Code Like It's 198x

The 1940s.

See what appeared alongside what you already know. Follow an event into the Vault, or narrow the decade to a subject.

28 events · 24 Vault · 4 world

28 events

1940

3 events

1941

2 events

1942

1 event
  • People

    Martin Alper born

    Mastertronic's managing director, and later the head of Virgin Interactive

1943

4 events
  • People

    Masayuki Uemura born

    The Sharp salesman who built the Famicom

  • People

    Nolan Bushnell born

    Atari's founder, from Computer Space to Chuck E. Cheese

  • Companies & Studios

    Williams Electronics

    The Chicago pinball maker behind Defender, Robotron and Joust

  • TechnologyWorld context

    Colossus begins codebreaking at Bletchley Park

    The world's first programmable electronic computer enters service breaking Nazi codes, though its existence remains secret for decades.

1944

2 events

1945

2 events
  • PoliticsWorld context

    World War II ends

    The deadliest conflict in human history concludes, leaving behind technological advances that will reshape civilian life.

  • TechnologyWorld context

    ENIAC runs a major calculation

    ENIAC runs a Los Alamos calculation before its February 1946 dedication. Its original programmers were Kathleen McNulty Mauchly Antonelli, Jean Jennings Bartik, Betty Snyder Holberton, Marlyn Wescoff Meltzer, Frances Bilas Spence and Ruth Lichterman Teitelbaum.

1946

3 events
  • People

    Al Lowe born

    The school band director who became Sierra's comedian

  • People

    Minoru Arakawa born

    The engineer who built Nintendo of America

  • Companies & Studios

    Sony

    From the HitBit to the PlayStation

1947

3 events
  • Companies & Studios

    EMAP

    The Peterborough newspaper group behind C&VG, Sinclair User and Mean Machines

  • People

    John Wilson born

    The Rochdale Balrog

  • TechnologyWorld context

    The transistor is invented at Bell Labs

    John Bardeen, Walter Brattain, and William Shockley invent the transistor, the tiny switch that will replace vacuum tubes and enable modern electronics.

1948

5 events

1949

3 events