Fifth-cycle library innovations listing
installation period into turning point
Installation Period & ongoing current Turning Point
I. MICROPROCESSORS (COMPUTERS)
Irruption Phase (1971-1987)
1971 – Intel 4004 Microprocessor World’s first commercial single-chip microprocessor, ushering in “a new era of integrated electronics” with 2,300 transistors on a single chip, originally designed for Busicom calculators Federico Faggin, Ted Hoff, Stanley Mazor, Masatoshi Shima / Intel Corporation 1971
1972 – Intel 8008 Microprocessor Enhanced 8-bit microprocessor expanding computing capabilities beyond simple calculations to general-purpose computing applications Intel Corporation 1972
1974 – Intel 8080 Microprocessor More powerful 8-bit processor that became foundation for early personal computers and embedded systems Intel Corporation 1974
1975 – Altair 8800 Personal Computer First commercially successful personal computer kit, democratizing computing access and launching the microcomputer revolution Ed Roberts / MITS (Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems) 1975
1977 – Apple II Personal Computer Revolutionary personal computer with color graphics, built-in keyboard, and user-friendly design that established the mass market for home computers Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak / Apple Computer 1977
1978 – Intel 8086 Microprocessor 16-bit processor that established the x86 architecture, becoming the foundation for IBM PC compatibility and modern computing standards Intel Corporation 1978
1981 – IBM Personal Computer (PC) Standardized personal computer architecture using Intel 8088 processor and MS-DOS, legitimizing personal computing in business environments IBM Corporation 1981
Frenzy Phase (1987-2000s)
1985 – Intel 80386 Microprocessor 32-bit processor enabling advanced multitasking, virtual memory, and graphical user interfaces for personal computers Intel Corporation 1985
1989 – Intel 80486 Microprocessor Enhanced 32-bit processor with integrated math coprocessor and cache memory, significantly improving PC performance Intel Corporation 1989
1993 – Intel Pentium Processor Advanced processor with superscalar architecture enabling simultaneous execution of multiple instructions, establishing Intel’s dominance in PC market Intel Corporation 1993
1995 – Pentium Pro Processor High-performance processor designed for server and workstation applications with advanced out-of-order execution Intel Corporation 1995
Turning Point (2000s-ongoing)
2000 – Pentium 4 Processor High-frequency processor with NetBurst microarchitecture designed for multimedia and internet applications Intel Corporation 2000
II. TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Irruption Phase (1971-1987)
1973 – First Mobile Phone Call Demonstration of first handheld cellular phone, pioneering mobile telecommunications and enabling future wireless revolution Martin Cooper / Motorola 1973
1979 – 1G Cellular Network Launch First commercial cellular telephone system (NMT) launched in Nordic countries, establishing mobile telephony as commercial service Nordic telecommunications companies 1979
1983 – Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS) First generation analog cellular network launched in United States, bringing mobile phones to mass market Bell Labs / AT&T 1983
1984 – Bell System Breakup Antitrust breakup of AT&T monopoly creating competitive telecommunications environment and spurring innovation US Department of Justice 1984
Frenzy Phase (1987-2000s)
1991 – 2G Digital Cellular (GSM) Digital cellular standard enabling text messaging, improved call quality, and international roaming capabilities European Telecommunications Standards Institute 1991
1992 – First Text Message (SMS) First Short Message Service transmission pioneering mobile text communication that would revolutionize personal communication Neil Papworth / Vodafone 1992
1996 – Digital Satellite Television Direct broadcast satellite services bringing hundreds of digital channels to homes, revolutionizing television distribution DirecTV / Hughes Electronics 1996
Turning Point (2000s-ongoing)
2001 – 3G Cellular Networks Third-generation mobile networks enabling mobile internet, video calling, and data services on mobile devices Various telecommunications companies 2001
III. SOFTWARE
Irruption Phase (1971-1987)
1975 – Microsoft Founded Software company formation focusing on programming languages and operating systems for emerging personal computer market Bill Gates, Paul Allen / Microsoft Corporation 1975
1976 – CP/M Operating System First widely adopted microcomputer operating system, establishing software industry standards and business models Gary Kildall / Digital Research 1976
1981 – MS-DOS Operating System Disk operating system for IBM PC that became dominant PC operating system, establishing Microsoft’s software empire Microsoft Corporation 1981
1984 – Apple Macintosh System First commercially successful graphical user interface operating system with mouse-driven interaction, revolutionizing computer usability Apple Computer 1984
Frenzy Phase (1987-2000s)
1987 – Windows 2.0 Enhanced graphical interface for MS-DOS providing overlapping windows and improved functionality for IBM-compatible PCs Microsoft Corporation 1987
1990 – Windows 3.0 Major breakthrough in PC graphical interfaces with Program Manager, File Manager, and 16-color VGA support Microsoft Corporation 1990
1995 – Windows 95 Revolutionary operating system integrating DOS and Windows with Plug and Play, 32-bit architecture, and Start menu Microsoft Corporation 1995
1998 – Windows 98 Enhanced consumer operating system with Internet Explorer integration, USB support, and multimedia capabilities Microsoft Corporation 1998
Turning Point (2000s-ongoing)
2001 – Mac OS X Unix-based operating system combining stability, security, and elegant user interface design Apple Computer 2001
IV. NETWORKING (INTERNET)
Irruption Phase (1971-1987)
1971 – First Email First network electronic mail sent over ARPANET using @ symbol to separate user and host names, establishing fundamental internet communication Ray Tomlinson / Bolt, Beranek and Newman 1971
1973 – Ethernet Development Local area networking protocol enabling high-speed data transmission between computers in same location Bob Metcalfe, David Boggs / Xerox PARC 1973
1974 – TCP/IP Protocol Development Fundamental internet protocols enabling communication between different networks, creating “network of networks” architecture Bob Kahn, Vint Cerf / DARPA 1974
1983 – Internet Protocol Implementation ARPANET officially adopts TCP/IP protocol, marking birth of modern Internet as universal networking standard DARPA / Internet research community 1983
1984 – Domain Name System (DNS) Hierarchical naming system enabling human-readable web addresses instead of numeric IP addresses Paul Mockapetris / University of Southern California 1984
Frenzy Phase (1987-2000s)
1989 – World Wide Web Invention Hypertext system enabling easy information sharing and navigation across the Internet through web browsers Tim Berners-Lee / CERN 1989
1990 – First Web Browser WorldWideWeb browser providing graphical interface for accessing hypertext documents over the Internet Tim Berners-Lee / CERN 1990
1993 – Mosaic Web Browser First popular graphical web browser making Internet accessible to general public and sparking World Wide Web explosion Marc Andreessen, Eric Bina / University of Illinois 1993
1994 – Netscape Navigator Commercial web browser that dominated early Internet with advanced features and widespread adoption Marc Andreessen / Netscape Communications 1994
1995 – JavaScript Programming Language Scripting language enabling interactive web pages and dynamic content, revolutionizing web development Brendan Eich / Netscape 1995
1998 – Google Search Engine Advanced web search algorithm using PageRank system providing more relevant search results than competitors Larry Page, Sergey Brin / Google 1998
Turning Point (2000s-ongoing)
2004 – Facebook Social Network Social networking platform enabling users to connect, share, and communicate online, transforming social interaction Mark Zuckerberg / Facebook 2004
V. MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY
Irruption Phase (1971-1987)
1975 – Digital Camera Invention First digital camera prototype using CCD sensor, eliminating film and enabling instant image capture and electronic storage Steven Sasson / Eastman Kodak 1975
1979 – Compact Disc Development Digital optical storage medium for music providing superior audio quality and durability compared to analog formats Philips and Sony collaboration 1979
1981 – MTV Launch Music Television channel revolutionizing music industry and youth culture through 24-hour music video programming Warner Communications / American Express 1981
1982 – CD Player Introduction Consumer device for playing compact discs, beginning transition from analog to digital music consumption Sony and Philips 1982
Frenzy Phase (1987-2000s)
1988 – Digital Audio Tape (DAT) Professional digital recording format enabling perfect audio reproduction and editing capabilities Sony Corporation 1988
1991 – World Wide Web Goes Public Internet becomes publicly accessible, enabling global information sharing and communication revolution CERN / Internet community 1991
1995 – DVD Development Digital Versatile Disc providing high-capacity storage for video, audio, and data with superior quality to VHS DVD Forum consortium 1995
1996 – MP3 Audio Format Compressed digital audio format enabling efficient music file sharing and storage, revolutionizing music distribution Fraunhofer Society / Thomson 1996
1997 – Netflix DVD-by-Mail Service Online DVD rental service disrupting traditional video rental industry and pioneering subscription-based entertainment Reed Hastings, Marc Randolph / Netflix 1997
Turning Point (2000s-ongoing)
2001 – iPod Digital Music Player Portable digital music device with intuitive interface and massive storage capacity, transforming music consumption Apple Computer 2001
2003 – iTunes Music Store Legal digital music download service providing convenient alternative to music piracy while compensating artists Apple Computer 2003
2005 – YouTube Video Sharing Platform Online video sharing service enabling user-generated content and democratizing video distribution worldwide Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, Jawed Karim / YouTube 2005