1950
• Frank McNamera invents the credit card.
1953
• The first airplane “black box” used to record cockpit actions and conversation. The data is used in case of malfunction or crash.
1954
• Three scientists design the first solar battery.
1956
• The first computer hard disk is built. It could store 5 MB of data.
1958
• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is created.
• Texas Instruments demonstrates the world’s first integrated circuit.
• The Hula Hoop, made from a new material called polyethylene, is introduced.
• The first optical laser is invented.
1959
• The first Barbie doll is mass-produced by Mattel.
1960
• The first cylindrical robot, “Versatran,” is marketed for industrial applications.
• Pentel introduces the felt-tip pen.
• The last mainline steam locomotive in the U.S. pulls a freight train on the Norfolk & Western Railway.
• The world’s first fully automatic production line for transistors is designedby IBM. It produces and tests 1,800 individual transistors an hour.
1961
• The first industrial robot application takes place at a General Motors plant.
• The first plastic disposable syringe introduced.
1962
• A satellite transmits the first TV picture from Europe to the United States.
1963
• Ultrasonic plastic welding is invented.
• NASA engineers develop battery-powered screwdrivers and impact wrenches for use during space walks.
• The global positioning satellite (GPS) concept is first discussed.
• Touch-tone telephones and cassette tape recorders debut.
1966
• Congress passes the Highway Safety Act, which makes the installation of seat belts mandatory.
• Xerox unveils the first fax machine.
1967
• Amana introduces the first compact microwave oven.
• The world’s first ATM is installed.
1968
• The first computer mouse is demonstrated.
1969
• Boeing unveils the 747 jumbo jet.
1970
• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is created.
1971
• The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) begins conducting random checks on manufacturers.
1972
• Texas Instruments unveils the world’s first pocket calculator.
• Phillips unveils the first VCR for home use.
1973
• Texas Instruments introduces the first practical automated production machine for the assembly of integrated circuits.
1974
• The CAT-scan machine is invented.
• Post-It notes are accidentally invented by a 3M engineer.
1975
• The laser printer is unveiled by IBM for use with mainframe computers.
1976
• The first laser welding application occurs at a General Motors plant.
1977
• American manufacturers begin converting to metric-based mechanical fasteners.
1978
• Unimation creates the PUMA (Programmable Universal Machine for Assembly) robot.
1980
• The Pac-Man video game is introduced.
• Sony demonstrates the first consumer video camera.
1981
• IBM unveils the first personal computer.
• The world’s first “portable computer,” the Osborne 1, weighs only 24 pounds.
• The Sony Walkman is designed for ease of assembly using a flexible system.
1982
• The first successful artificial heart transplant is performed.
1983
• The first commercial cell phone service begins in the U.S.
• Chrysler introduces the first minivan.
• The first expandable stent is invented.
1984
• Canon demonstrates the first commercial digital camera.
1985
• Dell begins assembling made-to-order computers.
1986
• Motorola develops the Six Sigma process to improve quality and reduce costs.
• General Motors begins assembling front-wheel-drive axles.
1987
• Hewlett-Packard begins recycling old computers.
1990
• Microsoft launches Windows 3.0 software.
1991
• The first digital answering machine is built.
1993
• The first voice-activated TV remote control is unveiled.
1994
• Boeing launches the 777, the first airliner to be developed and preassembled entirely on computers.
• The Netscape Navigator Web browser is launched, helping popularize the Internet.
• Sony introduces the PlayStation video game console.
1995
• The Java computer programming language invented.
• Toy Story, the first full-length computer animated film, released.
1996
• The first mammal, a sheep named Dolly, is cloned.
1997
• NASA’s spacecraft Pathfinder lands on Mars.
• Netflix is launched.1998
• Google founded, indexes the World Wide Web.
1999
• Apple introduces the first computer that uses Wi-Fi access.
2000
• The first crew arrives at the International Space Station.
• Toyota unveils the Prius hybrid.