Did you know that the personal computer industry began in 1977? If you have noticed the rise in personal computers this past decade and are trying to learn more about how computers work, you are in the right place. We have put together this short guide to share a few facts about computers that will surprise you.
Keep reading to get in the know with these computer facts.
- Computer Mouse
One fact that you might not be aware of is that the first computer mouse was made of wood. It was invented by Doug Engelbart in 1964. The shape of the mouse was like a bulky box.
- First Computer Disk Drive
In 1956, IBM announced the first disk drive called the IBM 350. The first production of the disk drives was received in 1957 by United Airlines. They received 50 drives that measured 24 inches in diameter.
The disks spun at 1,200 RPM while they were in use and the total data that could be stored was 3.75 MB. Disk drives have come a long way and now hold a lot more than a few MB and are a lot smaller. You can browse this page to compare the IBM 350 to what you can purchase today.
- Worst Computer Viruses
In 2005 the virus called MyDoom caused around $38 billion in damages. The year before the worm called Sobig caused around $30 billion in damages. Neither one of the the creators were ever caught.
In 2001, there were around $20 billion in damages by the computer virus called Klez. It infected computers and also sent out fake emails.
- First Web Browser
The first web browser was WorldWideWeb and it was developed in 1990. This was also the first website in existence. It was a really simple user interface and it had the ability to access certain directories.
In 1993, the first graphical web browser was released and it was called Mosaic. This web browser helped contribute to the Web as we know it because it also supported images and came installed on home computers.
- Money, Money, Money
More than 90% of the currency around the world exists on computers in digital format. This means that less than 10% of money comes in physical form. Consumers are using debit cards, credit cards, and peer-to-peer transfers instead of using physical cash. The average person does not carry physical money – they strictly have everything digitally because of the convenience.
- First Electronic Computer
The first electronic computer was called the ENIAC. This computer took up around 1,800 square feet and it weighed more than 27 tons. Imagine this computer in your home office or living room.
- Highest Paying Computer Science Jobs
If you are considering a career in the world of computers the highest paying jobs include Software Architects, Software Developers, and Software Engineers. A Software Architect earns an average of $125,000 per year. A Software Developer earns around $105,000 per year.
Entry level software engineers usually start earning around $50,000 per year.
What Do You Think About These Facts About Computers?
We hope that now that you are aware of these facts about computers you are feeling more knowledgeable about computer technology..
If this blog post came in handy feel free to browse the rest of our technology section for more tips and tricks.
