Top Innovations

I'm just quickly listing the things that when I first used or learned about them I knew would affect the way I work for a long time.

Story of relational database impresses me - so long from theory to practice & then they have lasted such a long time.
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OO Languages - especially Java & Delphi
Relational Database
www/Internet
email
GUI (Windows/Apple)
Word Processing
Spreadsheets

I'm just quickly listing the things that when I first used or learned about them I knew would affect the way I work for a long time.

Story of relational database impresses me - so long from theory to practice & then they have lasted such a long time.
================
OO Languages - especially Java & Delphi
Relational Database
www/Internet
email
GUI (Windows/Apple)
Word Processing
Spreadsheets

TCP/IP and the Internet, I think an obvious choice.

Maybe the bar code reader? Boring but important.

* UNIX
* The Ethernet
* The C programming language
* The PC standard

Regards
Tom

There have been a lot of books written on this very topic. ComputerWorld had a really nice series on the subject a couple of years ago. They listed well over 100 if I remember correctly.

My candidates are:
The transistor
The microprocessor chip
COBOL
graphical monitors
DOS v 2.0
email
spreadsheets
modems
word processors
computer games

Hack Attacks Encyclopedia by John Chirillo - A complete history of Hacks, Cracks, Phreaks & Spies over time..

Excellent books, awesome info covering info before 1969 until today... A must read for any administrator or IT person...

He is the publisher of the best books there is in the SECURITY Field covering HACK ATTACKS in depth...

- Intranet,Extranet
- Communication (Modem,Internet,Fax,Telephone, E-mail)
- Flavors & Evolution of OS systems & Software available
- Network capabilities

Just to mention a few..

Chip Technology
Laser Technology
TCP/IP protocol
Personal Computers
Storage devices (Harddrives)
A Free Internet
JAVA and C++
Access to Knowledge on the Internet
Communication networks (Cable, DSL, Highspeed modems)
Video / audio
Didn't want to mention - integrated cir - or the transistor - let alone COBOL, FORTRAN, and Assembler - I remember writing in Machine Code... Started on a Univac 1500 and IBM 360/20 - single job processed at a time..

One - invention led to the next - vac tubes to transistors to integrated circutes - chip technology - which may lead to crystal technology - or who knows where...

How about optical media? CD's, DVD's. Imagine carrying around 500 floppies to install Office....imagine the time and space savings.

GUI
Mouse