Research Paper about My Birth Year 1992 Technologies

Alec Chamberlain

7/13/10

In the year 1992, numerous advancements in technology were made, though the greatest advancements were made in the field of computer science. This was the first time that people were able to reach and communicate with people worldwide with ease. Three areas of focus of technology in 1992 were the internet, computers, and cell phones. Without these advances life as people know today would be greatly changed.

The greatest change that came in 1992 was the number of people who had access to the internet. In 1992 alone, more than 1 million computer users connected to the internet for the first time, more than any other year previously (Spicer). This allowed for companies to justify creating and developing programs that took advantage of the new found freedom that user were discovering. One of the programs that grew into a worldwide brand name was Mosaic, or more commonly known as Netscape (Moschovitis 188). Without any strong organization supporting its advancement the internet would have never been able to achieve how great it is now. Luckily this came in the form of the Internet Society which help form the first commercial internet provider or ISP (Shedden). This provider was known as Delphi, and even allowed its customers to have email support (Howe). Luckily during this time computer technologies also were making great advancements.

As computers became common place in homes and in the work place, companies began to realize they had to begin to develop technologies that allowed people to use them to their fullest potential. It is during this time that almost 65 million computer in the homes and offices of people worldwide (Shedden). Seeing this as a huge customer base, companies like Microsoft and Apple released products that allowed would allow everyday user easy access to the new technologies they began to develop. One of products that came out of this time was Windows 3.1, which was the first major improvement over their originally realized OS in 1985 (Kelly). This launch was the key to beginning of Microsoft’s domination in the computer market. Which also caused Apple to make products that supported the Windows system, a trend that continues today (Kelly). These newer programs also cause computer to become more advance, not only increasing in speed but also in the size they came in (Kelly). Unfortunately for many new computer users they became infected with the first worldwide computer virus known as Michelangelo (Shedden).

Now as began people realizing that communication was going to be key in the future, businesses and consumers alike wanted the ability to communicate on the go. In 1992 alone there were more than 11 Million cell phones active in worldwide (Grzywacz). Now compared to today standards these phones were not portable or thin, but they were able to reach the masses. This was also the first year that an SMS, better known as the first text message, message was sent to a phone on December 3 (Shedden).

Without this year, technology as we know it today would be greatly changed. To think that just 18 years ago phones were as big and heavy as bricks, computers were seeing the first widespread Microsoft OS, and people were just acquiring internet access is huge. If their goes a day that every person goes without using one of these technologies is rare.

Works Cited

"1992 including Popular Culture, Prices, Events, Technology and Inventions." Where People, History and Memories Join Together from The People History Site. Web. 13 July 2010. .

Grzywacz, Bogusia. "Number of Cell Phones in the US." Hypertextbook.com. Web. 13 July 2010. .

Howe, Walt. "A Brief History of the Internet." Walt Howe's Internet Learning Tree. Web. 13 July 2010. .

Kelley, Chuck. "History of Computing Industrial Era 1991 - 1992." The History of Computing Project. Web. 13 July 2010. .

Moschovitis, Christos. History of the Internet: a Chronology, 1843 to the Present. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO, 1999. Print.

Shedden, David. "New Media Timeline (1992)." Poynter Online. Web. 13 July 2010. .

Spicer, Dag. "Exhibits - Internet History - 1990's." Computer History Museum. Web. 13 July 2010. .