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- Commodore 64 Personal Computer, 1985 - The Commodore 64 made home computing accessible to a broad public in the 1980s. Released in 1982 as a successor to the VIC-20, the C64 was priced cheaply and was essential in establishing the home computing market. As an early platform for growing consumer-friendly software and game industries, it remains one of the top-selling personal computers of all time.
- 1985
- Collections - Artifact
Commodore 64 Personal Computer, 1985
The Commodore 64 made home computing accessible to a broad public in the 1980s. Released in 1982 as a successor to the VIC-20, the C64 was priced cheaply and was essential in establishing the home computing market. As an early platform for growing consumer-friendly software and game industries, it remains one of the top-selling personal computers of all time.
- Heathkit H88 Computer, 1979 - The Heath Company was founded in the 1920s as a "do-it-yourself" electronics kit provider. "Heathkits" provided simple, accessible instructions understandable to amateurs and experts alike. As hobbyists built radios, televisions, and computers from scratch, they gained electronics skills. These kits were not novelties, but emphasized access to affordable, advanced, high-performance technology. Parallels easily be seen within present-day "Maker" culture.
- 1979
- Collections - Artifact
Heathkit H88 Computer, 1979
The Heath Company was founded in the 1920s as a "do-it-yourself" electronics kit provider. "Heathkits" provided simple, accessible instructions understandable to amateurs and experts alike. As hobbyists built radios, televisions, and computers from scratch, they gained electronics skills. These kits were not novelties, but emphasized access to affordable, advanced, high-performance technology. Parallels easily be seen within present-day "Maker" culture.
- Apple iMac G3 Personal Computer, 1999 - The iMac G3 was "the computer that saved Apple." This highly successful computer was optimized for education and web-surfing. Steve Jobs declared it married "the excitement of the Internet with the simplicity of a Macintosh." Available in 13 colors, Jonathan Ive designed its distinctive translucent case. Ive's design challenged the notion that computers had to be encased in opaque beige boxes.
- 1999
- Collections - Artifact
Apple iMac G3 Personal Computer, 1999
The iMac G3 was "the computer that saved Apple." This highly successful computer was optimized for education and web-surfing. Steve Jobs declared it married "the excitement of the Internet with the simplicity of a Macintosh." Available in 13 colors, Jonathan Ive designed its distinctive translucent case. Ive's design challenged the notion that computers had to be encased in opaque beige boxes.
- Apple iMac G3 Personal Computer, 2001 - The iMac G3 was "the computer that saved Apple." This highly successful computer was optimized for education and web-surfing. Steve Jobs declared it married "the excitement of the Internet with the simplicity of a Macintosh." Available in 13 colors, Jonathan Ive designed its distinctive translucent case. Ive's design challenged the notion that computers had to be encased in opaque beige boxes.
- 2001
- Collections - Artifact
Apple iMac G3 Personal Computer, 2001
The iMac G3 was "the computer that saved Apple." This highly successful computer was optimized for education and web-surfing. Steve Jobs declared it married "the excitement of the Internet with the simplicity of a Macintosh." Available in 13 colors, Jonathan Ive designed its distinctive translucent case. Ive's design challenged the notion that computers had to be encased in opaque beige boxes.
- Electric Motor Control Module for Honda Insight Automobile, 2000-2001 - Early hybrid cars relied on the driver to manually switch from one power source to the other. Modern hybrids use computers to manage power. This circuit board was the brains of a 2000 Honda Insight hybrid. It sent signals that controlled how much electric-motor power was added to the internal-combustion-engine output.
- 2000-2001
- Collections - Artifact
Electric Motor Control Module for Honda Insight Automobile, 2000-2001
Early hybrid cars relied on the driver to manually switch from one power source to the other. Modern hybrids use computers to manage power. This circuit board was the brains of a 2000 Honda Insight hybrid. It sent signals that controlled how much electric-motor power was added to the internal-combustion-engine output.
- "Accidents Led to Innovation," Clip from Interview with Steve Wozniak, August 18, 2008 - American computer engineer Stephen Wozniak co-founded Apple Computer (now Apple Inc.) with Steve Jobs in 1976. Wozniak's inventions and machines--he created the Apple 1 and Apple II computers--contributed greatly to the personal computer revolution of the 1970s and 80s. In 2008, staff from The Henry Ford interviewed Wozniak at the Computer History Museum in California as part of the Collecting Innovation Today Oral History Project.
- August 18, 2008
- Collections - Artifact
"Accidents Led to Innovation," Clip from Interview with Steve Wozniak, August 18, 2008
American computer engineer Stephen Wozniak co-founded Apple Computer (now Apple Inc.) with Steve Jobs in 1976. Wozniak's inventions and machines--he created the Apple 1 and Apple II computers--contributed greatly to the personal computer revolution of the 1970s and 80s. In 2008, staff from The Henry Ford interviewed Wozniak at the Computer History Museum in California as part of the Collecting Innovation Today Oral History Project.
- Transamerica Computer Company Workstation, circa 1969 -
- circa 1969
- Collections - Artifact
Transamerica Computer Company Workstation, circa 1969
- Prodigy Interactive Personal Service Start-up Kit, 1991 - Before the Internet was accessible to the nontechnical public, consumers subscribed to networking services like Prodigy. Along with competitors like CompuServe and America Online, Prodigy promoted the Internet as a tool for information, shopping, and fun. This startup kit included a modem, software, and a free month of access to "a world of continually expanding and updated information and services."
- 1991
- Collections - Artifact
Prodigy Interactive Personal Service Start-up Kit, 1991
Before the Internet was accessible to the nontechnical public, consumers subscribed to networking services like Prodigy. Along with competitors like CompuServe and America Online, Prodigy promoted the Internet as a tool for information, shopping, and fun. This startup kit included a modem, software, and a free month of access to "a world of continually expanding and updated information and services."
- Macintosh 512K Personal Computer, Model M0001W, 1985 - In 1984, the Apple Macintosh became the first popular personal computer to feature the now-ubiquitous mouse and "graphical user interface" desktop. Despite the Mac's relatively high price, its user-friendly features helped it demystify computing for many people without a technical bent. This computer is a Macintosh 512k, released in 1985 with increased memory.
- 1985
- Collections - Artifact
Macintosh 512K Personal Computer, Model M0001W, 1985
In 1984, the Apple Macintosh became the first popular personal computer to feature the now-ubiquitous mouse and "graphical user interface" desktop. Despite the Mac's relatively high price, its user-friendly features helped it demystify computing for many people without a technical bent. This computer is a Macintosh 512k, released in 1985 with increased memory.
- Osborne Portable Computer, Model OCC1, 1981-1982 - The Osborne 1 is the first mass-produced portable computer--a suitcase-sized "luggable" system weighing 23.5 pounds. It was one of the first bundled systems, with an inclusive package of hardware and software including word processing, spreadsheet, and BASIC programs. Despite initial success, when Osborne declared bankruptcy in 1983, it became the prototype victim of sudden, devastating, technological crashes in high-tech economies.
- 1981-1982
- Collections - Artifact
Osborne Portable Computer, Model OCC1, 1981-1982
The Osborne 1 is the first mass-produced portable computer--a suitcase-sized "luggable" system weighing 23.5 pounds. It was one of the first bundled systems, with an inclusive package of hardware and software including word processing, spreadsheet, and BASIC programs. Despite initial success, when Osborne declared bankruptcy in 1983, it became the prototype victim of sudden, devastating, technological crashes in high-tech economies.