UC Davis Technology Highlights
1972-1999

 
Editor's Note: The following timeline demonstrates the accelerating pace of technological changes over the past three decades. Items in red boldface are highlights from UC Davis; the entries in black are general technology milestones. You can also see this timeline in graphic format as a PDF file.

1972	-	The compact disk is invented.
	-	Apple Computer is formed.
	-	Apple II, the first personal computer with color graphics, debuts.
	-	The 5.25-inch floppy disk is the industry standard.
1979	-	The Apple II Plus is introduced.
	-	Intel introduces the 8088, at 5MHz.
	-	The Student Information System (SIS) debuts at UC Davis.
1980	-	Registration Module is added to the UC Davis SIS.
1981	-	Microsoft ships MS-DOS.
	-	IBM debuts 8088-based Personal Computer.
	-	The Financial Aid Module is added to the SIS.
	-	BITNET, one of the first wide-area networks, is founded to serve academic institutions.
1982	-	Intel introduces the 286, at 8 MHz.
	-	Compaq releases portable computer to consumers ( it weighs 30 lbs!).
	-	Peter Norton creates Norton Utilities, a file recovery program.
	-	WordPerfect 1.0, a word processing program, is introduced.
1983	-	The PC is Time magazine's "man of the year."
	-	The Apple IIe is introduced.
	-	Microsoft Word 1.0 is released.
1984	-	Apple debuts the first Macintosh, a computer with a graphical user interface.
	-	The 3.5-inch diskette debuts.
	-	Dell computer is founded.
1985	-	Intel Introduces the 386, at 16 MHz.
	-	Gateway 2000 is founded.
1987	-	Hayes demonstrates its modem for ISDN lines.
1988	-	First large- scale virus released accidently by Robert Morris Jr. (Internet Worm).
	-	17 buildings are connected to UCDNet.
1989	-	Intel introduces the 486, at 25 MHz.
1990	-	Tim Berners-Lee develops the HTTP Protocol and HTML, leading to the development of the World Wide Web.
	-	9.6 Kbps modem is released.
	-	Windows 3.0 is released. It uses a graphical user interface.
	-	The first commercial Internet dial-up access (The World) comes online.
1991	-	Dr. Carole Barone is appointed Associate Vice Chancellor-Information Technology.
	-	Gopher, a tool that helps locate information on the Internet, is developed.
1992	-	The World Wide web is launched as a research tool.
	-	Windows 3.1 is introduced.
	-	Banner Student Information System debuts.
	-	Kodak introduces the photo CD.
	-	The UC Davis Division of Information Technology is created.
	-	The UC Davis Modem Pool has 372 modems; most provide 14.4 Kbps service.
1993	-	Financial Aid Module is added to the Banner SIS.
	-	Intel introduces the 60 MHz Pentium processor.
	-	UC Davis RSVP (Phone registration system) is implemented.
	-	Mosaic, the first graphical Web browser, is launched by NCSA.
	-	Microsoft Office 4.0, Windows NT, and MS-DOS 6.0 are released.
1994	-	IT-CAP relocates to Shields Library.
	-	Netscape and Yahoo! search engines are created.
	-	28.8Kbps modems are released.
	-	Apple introduces the PowerMac.
1995	-	UC Davis Technology Support Program (TSC/TSP) debuts.
	-	Network 21 construction begins; 72 campus buildings are connected to UCDNet.
	-	IT-CAP becomes IT Express.
	-	33.6 Kbps modems are released.
	-	Windows 95 and Microsoft Office 95 are released.
	-	Intel introduces the Pentium Pro, at 150 MHz.
1996	-	Intel releases the 200MHz Pentium II processors.
	-	SUN debuts Java.
	-	UC Davis joins Internet 2.
	-	56 Kbps modems are released.
	-	WebTV is introduced.
1997	-	UC Davis Graduate Admissions begins accepting applications on the Web.
	-	UC Davis Financial Information System (DaFIS) is implemented.
	-	UC Davis Melvyl on the Web debuts.
	-	Provost's Commission on the Future of Information Technology (PCFIT) is established.
	-	ResNet is completed.
	-	GUI Banner is deployed.
	-	Apple introduces the G3 chip, at 233 MHz.
	-	Digital Video Discs (DVDs) go on sale.
	-	Microsoft Office 97 is released.
1998	-	UC Davis Data Center gets new home.
	-	Apple introduces the iMac.
	-	Network 21 is completed; 300 campus buildings are connected to UCDNet.
	-	UC Davis Faculty Modem Pool is upgraded to 56K V.90.
	-	IT Governance Structure (AC4, AdC3, ITPB) is formed.
	-	Windows 98 is released.
	-	Pentium II hits 450 MHz.
1999	-	UC Davis SIS Web Registration for students goes live.
	-	Intel introduces the Pentium III Coppermine, at 733 MHz.
	-	IT 5-year Administrative Unit Review (AUR) Report is released (April).
	-	IT Response to AUR Report is released (July).
	-	All Campus Modem Pools are upgraded to 56K V.90.
	-	Dr. John Bruno is appointed Vice Provost-Information and Educational Technology.
	-	Coppermine hits 800 MHz.
	-	Apple Computer releases the G4 chip, at 400MHz.