1837
Mid-19th Century:
mid-1800s
Ada Lovelace Wrote the first algorithm intended to be processed by a machine.
1952
Grace Hopper Developed the first compiler
Contributed to the development of early computers like the UNIVAC I.
1956
William Shockley Received the Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on semiconductors and he, Co-invented the transistor.
1965
Gordon Moore Developed Formulated "Moore's Law" predicting exponential growth in computing power. Late 20th Century: 1968 Gordon Moore Co-founded Intel Corporation
1975
Bill Gates Co-founded Microsoft Played a significant role in the development of the personal computer industry. Engaged in philanthropic efforts through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
1976
Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs, Co-founded Apple Inc. Developed the Apple I and Macintosh computers, contributing to the personal computer revolution.
1982
Rich Skrenta Created the first computer virus, Elk Cloner, contributing to early malware awareness.
1991
Linus Torvalds Created the Linux kernel, a cornerstone of open-source software.
1998
Larry Page and Sergey Brin: Co-founded Google, revolutionizing internet search and web technology.
1999
Kevin Mitnick Gained notoriety as a computer hacker and later became a cybersecurity consultant. Height of legal troubles in the 1990s brought attention to computer security.
2004
Mark Zuckerberg Co-founded Facebook (now Meta Platforms, Inc.) transforming social networking.
2005
Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim Co-founded YouTube, revolutionizing online video sharing and streaming.