IT History Society

IT History Society We archive the history of information technology and the computer industry.

IT History Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to archiving and preserving the history of information technology and the computer industry, from its early beginnings to the year 2000. Our online database spans products, people, and ideas—and we invite you to contribute and share your stories as well. We believe these memories are rewarding, valuable, nostalgic, and educational for hobbyi

sts and professionals alike. Our mission is to enhance and expand works concerning the history of information technology and to demonstrate the value of IT history to the understanding and improvement of our present and future world. We support and encourage projects that include historical research, archival acquisitions, archival processing, historical writing, writing of educational material, public lectures, workshops, conferences, educational courses, short stories, novels, films, plays, exhibits, museums, web pages, and other activities that feature IT history as a topic.

Connect with us at our LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13022572/Since 2007, IT History Society has been ...
05/20/2024

Connect with us at our LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13022572/

Since 2007, IT History Society has been a group of professionals and industry leaders dedicated to preserving the history and nostalgia of our computational technology — from its earliest roots through the present day. (We actually started in 1981 as the Charles Babbage Foundation!) Our members, board, and trustees have included founders and senior executives from many of the largest companies throughout the 20th Century. We created our new LinkedIn Group in 2024 as a channel for enthusiasts to communicate.

[PHOTO: BRNO, CZECH REPUBLIC - Licensed from Shutterstock, JANUARY 7, 2024: Control panel and circuits of solid-state vintage soviet digital computer Minsk 22 made by Byelorussian SSR in year 1964 for Czechoslovakia]

Our industry owes a lot to visionaries who see something when others don't and push the boundaries for what they believe...
11/03/2023

Our industry owes a lot to visionaries who see something when others don't and push the boundaries for what they believe in — like Martin Goetz, who knew the programs that software engineers created deserved protection and that software patents would one day be recognized. His championing of these ideas helped form software as its own industry and paved the way for innovation. Reflecting on Goetz's legacy, how does the patenting of software impact your life and society?

Let's talk about the history of software patents. In the early days of software engineering, this was a novel idea that ...
11/01/2023

Let's talk about the history of software patents. In the early days of software engineering, this was a novel idea that was debated for decades. The computer community did not consider software a separate category from computer hardware, and the legal community did not consider software as patentable believing it to be little more than operationalized mathematics. Yet, Martin Goetz challenged these perceptions by proving that software is a set of instructions put together to do a task, and that task is an invention. Goetz filed for a patent for his mainframe data-sorting software on April 8, 1965, and 3 years later on April 28, 1968, he received it as U.S. Patent No. 3,380,029 for "Sorting System." He continued to advocate for patenting software (and even fighting back against monopolies in the computer industry through other efforts like an antitrust lawsuit against IBM calling for the unbundling of software from their equipment). And it wasn't until 1990 that the U.S. Supreme Court finally ruled that software was patentable! Thanks to individuals like Goetz and his persistence in receiving an original software patent, countless inventors have been able to pursue their dreams without fear of being copied without consent, leading to all the incredible tech we rely on today and the industry as we now know it.

Martin Goetz, visionary computer programmer and holder of the first-ever software patent, passed away on October 10, 202...
10/30/2023

Martin Goetz, visionary computer programmer and holder of the first-ever software patent, passed away on October 10, 2023, at the age of 93. After his groundbreaking patent in 1968, which aimed to prevent tech behemoths like IBM from copying his creation and was the first time software was recognized as a patentable product, Goetz continued to champion patent protections and their importance in safeguarding innovation. These efforts helped to level the playing field and lead to the diverse software market we have today. Computerworld recognized him as an "unsung innovator" of the computer industry and many celebrate Goetz as the "father of third-party software." Let's recognize his contributions and share our condolences with Martin's family.

AI is impacting the world. 🌎 It's especially become integral to IT — and we want to hear about your encounters and opini...
05/01/2023

AI is impacting the world. 🌎 It's especially become integral to IT — and we want to hear about your encounters and opinions! From being a consumer of AI to developing, deploying, and maintaining AI systems or even managing data storage to support it and using AI in work settings, please share your experiences.

Is it changing the way you work? Are there areas you see it excelling? What are your feelings toward the future of AI? Let's discuss in the comments...

Brilliance and innovation can come from anyone. ✨ As we celebrate Alan Turing's contributions to computer science, AI, ...
04/30/2023

Brilliance and innovation can come from anyone. ✨ As we celebrate Alan Turing's contributions to computer science, AI, and IT, we also recognize the importance of inclusivity and diversity in these fields.

When we create spaces that welcome people from all backgrounds and perspectives, we unlock the potential for incredible discoveries and progress. 🙌 Who knows who will be the next great computer scientist, programmer, or developer — and what amazing things can be accomplished when we give everyone a seat at the table. 👨‍💻👩‍💻 Let's keep striving to create an environment where everyone has the opportunity to contribute and innovate!

Can machines think? 💻 🧠 Alan Turing posed this question in his 1950 paper "Computing Machinery and Intelligence" when in...
04/29/2023

Can machines think? 💻 🧠 Alan Turing posed this question in his 1950 paper "Computing Machinery and Intelligence" when introducing the concept of The Imitation Game, which later became known as the Turing Test. The game involves a human judge interacting with two participants, one of which is a computer. The judge is tasked with determining which of the two participants is a computer. If the judge is unable to distinguish the computer from a human, the computer is said to have passed the test and is considered to be intelligent.

For more than 70 years, the Turing Test has remained a popular benchmark. However, with the increasing prominence of AI and computing technology advancing far beyond what Turing may have envisioned, there has been a growing discussion around defining "intelligence" and creating new frameworks to test the degree to which AI can replicate human-like intelligence. 💬 What's your take on this debate?

British computer scientist and mathematician, Alan Turing is widely credited as the "Father of Modern Computing and AI" ...
04/28/2023

British computer scientist and mathematician, Alan Turing is widely credited as the "Father of Modern Computing and AI" based on his contributions that are recognized as the foundation of the digital revolution. Turing played a key role in cracking the German Enigma code during World War II, which is estimated to have shortened the war by at least two years and saved countless lives. His theoretical work on the Universal Turing Machine led to the development of early computers, and his Turing Test concept remains significant in the AI sphere. Despite his brilliance, the British Government persecuted him for his sexual orientation, and he tragically died at a young age. His legacy is celebrated for its immense contributions to science and technology, which still influence IT fields today, and his story has become a symbol for LGBTQ+ rights.

Since the introduction of what could be considered the first smartphone in 1993, IBM's Simon pictured here, communicatio...
04/27/2023

Since the introduction of what could be considered the first smartphone in 1993, IBM's Simon pictured here, communication has undergone a dramatic revolution. This has enabled people to connect and collaborate in ways that were once unimaginable. This evolution has been shaped by technological advances, changing social norms, and personal preferences.

While it's nuanced and complicated, advantages include allowing people to stay connected and collaborate in new ways through communicating more frequently with anyone around the world at any time and in a variety of tools and methods. Concerns include the impacts on mental health, interpersonal skills, data privacy, online security, and more.

As we continue to adapt to these changes, it's important to reflect on the history of how technology has affected how we communicate and get information. By being mindful of both the benefits and challenges of new communication methods, we can use them to enhance our lives in meaningful ways.

We'd like to know how you've adapted the way you communicate based on the technology available to you. 🤳 Whether you switched from hour-long phone calls to asynchronous texting or made any other changes, we welcome you to share your experiences in the comments. 👇 Let's start a conversation!

P.S. These photos are sourced from Mobile Phone Museum, and their site is a blast to explore: https://www.mobilephonemuseum.com/.

Bonus points if you share a photo in the comments! ☎️
04/25/2023

Bonus points if you share a photo in the comments! ☎️

In 1965, Gordon Moore famously predicted that the number of transistors on a microchip would double every two years, a p...
04/24/2023

In 1965, Gordon Moore famously predicted that the number of transistors on a microchip would double every two years, a phenomenon now known as "Moore's Law." This proved to be remarkably accurate and has been a driving force in the advancement of technology. Thanks to Gordon Moore's bold prediction, we now have powerful devices and high-speed networks that have revolutionized the way we live and work.

While the pace of technological advancement slows as transistor sizes approach their physical limits, Intel is still committed to pushing the boundaries of what is possible with computing and chip manufacturing and continues to build upon this trajectory. As Moore once said, "Whatever has been done, can be outdone."

Head to our page to read the Electronics Magazine article featuring this influential essay and original prediction by Moore!

Today, we honor Gordon Moore and his contributions to the technology industry. He co-founded Intel , one of the world's ...
04/24/2023

Today, we honor Gordon Moore and his contributions to the technology industry. He co-founded Intel , one of the world's largest and most successful semiconductor chip makers. He also made significant contributions to the development of the integrated circuit, which has revolutionized electronics and paved the way for modern computing. In addition, Moore advocated for science education and made significant philanthropic contributions to organizations focused on education and research, especially in environmental conservation, patient care, scientific research, and the San Francisco Bay Area through Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. His visionary thinking, legacy, and generosity will continue to inspire future generations of innovators.

Photo: Ben Margot/AP

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