1984 – Apple Macintosh computer launched. − 22 January, 1984
Submitted by: Kerstin Upmeyer
With a stunning commercial during the 1984 Superbowl, rife with overtones of Orwell’s Nineteen eighty-four, Apple computer announced the launch of it’s new Macintosh computer. Throwing down the gauntlet (or sledgehammer as the case may be) at “Big Brother” IBM.
The first GUI (Graphical User Interface) to become mainstream, Macintosh computers quickly carved a niche in education through the revolutionary interface and smart marketing for educational purposes. Specialized software for scripting soon followed and Macintosh became a leader in computer assisted education.
Sources:
“Graphical User Interface (GUI)”
Retrieved January 26, 2007, from
http://www.apple-history.com/
“1984 (television commercial)”
Retrieved January 26, 2007, from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Inc._advertising#1984_Television_Commercial_-_Launching_The_Macintosh
With a stunning commercial during the 1984 Superbowl, rife with overtones of Orwell’s Nineteen eighty-four, Apple computer announced the launch of it’s new Macintosh computer. Throwing down the gauntlet (or sledgehammer as the case may be) at “Big Brother” IBM.
The first GUI (Graphical User Interface) to become mainstream, Macintosh computers quickly carved a niche in education through the revolutionary interface and smart marketing for educational purposes. Specialized software for scripting soon followed and Macintosh became a leader in computer assisted education.
Sources:
“Graphical User Interface (GUI)”
Retrieved January 26, 2007, from
http://www.apple-history.com/
“1984 (television commercial)”
Retrieved January 26, 2007, from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Inc._advertising#1984_Television_Commercial_-_Launching_The_Macintosh
Comments:
DistEd (January 30, 2007. 04:14pm)
I noticed this post has the most viewings than any other so far. It even beats out posts that were created at an earlier date. As someone who is intrigued with human computer interaction, I would be curious to know if it is because it has the name Apple in the title or if it is because it resides almost in the middle of the page and therefore is the first one people see and click on. Or maybe it is a little of both. Or, if anyone is like me, I clicked on it first to see how you got the title to be the size that it is.
DistEd (February 5, 2007. 02:59am)
I would pick it because of Apple, but that's just me... I'm not sure how big the title of it is displaying for you, when I look at the timeline, all my post's titles look really small (though this one is a little bigger). (shrugs) Not really sure if number of times viewed has an effect on title size. -Kerstin
DistEd (February 14, 2007. 03:26am)
I would like to see how this compares to the time when PCs took over the market share and also how the current marketing of Macintosh computers (they have some awesome computers) are affecting the PC market now. The latest Windows Vista vs MAC commercial is a hoot. Even though I am a PC person myself, I get a kick out of it. - Dr. S
DistEd (April 5, 2007. 04:56pm)
W3
The Mid-to-late eighties were a time of huge change in distance education, in large part due to the advent of the Macintosh and do-it-yourself options for building content quickly and easily on a desktop computer, such as HyperCard. The largest contrast that stands out against today’s current technologies would be the Internet. Still a burgeoning technology in late eighties, the Internet is growing into the most common format for delivering Distance Education content. During the mid eighties, most computer-based content was delivered via floppy disks as independent programs. Now content can be quickly and effectively created, updated and disseminated in a content-rich format through the Internet. As the technology improves and fiber-optic cable installation increases, progress will continue, I believe, largely on the World Wide Web.
-Kerstin Upmeyer