WINDOWS VS MAC

 

Tech Milestones, Good

The first CD-ROM was invented in 1984 by James T. Russell. Russell loved music and began getting frustrated at his vinyl phonograph records when they would get damaged. He also did not like the sound quality traditional records gave.  This was the start of the development process of the CD-ROM. He wanted a system that could record and replay sound. The best way he thought to create this idea was to use light. The first digital-to-optical recording and playback system was successfully invented in the 1970’s. He continued to perfect his invention and adapt it to new forms of data. There were a few investors interested in Russell’s work. Eventually Sony and other audio companies realized the implications and purchased licenses. In 1985 Russell earned 26 patents for the CD-ROM.

Russell’s invention helped shape our ability to record and playback music and store files.

References,

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1999). The Digital Compact Disc. Retrieved on July 19^th, 2012 from http://web.mit.edu/invent/iow/russell.html

 

Tech Milestones, Fail

The Apple Lisa was the first personal computer to use a graphic user interface. The Lisa was released on January 1983. It cost Apple millions of dollars to create the hardware and software used on this computer. Only about 10,000 units were ever sold. In 1984 Lisa 2 was released with a 3.5" drive instead of the two 5.25". Lisa 2 was price at about $10,000 dollars shelf price. A year later Lisa 2 was renamed Macintosh XL. In 1986 Lisa, Lisa 2 and the Macintosh XL line was scrapped. A lot of people say the high price tag, delays and release date lead to the demise of the Lisa; however, the new Macintosh did quite well and lead the way to the future of computers.

References,

Mary Bellis. Inventors of the Modern Computer. Retrieved on July 19^th, 2012 from http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa043099.htm

Specific Hostorical Advancement

I used several technological advances that I thought were pretty important. Besides electricity, some of the inventions I have orbiting around earth helped shaped later inventions. The majority of the inventions I used are from the 1800’s, because I didn’t want to put an invention in that was basically inspired by another. The idea behind the image was that all of the inventions we had in previous days would orbit around earth, until they reached a certain point and would turn into what we have today. It didn’t really turn out the way I wanted it but I think it looks pretty nice, especially for someone who is not that great at graphics.

I placed and image over the circles and added a drop shadow and stroke effect. The background image is just some random grunge texture that I edited with a hue/saturation layer.

The Electric Typewriter and Computer

The Electric Typewriter and Computer

The electric type writer and computer are vastly different. At the time when the electric typewriter was introduced, computers were becoming popular. Though the electric typewriter did not market well, it still has some advantages that impacted society at the time. Today though, word processors are overshadowing it. Electric typewriters are becoming almost non-existent today when matched up against a computer.

Electronic typewriters work like a computer but print like a modern typewriter. The major advantage to an electric typewriter is that it can produce a printed document in hard copy as the user types. It doesn’t require a separate printer and produces it in less time than a computer does. The first electric typewriter was introduced around 1902, even though it wasn’t mass-marketed.  Some electric typewriters have small devices in them that can correct one line errors.  The only drawback to this device is that it only affects a typing mistake after you are done. With a word processor you can use a spellchecker to make corrections on the spot. Electric typewriters can also record media and digital content that the user can access for fast reproduction later on. The electric typewriter is cost effective and way cheaper than a computer; however, electric typewriters are very hard to acquire. The ribbons inside a typewriter are also cheaper than the ink cartridges a user will buy for their printer.

Computers have affected our society so much. Now-a-days, there are a lot of things computers can do for us than they could in the past. Around the birth of the first home computer in 1979 by Apple, there were a lot of things still unknown about them. It took many years for the first home computer to actually come about. The first working computer was created by Charles Babbage in the 1800’s. Many people help shaped the computer to what we see today. There are computers built to send signals in war, help sick patients, and keep accurate records for our documents. Society today is so reliant on computers. Many of the functions they produce today can have drastic impacts on our lives. The computer differs from the electric typewriter in many ways. Computers can be upgraded and created to suit the user’s needs. It has a function that allows users to insert internal and removable storage devices to store many documents. Computers are more versatile than electric typewriters.  We use computers today for a wide variety of tasks. Despite the heavy price tag that comes along with purchasing a computer, it allows the user to use it for any task they want to.

A computer has basically taken over the electric typewriter. With how advanced our society is going, the need for electric typewriters will continue to dwindle. Newer versions of today’s computers will replace our older versions, allowing us to do more than we can possibly imagine. Computers affect much of our society than you probably think.

 Works Cited

eHow.com. The Disadvantages of Electric Typewriters. July 8^th, 2012. http://www.ehow.com/info_8247391_disadvantages-electric-typewriters.html#ixzz205INUlLM

 eHow.com. Computers vs the Electric Typewriter. July 8^th, 2012. http://www.ehow.com/about_6398366_computers-vs_-electronic-typewriter.html