Timeline
Explore the intertwined history of computing, gaming, and world events that shaped the digital revolution.
Legend
Technology
Gaming History
World History
People
Companies
1920s
1928
25 September
1928
13 December
1930s
1932
31 May
1937
1 January
1937
13 November
1940s
1940
30 July
1941
1 December
1950s
1950
11 August
1951
17 March
1953
21 January
1955
24 February
1955
28 October
1957
13 December
1958
1 January
1958
1 January
1959
1 January
Establishment of Computer peripherals company
Companies
1960s
1961
13 August
1962
1 January
Bresenham's Line Algorithm Development
Jack Bresenham develops his famous line algorithm at IBM for use with CalComp digital plotters, creating one of the most fundamental algorithms in computer graphics
Technology
1964
1 January
Establishment of DIY electronics kits company
Companies
1968
18 July
1969
1 January
Establishment of Electronics kits company
Companies
1969
1 September
1970s
1970
1 January
1973
1 January
1974
1 January
1974
1 July
1975
1 January
1975
30 April
Vietnam War Ends
The Fall of Saigon marks the end of the Vietnam War, reshaping global politics and American society
World History
1975
16 September
MOS 6502 Processor Introduced
MOS Technology introduces the 6502 processor at $25, revolutionising the microprocessor industry with aggressive pricing
Technology
1976
1 March
Zilog Z80 Processor Design Completion
Zilog completes development of the Z80 microprocessor, creating an enhanced and compatible alternative to Intel's 8080 that would become one of the most successful 8-bit processors in computing history
Technology
1976
1 April
1977
25 July
1978
1 June
Space Invaders Released
Taito releases Space Invaders in Japan, launching the golden age of arcade gaming and establishing video games as a cultural phenomenon
Gaming History
1979
1 September
Motorola 68000 Processor Introduction
Motorola introduces the 68000 microprocessor, a revolutionary 16/32-bit processor that would power advanced workstations, the Apple Macintosh, Commodore Amiga, and establish new standards for processor architecture and performance
Technology
1980s
1980
1 January
1982
1 January
1982
1 January
1982
2 April
Falklands War Begins
Argentina invades the Falkland Islands, beginning a conflict with the United Kingdom
World History
1982
23 April
ZX Spectrum Launch
Sinclair Research launches the ZX Spectrum, bringing affordable colour computing to British homes
Technology
1983
1 July
North American Video Game Crash
The North American video game market collapses due to oversaturation and poor quality control, nearly destroying the industry
Gaming History
1984
24 January
Bill Atkinson's Dithering Algorithm Development
Bill Atkinson develops his breakthrough dithering algorithm for MacPaint, enabling high-quality grayscale image display on the original Macintosh's black-and-white screen and revolutionising computer graphics capabilities
Technology
1985
1 January
1985
13 July
Live Aid Concert
The Live Aid benefit concert for African famine relief becomes one of the largest satellite link-ups and television broadcasts in history
World History
1986
14 April
1986
26 April
Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster
The Chernobyl nuclear power plant explosion in Ukraine becomes the worst nuclear disaster in history, highlighting the importance of computer-controlled safety systems
World History
1987
1 January
1987
19 October
Black Monday Stock Market Crash
Global stock markets crash, with the Dow Jones falling 22.6% in a single day
World History
1989
9 November
Fall of the Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall falls, marking the beginning of the end of the Cold War and opening Eastern Europe to Western technology and markets
World History
1990s
1994
29 April
1994
20 June
About This Timeline
This timeline combines technological milestones with significant world events to provide context for the computing revolution of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. Understanding how technology developed alongside major historical events helps us appreciate both the challenges and opportunities that shaped the digital age.