul Allen approached MITS founder Ed Roberts, offering an operating
Home technology has taken a gigantic step since the 1970s as not only has the performance improved, but more families have begun to feel a necessity to have these appliances. In 1977 the Apple 2 Computer was released to the public. What was then considered an “ordinary computer for ordinary people” is now seen only in museums and dumps. The personal computer was one of the first personal computer with no additional parts required to buy, such as cases for the computer or a way to supply it power. The Apple 2 was also had great graphics for its time and was very easy to use for normal people. We now have computers in our phones, but in the 1970s the Apple 2 was one of the only computer that you could effectively use at work, school, or at home (computerhistory.org). However, all of that is nothing compared to the computers we currently use. Now most families have a laptop computer that is portable and has a long battery life without having to remain plugged into a power outlet. The computers have gotten
PC computing was the center of computing during the 1990s, but the internet took over the next decade. Cellphones are sold more than PCs, and that is because they can access the Net. Network and communication became more important to people, whether it is in the home, small business or enterprise. Intel response to the changes in the environment by investing a lot of money in four areas, client platforms, server platforms, cellular and wireless, and communication and networking. Despite the fact that Intel took several steps toward making a position for it in the mobile and internet market, the threat of being behind
In 1980 the computer world was dominated by two college dropouts named Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. They started the revolutionary Apple Computer Company in 1976 originally after building a prototype user-friendly computer. Even though computers were invented forty years earlier, the first personal computer was the Apple II and it sold in the millions until 1994. The personal computers were used in schools to instruct children in computer use (Kallen 96-97). Before they were used in that manner, they were once large machines and used only at universities, big companies, and military. As time changed millions of Americans soon had a ‘personal’ computer in their home. They could be use it to read newspaper stories, buy things, do schoolwork, and play games (“1970s and ‘80s”). What else was popular in the 1980s is that doctors identified a virus that causes AIDS, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, was considered an epidemic for the first time. The disease spread in several way such as through sexual relations and through sharing the needles used to take illegal drugs. As the years went by, it became increasingly careful for people with their own activities (“1970s and
During the 1970s, technology in the United States was still growing as personal computers were not as popular due to their bulky size. Not only were computers large in their form, they also cost more than what an average working class American could pay for. Due to the steppe price of a computer, they were considered more of a novelty item rather than a necessity for everyday use. Although personal computers were not yet seen in homes,
A majority of the working people sit at the desk all day, using one or more computers to work with. Even 100 years ago this was unthinkable and far away. The typewriter, the telegraph, and the first telephones and photographic apparatus were regarded as marvels of technology, which became indispensable for some branches of profession. However, most people only had very late access to modern developments that would change life and work sustainably.
Computer technology is constantly advancing over software and hardware that is available at any one given time. These constant changes affect how long computer products can sell for a premium price but also can make it cheaper for those consumers that are not interested in the newest and latest components. Personal computers (PC), also known as desktop computers, are common place in jobs, schools and homes. The demand for personal computers is constant and revolving since components of computers gets better and more powerful with time. The target market then becomes anyone that uses a personal computer for home or work. HP uses the fact that computers are a common item in any office or home to their advantage and offers not only PC’s but other accessories pertaining to computers as well. While HP currently excels at providing a product for a decent price they are missing out on consumers that Equalus will focus
At the time, the personal computer business was in its infancy, and the company sought to fill a niche by providing communication networks to link mainframe computers. Although the company grew rapidly, Mr. Lee felt that the real opportunities for growth lay in personal computers. In the mid-1980s, he decided to make a major switch to the production
The bitten apple on the backs of devices seen almost everywhere had its start roughly 40 years ago. Apple Computer, Inc. was formed by Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs on the first of April in 1976. That day changed America’s dependence on technology forever. The popularity of personal computers and mobile devices has undoubtedly increased year by year. Social interaction has changed completely within American society with the introduction of networking and other methods of electronic communication. The wide range of information made available through the internet and accessible devices built a ‘library’ of material for anyone to use. The age of the internet has changed American lives, for better or for worse.
In the past 100 years, the world has completely turned around. The technological and computer revolutions have completely changed the way the world works. Henry Ford revolutionized factorial production through the creation of the assembly line. It increased efficiency and a basic standard of conformity among products, therefore making the company a lot more successful. The rest of the industry creating a nation-wide revolution based on efficiency adopted this new innovation. Following the innovation of the assembly line, a new era of development came into existence. In the 1970’s, computers were first introduced. Although they were as large as a room and could only play tic tac toe, they were the start of the
The PC industry has started to develop fast in the 80 's when IBM launched its first PC series and later on when numerous small companies entered the market. PC is a new product and companies had to create the demand to it from the scratch.
Americans have at present become too dependent on computers. With the invention of computers years ago, they have become an essential part of human life. Americans have increasingly become dependent on computers, and it is quite unbelievable that almost fifty years ago, many of them had never seen a computer before. Presently, computers are in use in almost every aspect of human life, at almost all corners of the globe. People can now work from the comfort of their own homes, interact instantly with their family or friends living abroad, and even socialize with strangers from all over the world. This paper explores how Americans are becoming too dependent on computers for communication, education, and entertainment.
The technology revolution began around the 1970s with the PC, in the 1980s with the
With time, the PC continued to evolve and newer models offered better speed, color screens, more memory and larger hard drives. Further technical evolution continued to deliver higher speeds, larger storage capacity both internal and external. In addition to the hardware progression, the PC world continued to see progress with operating system solutions and advanced software catering to both large and small businesses as well as the home owner.
The large capital requirements to enter the computer industry combined with established brand identities of the current incumbents make barriers to entry high, not to mention the economies of scale and distribution channels that incumbents enjoy which make entry barriers even higher. The current PC incumbents enjoy demand-side benefit of scale in the business sector where PC buyers prefer to buy products from large trusted companies, raising the level of entry barriers.
a man named Gary Kildall. IBM came to Kildall first, but he turned them away