This Doll From The 18th Century May Be One Of The First Computers
World Doll Day is tomorrow. And while the world has lots of amazing and well-loved dolls, there aren’t many like the 18th Century automata known as The Writer.
Clippy, The AI Paper Clip Chatbot That Really Wanted To Help You Write Letters
AI chatbots are big again, so let's hang out with the OG AI chatbot: Microsoft Word letter writing helper extraordinare, Clippy the paper clip.
The Birth Of The Blinking Cursor
Today in 1930, the inventor of the computer cursor was born. It’s one of those creations that’s so small and common that it’s easy to forget what a big deal it really is.
An Email Mixup Led To A Very Strange Welsh Road Sign
This week in 2008, local officials in Swanzey tried to get English-to-Welsh translation for a road sign they wanted to put up. They got a Welsh sentence in response, but it wasn't what they thought.
Evelyn Berezin And Her Word Processor Brought The Computer Age Closer To Everybody
Today is the birthday of Evelyn Berezin, whose inventions include the first computer-based word processor, the first computerized airline reservations system, and so much more that so many of us use regularly today.
The Butler In A Box Was A Smart Speaker Before There Were Smart Speakers
You know about the Echo and the Google Home, but do you know about the Butler In A Box? It was a voice-controlled smart home device in the 1980s, and could do many of the same things our smart speakers do today.
Ada Lovelace Was The First Computer Programmer, And Almost The First Computer Musician
Today's the birthday of Ada Lovelace, known as the first computer programmer. She also dreamed up the idea of generating music through a computer program, so if you've ever made music with a synthesizer, you're following in her footsteps.
The Very First Computer Bug Was An Actual Bug
On this day in 1947, a team working on a computer at Harvard University discovered the first computer bug: a moth that had gotten trapped in the electronics.
In The 1980s, You Downloaded Video Games Off The Radio
Today we download video games online all the time. Back in the 1980s, gamers without the Internet (such as it was) had to buy or borrow their games. But a few could download programs off the radio.
This Program Can Make You Invisible On A Webcam
Disappearing People is a computer program that can make us invisible on our computer’s cameras!