IBM’s first desktop computer

July 28, 1981

IBM introduced their System/23 Datamaster desktop computer on this day, only a month before they introduced their IBM PC.

The Datamaster was an all-in-one computer with text-mode CRT display, keyboard, processor, memory and two eight-inch floppy disk drives all contained in one cabinet. The importance of the Datamaster is that many of the team members that developed it were re-assigned to the secret IBM PC project and much of the knowledge they acquired working on the Datamaster went into developing the IBM PC as quickly as possible.

Nasa is created

July 29, 1958

ON this day, the US Congress passed a legislation establishing the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), a civilian agency responsible for coordinating America’s activities in space.

Nasa was created in response to the Soviet Union’s launch of its first satellite, Sputnik I in 1957. This 183-pound, basketball-sized satellite orbited the earth in 98 minutes. America was totally surprised with the launch of Sputnik and this sparked fears that the Soviets might also be capable of sending missiles with nuclear weapons from Europe to America. Therefore, the US immediately began developing a response — it was the start of the US-Soviet space race.

Prince Charles and Lady Diana marry

July 29 1981

THIS day, Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer married at St Paul’s Cathedral before an invited congregation of 3,500 and an estimated global TV audience of 750 million — making it the most popular programme ever broadcast.

Around 600,000 people filled the streets of London on their wedding day which was marked as a national holiday. After a brief private signing ceremony, the Prince and Princess of Wales walked back down the aisle and emerged on the balcony of the Buckingham Palace to show themselves to the crowd. They then retired from the public gaze to enjoy toasts and a wedding breakfast with 120 family guests.