15 Surprising Facts About Technology That Will Blow Your Mind
Technology has become an indivisible part of our lives. It shapes the way we work, communicate, and even think. But behind all those screens and gadgets, there's a fascinating world of amazing stories and shocking facts that a lot of us have never known. Being naturally curious about the way things function, I tugged some of the most interesting tidbits about technology which will surely blow your mind. Let's dive in!
1. The First Computer Bug Was an Actual Bug
In 1947, a moth was found stuck in a relay of the Harvard Mark II computer and caused malfunctioning. Hence, the term "debugging" was coined to fix technical problems. Who knew bugs could be literal?
2. The QWERTY Keyboard Was Designed to Slow You Down
An image of QWERTY keyboard layout
Opposite of the famous myth, the QWERTY keyboard layout wasn't designed for efficiency, but it was to prevent keys from jamming the early-day typewriters by slowing down the typist. I still have a problem with my fast typing habit, thanks for that!
3. The First Webcam Watched a Coffee Pot
In 1991, scientists at Cambridge University rigged up a webcam to monitor their coffee pot. They wanted to avoid superfluous voyages to an empty pot. Well, this weird idea laid the foundation for modern webcam technologies.
4. Google's Name Was a Mistake
The founders originally named their search engine "Backrub" (ick!). They later changed it to "Google," after the mathematical term "googol," meaning 1 followed by 100 zeros. The problem was they misspelled it, and it sort of just, stuck.
5. The First Email Was Sent in 1971
Ray Tomlinson sent the first email to himself as a test. He doesn’t remember what it said, but it marked the beginning of a communication revolution. Imagine explaining to someone back then that we’d one day send billions of emails daily!
6. Your Smartphone Has More Computing Power Than Apollo 11
The Apollo 11 mission put humans on the moon, guided by a computer less powerful than today's smartphones. And to think, the thing in your pocket can control a spaceship!
7. The Internet Weighs as Much as a Strawberry
Physicist Russel Seitz calculated that the electrons responsible for storing all the data on the internet weigh about 50 grams—roughly the weight of a strawberry. Who knew the internet could be so light?
8. The First Computer Mouse Was Made of Wood
An image of the first ever computer mouse
Invented by Douglas Engelbart in 1964, the first computer mouse was essentially a wooden box with two wheels and a single button. Nothing like the sleek designs used today!
9. Over 90% of the World's Data Was Created in the Last Two Years
Data generated daily is an astronomical figure. From social media posts to IoT devices, more and more information is being created than the world has ever produced. Just wondering, how it would be managed in the coming times.
10. The First 1GB Hard Drive Weighed Over 500 Pounds
In 1980, IBM released the first hard drive with 1GB in capacity. That weighed 550 pounds and had a price of $40,000. Today, terabytes of data are carried in the pocket for under $100.
11. There's Enough Gold in E-Waste to Recover Billions
Electronic waste contains precious metals like gold, silver, and copper. In fact, it's estimated that $10 billion worth of gold is discarded annually in e-waste. Maybe it's time to start recycling those old gadgets!
12. The First Text Message Said "Merry Christmas"
In 1992, engineer Neil Papworth sent the first SMS to his colleague, Richard Jarvis. The message? "Merry Christmas." Little did they know, texting would become a global phenomenon.
13. The World's Most Expensive Domain Name Cost $872 Million
The most expensive sale to date is the domain name "Voice.com" for $30 million. But the overall cost of domain names worldwide has reached a staggering $872 million. That's a lot of virtual real estate!
14. The First Digital Camera Was the Size of a Toaster
An image of first digital camera developed by Kodak
The first digital camera was invented by Kodak engineer Steven Sasson back in 1975. It weighed a very heavy 8 pounds, took 23 seconds to shoot a single image, and stored photos on a cassette tape.
15. AI Can Write Better Than Humans (Sometimes)
With the likes of ChatGPT, AI tools can now write essays, poems, and even code. Impressive as that may be, this begs the question of what the future of creativity and human expression holds. Maybe this post was also created by an AI!
Surprises abound in technology, and these facts are just a few that remind us how far we have come and how much further we can go. Be it a wooden mouse or the internet the weight of a strawberry, the journey of innovation is just as interesting as the results.
What's your favorite fact about technology? Share with me in the comments below. I'd love to hear your thoughts!