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Technology timeline

Big ideas, tiny years

A living map of breakthroughs across memory, processors, motors, and more. Use advanced search operators for precise filtering.

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Navigator1956 | 5 buckets
CPU
Electric Motors
Graphics Processing Units
Lithography Physics
Memory
Microprocessors
Operating Systems
Optical Lithography
Programming Languages
RAM
Semiconductor Process Nodes
Smartphone
Storage Technologies
iPhone
1956
Storage Technologies

IBM 305 RAMAC

First commercial hard disk drive with random access

First hard disk drive50 24-inch platters5 MB capacity1200 rpmRandom access storage
storagehddibmramac
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1971
Storage Technologies

8-inch Floppy Disk

IBM's first floppy disk for data storage and distribution

8-inch diameter80 KB capacityRemovable mediaRead-only initiallyMagnetic storage
storagefloppyibm
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1985
Storage Technologies

CD-ROM

Compact Disc adapted for computer data storage

650-700 MB capacityOptical storageRead-only12 cm diameterRed Book standard
storageopticalcdphilipssony
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