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1980s
- 1990s - Networking and the Internet
With
the development of networking came the internet. The internet
is not a single network but rather a connection of many different
networks across the globe. Some of these networks are open to
the public some are restricted to a privileged group.
The
internet made its way into general use by a combination of social
and technical factors. By the 1990s access was allowed to everyone,
including those who would use it for commercial purposes. (Ceruzzi.
P., 1998).
Dr
Ed Turner on the use of other countries for the assembly of computer
components
1990
- Microsoft Windows 3.0
Introduced by Bill
Gates and Microsoft, this software has become one of the most
popular with people around the globe.
Clive
Tomlin talking about software and the programs used at ICI, Jeallots
Hill
Initial
activities of the internet allowed users top log on to a remote
computer, transfer large files from one machine to another and
send mail.
Clive
Tomlin remembers first using e mail at work and talks about networking
1990
-
World Wide Web
Invented
at the high-energy physics laboratory CERN, on the Swiss-French
border. Tim Berners-Lee, who wrote the original web prototype,
stated that the web's major goal was to be a shared information
space through which people and their machines could communicate.
This space was to be inclusive, not exclusive and the creator
was concerned with allowing communication access across computers
and software of different types. He wanted to avoid the structure
of most databases, where people had to put information into categories
before they new if such classifications are appropriate. (Ceruzzi.
P., 1998).
He
decided URL (Universal Resource Locator) that could point to any
document or resource in the universe for information. Tim Berners-Lee
also created HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) for the movement
of hypertext across the network. (Ceruzzi. P., 1998).
Dr
Ed Turner explains the developments and changes in manufacturing
and production in the IT industry and the M4 Thames Valley
1995
- Windows '95
Unlike
previous versions of Windows, Windows '95 was created as an entire
operating system.
1995
- The Internet
Commercial
users of the internet overwhelmed other users and the phrase 'dot
com' had entered our vocabulary. (Ceruzzi. P., 1998).
Since
the mid 1990's modem manufacturers have been trying to improve
and develop faster data rates for ordinary telephone lines; the
internet and world wide webs communication line.
Dr
Ed Turner on computers and the retail industry
Late
1990's - Mainframes
From
the late 1990's mainframe manufacturers started to leave the market,
assuming it to be less profitable. IBM was left as the only manufacturer,
giving them the ability to control the market, therefore their
profits increased and innovative new mainframes were able to be
developed.
1995-Present
- Software Industry
Although
many developments were being made on the hardware side of computing,
most of the progress was now being made in the software industry.
This has allowed us to use computers as we have never used them,
enabling us to buy and shop 'online', scan, manipulate and send
images and trade with millions on the stock market, all at the
touch of a button.
Recent
engineering advances have allowed computers to accept spoken word
instructions (voice recognition) and imitate human reasoning.
Expert systems can now assist doctors in making diagnoses by applying
the problem-solving steps a doctor might use in assessing a patient's
need. (Sample. J. O., 1999).
2001-Present
- Mainframes
Other
companies began to realise the potential in the market of mainframes
and developments started in mainframe architecture, thus making
the market more competitive.
Dr
Ed Turner talks about computers today
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