GPS
Short for Global Positioning System, GPS is a network of satellites that helps users determine a location on Earth. The thought of GPS was conceived after the launch of Sputnik in 1957. In 1964, the TRANSIT system became operational on U.S. Polaris submarines and allowed for accurate positioning updates. Later this became available for commercial use in 1967. The picture shows an example of the GARMIN nuvi 350, a GPS used to find locations while driving.
On September 1, 1983, Soviet jets shot down a civilian Korean Airlines Flight 007 flying from New York to Seoul and kill all 269 passengers and crew. As a result of this mistake, President Ronald Regan orders the U.S. military to make GPS available for civilian use.
Today, with the right equipment or software, anyone can establish a connection to these satellites to establish his or her location within 50 to 100-feet.
Computer History -1957
IBM announces it will no longer be using vacuum tubes and releases its first computer that had 2000 transistors.
IBM markets the first dot matrix printer.
The first optical scanner is created by engineer Russell Kirsch at the United States National Bureau of Standards. Pictured at right is Kirsch in 2007, holding a printout of the 176x176-pixel image of his infant son, sixty years later.
Russia launched the first artificial satellite, named Sputnik, on October 4, 1957. The satellite is the first space satellite and sends a signal from space that could be heard on Earth.
The Russian satellite Sputnik runs out of batteries on October 26, 1957, and stops transmitting its steady beep.
In response to Sputnik, the United States creates the new agency ARPA.
Casio was established in 1957.
Digital Equipment Corporation was founded by Kenneth Olsen in 1957. The company will later become a major network computer manufacturer.
Fairchild Semiconductor was founded by Andy Grove, Eugene Kleiner, Gordon Moore, Jerry Sanders, Robert Noyce in 1957.
Mark Hurd was born on January 1, 1957.
Mark Dean was born on March 2, 1957.
Steve Meretzky was born on May 1, 1957.
Jeff Hawkins was born on June 1, 1957.
Bruce Eckel was born on July 8, 1957.
Virginia Rometty was born on July 29, 1957.
Nathaniel Borenstein was born on September 23, 1957.
Eric Raymond was born on December 4, 1957.
David Warthen was born on December 10, 1957.
Barry Leiba was born in 1957.
Carl Sassenrath was born in 1957.
Fred Cohen was born in 1957.
Garrett Gruener was born in 1957.
Jakob Nielsen was born in 1957.
Steve Garfield was born in 1957.
Stuart Moulthrop was born in 1957.
John von Neumann passed away on February 8, 1957 (Age: 53).