Innovation

Tech nostalgia: The top 10 innovations of the 1970s

By // May 21, 2015, 5:00 AM PST // connerforrest

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  • Intel 4004

    In the decade of all things "groovy," modern technology was advancing at lightning speed. Here are the most important innovations of the 1970s.

    In 1971, Intel released the first programmable microprocessor to the market, the Intel 4004. Three of its inventors, Stanley Mazor, Federico Faggin, and Ted Hoff, were awarded the National Medal of Technology and Innovation by US President Barack Obama for working on the 4004.

    Image: Intel

  • Email

    Ray Tomlinson sent the first email in 1971 on the ARPANET. The message was merely a test message he sent to himself, and he cannot recall the content of the message. He has since been honored with numerous awards.

    Image: iStockphoto/BrianAJackson

  • Apple II

    The Apple II was released in 1977, primarily developed by Steve Wozniak (pictured). Although preceded by the Apple I, the Apple II is the machine that laid the foundation for Apple's trajectory as a computer company.

    Image: Scott Ard/CNET

  • Sony Walkman

    Commonly referred to as an 80s invention, the Sony Walkman was actually first marketed in 1979. The name Walkman became synonymous with portable tape players and the brand is now used to market Sony's line of MP3 players.

    Image: Andrew Hoyle/CNET

  • C (programming language)

    The programming language C first appeared in the early 1970s. The creation of C is often credited to Dennis Ritchie and his work at AT&T Bell Labs.

    Image: Paul Travers/CBS Interactive

  • TRS-80

    In 1977, the Tandy Corporation launched the TRS-80 through RadioShack stores. The TRS-80 became one of the best-selling computer product lines of its time.

    Image: Conner Forrest/TechRepublic

  • Digital Camera

    Eastman Kodak and Steve Sasson engineered the first digital camera in 1975. The camera, which was pieced together from other used camera parts, weighed in at a hefty eight pounds.

    Image: Rich Trenholm/CNET

  • Atari 2600

    Atari was founded in 1972, but the release of the Atari 2600 put both the company and console gaming on the map. The 2600 was originally called the Atari VCS (Video Computer System).

    Image: Conner Forrest/TechRepublic

  • Commodore PET

    The Commodore PET (Personal Electronic Transactor) was released in 1977 and became a top seller in some markets. The PET paved the way for the remainder of the PET line and eventually the Commodore 64.

    Image: Rafe Needleman/CNET

  • The Voyager program

    Two of NASA's robotic probes, the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2, launched in 1977. The probes originally collected valuable data on Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, and they are still in use today.

    Image: NASA

Intel 4004

In the decade of all things "groovy," modern technology was advancing at lightning speed. Here are the most important innovations of the 1970s.

In 1971, Intel released the first programmable microprocessor to the market, the Intel 4004. Three of its inventors, Stanley Mazor, Federico Faggin, and Ted Hoff, were awarded the National Medal of Technology and Innovation by US President Barack Obama for working on the 4004.

Image: Intel

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About Conner Forrest

Conner Forrest is a Senior Editor for TechRepublic. He covers enterprise technology and is interested in the convergence of tech and culture.