Computer History Museum

The history of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) traces back to the 1950s and 1960s, when computers transitioned from industrial tools to interactive systems. The 1980s marked a major shift with the introduction of graphical user interfaces (GUIs) by companies like Apple and Xerox, making computers more accessible. Today, HCI encompasses voice, gesture, and augmented reality, aiming to make technology intuitive, efficient, and responsive to human needs.

Before realistic graphics and expansive online worlds, video games lived in cartridges, floppy disks, and jewel cases-- objects that shaped how games were played, seen, and remembered.

In the early age of selling computing, design played a crucial role in making technologies feel approachable, modern, and even stylish. This curated set showcases how companies made invisible work of computers visible and appealing. Through vivid graphics and futuristic control rooms, these materials how how computing was not just sold as a tool, but as a vision of the future.

In 1973, a group of counterculture technologists launched Community Memory, the first public computer-based bulletin board. First installed at Leopold's Records in Berkeley, California and the Market Street branch of San Francisco Public Library, the coin-operated teletype terminals connected to a timesharing system via low speed modem, charging 25 cents to post but with free reading access. Prioritizing people-to-people interaction, these machines expanded into other public community spaces including as laundry mats and libraries, aiming to lower the barrier of entry to decommercialized information and paved the way for modern participatory digital networks.

From wax cylinders to a full library catalog that fits in our pockets, technological innovation allowed us to capture, consume, and later create electronic music. Computer-generated music began in the 1950s with early machines like the CSIRAC and IBM 704 producing simple tunes. In 1957, Max Mathews at Bell Labs developed Music I, pioneering digital sound synthesis. The 1960s and 70s saw growth in algorithmic composition and experimental sound. MIDI technology in the 1980s enabled digital instrument communication.

The history of personal computers began in the 1970s with the introduction of early models like the Altair 8800. In 1977, Apple released the Apple II, helping PCs gain popularity. IBM entered the market in 1981 with its IBM PC, setting a standard for future designs. Over the decades, personal computers evolved rapidly in power, accessibility, and design, becoming essential tools in homes and workplaces worldwide.