Geek Fact for July 4th – The Keyboard and Hotmail

By Judy Novotny / 07/04/2012 / Geek Facts

In 1956 , the Whirlwind at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology became the first computer to use a keyboard to allow direct user input.

Other computers accepted instructions issued using dial, punch cards, and switches. The Whirlwind was also the first computer to display real time video.

Learn more at http://www.cedmagic.com/history/whirlwind-computer.html

In 1996, HotMail, a free internet email service, began.

It was originally spelled “HoTMaiL” to emphasize its use of HTML for the web user interface. Hotmail was acquired by Microsoft in late 1997.

Learn more at http://windowsteamblog.com/windows_live/b/windowslive/archive/2010/01/06/a-short-history-of-hotmail.aspx

About The Author

Judy Novotny

Judy is a computer veteran with 30 years of experience. She has owned everything from a TRS-80, Apple IIe and various Windows-based PCs. She is currently living in her Apple ecosystem at home consisting of an iPhone, iPad, iMac, MacBook, Apple TV, iPod nano and two Time Capsules. She is a fan of all things mobile since she got her first Palm Pilot in 1999. Check out her iPad app, Number Wizard, in the App Store. Follow her on Twitter @junovotech or at Junovo.com.

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In 1956 , the Whirlwind at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology became the first computer to use a keyboard to allow direct user input.

In 1996, HotMail, a free internet email service, began.

About The Author

Judy Novotny

In 1956 , the Whirlwind at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology became the first computer to use a keyboard to allow direct user input.