1940s
World War II accelerates computing development—ENIAC, Colossus, and the dawn of the computer age.
1940
1 event1941
2 events1943
5 eventsMasayuki Uemura born
Architect of the Famicom
Nolan Bushnell born
The father of the video game industry
Williams Electronics
Williams transitioned from pinball to video games, creating arcade classics like *Defender*, *Robotron: 2084*, and *Joust* before returning to pinball.
Williams Electronics
The Chicago-based arcade company that transitioned from pinball to create some of gaming's most intense and innovative titles including Defender, Robotron: 2084, and Joust.
Colossus begins codebreaking at Bletchley Park
The world's first programmable electronic computer enters service breaking Nazi codes, though its existence remains secret for decades.
1944
1 event1945
2 eventsWorld War II ends
The deadliest conflict in human history concludes, leaving behind technological advances that will reshape civilian life.
ENIAC becomes operational
The Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer, the first general-purpose electronic computer, begins operation at the University of Pennsylvania.
1946
2 events1947
1 eventThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs
John Bardeen, Walter Brattain, and William Shockley invent the transistor, the tiny switch that will replace vacuum tubes and enable modern electronics.