The History of Computers
Timeline (1 of 2)
The First Computer Game
The Internet Was Born at School
The World's First Mouse
Computers Went to Space
Giant Computers
1958
1946
1969
1969
1964
Click on the computers to learn more about each fact.
The History of Computers
Timeline (2 of 2)
The WWW Became Free for Everyone
Phones Became Smart
Computers Came Home
Computers You Could Carry
Windows Was Born
2007
1991
1981
1985
1977
Click on the computers to learn more about each fact.
Computers Went to Space
In 1969, a computer helped astronauts get to the Moon! This computer wasn't as powerful as today's smartphones, but it was good enough to guide the Apollo 11 spaceship to the Moon and back home.
The WWW Became Free for Everyone
A scientist named Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web. In 1991, he made it free for everyone to use and created the first website. Before this, only scientists and schools could easily share information between computers.
Computers You Could Carry
The first laptop computer came out in 1981. It was called the Osborne 1. It weighed more than 24 pounds and looked like a big suitcase with a handle so you could carry it around. It had a small screen, two disk drives, and a keyboard.
Computers Came Home
The first home computer was sold to families in 1977. It was called the Apple II. Everything was built into one beige box, making it user-friendly and perfect for homes. It cost $1,298.
The Internet Was Born at School
The Internet started with the name “ARPANET” and only had four computers at different universities connected. The first message sent over the Internet was very short. It just said "LO" because the computer got disconnected before it could finish typing "LOGIN".
The World's First Mouse
The first computer mouse was invented in 1964 by a man named Douglas Engelbart. It was a wooden box with two metal wheels underneath. They called it a "mouse" because the cord looked like a real mouse's tail!
Giant Computers
The first computers were huge and took up whole rooms! The ENIAC computer weighed as much as three big elephants and needed almost 18,000 special tubes to work.
Phones Became Smart
The first iPhone came out in 2007 and changed how we use technology. It put a phone, computer, camera, and music player all together in one device that could fit in your pocket.
The First Computer Game
The very first video game was made in 1958. It was called "Tennis for Two." It was really simple - just a ball bouncing between two lines on the screen. Players used controllers with buttons to move their "rackets".
Windows Was Born
Microsoft made Windows 1.0 in 1985. Before Windows, people had to type text commands to use computers. Windows let people click with a mouse on windows and buttons, just like we do today!
The History of Computers
Hugo Aguirre
Created on September 19, 2025
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Transcript
The History of Computers
Timeline (1 of 2)
The First Computer Game
The Internet Was Born at School
The World's First Mouse
Computers Went to Space
Giant Computers
1958
1946
1969
1969
1964
Click on the computers to learn more about each fact.
The History of Computers
Timeline (2 of 2)
The WWW Became Free for Everyone
Phones Became Smart
Computers Came Home
Computers You Could Carry
Windows Was Born
2007
1991
1981
1985
1977
Click on the computers to learn more about each fact.
Computers Went to Space
In 1969, a computer helped astronauts get to the Moon! This computer wasn't as powerful as today's smartphones, but it was good enough to guide the Apollo 11 spaceship to the Moon and back home.
The WWW Became Free for Everyone
A scientist named Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web. In 1991, he made it free for everyone to use and created the first website. Before this, only scientists and schools could easily share information between computers.
Computers You Could Carry
The first laptop computer came out in 1981. It was called the Osborne 1. It weighed more than 24 pounds and looked like a big suitcase with a handle so you could carry it around. It had a small screen, two disk drives, and a keyboard.
Computers Came Home
The first home computer was sold to families in 1977. It was called the Apple II. Everything was built into one beige box, making it user-friendly and perfect for homes. It cost $1,298.
The Internet Was Born at School
The Internet started with the name “ARPANET” and only had four computers at different universities connected. The first message sent over the Internet was very short. It just said "LO" because the computer got disconnected before it could finish typing "LOGIN".
The World's First Mouse
The first computer mouse was invented in 1964 by a man named Douglas Engelbart. It was a wooden box with two metal wheels underneath. They called it a "mouse" because the cord looked like a real mouse's tail!
Giant Computers
The first computers were huge and took up whole rooms! The ENIAC computer weighed as much as three big elephants and needed almost 18,000 special tubes to work.
Phones Became Smart
The first iPhone came out in 2007 and changed how we use technology. It put a phone, computer, camera, and music player all together in one device that could fit in your pocket.
The First Computer Game
The very first video game was made in 1958. It was called "Tennis for Two." It was really simple - just a ball bouncing between two lines on the screen. Players used controllers with buttons to move their "rackets".
Windows Was Born
Microsoft made Windows 1.0 in 1985. Before Windows, people had to type text commands to use computers. Windows let people click with a mouse on windows and buttons, just like we do today!