Sony Walkman TPS-L2

Sony Walkman (TPS-L2) launches

First sold in Japan, the original Walkman was the first portable personal stereo cassette player and changed how people listened to music on the move.

VisiCalc screenshot

VisiCalc released

The first spreadsheet program for personal computers, originally built for the Apple II, is widely credited as an early "killer app" that drove home computer adoption.

Compact disc

Sony and Philips begin joint Compact Disc development

The two companies started collaborating on a unified digital audio disc standard; the CD itself wouldn't reach the commercial market until 1982.

Atari 800

Atari 400 and 800 home computers released

Atari's first personal computer line, aimed at both gaming and general home computing use.

Texas Instruments TI-99/4

Texas Instruments TI-99/4 released

One of the earliest home computers to use a 16-bit processor, aimed at the consumer market.

Cellular network generations timeline

NTT launches the world's first commercial cellular network

Japan's Nippon Telegraph and Telephone began commercial cellular phone service in Tokyo, the first of its kind anywhere in the world.

HP-41C calculator

HP-41C programmable calculator released

Hewlett-Packard's advanced scientific calculator featured an alphanumeric display and was one of the most sophisticated calculators of its time.

Gossamer Albatross II in flight

Gossamer Albatross crosses the English Channel

Pilot Bryan Allen flew Paul MacCready's human-powered aircraft across the Channel, winning the Kremer prize for human-powered flight.