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IEEE History

A look back at key moments in the history of engineering, technology, and the IEEE
a large white disc shaped satellite pointing up into the sky against a hilly landscape
The InstituteHistory of TechnologyIEEE HistoryArticle

50 Years Later, This Apollo-Era Antenna Still Talks to Voyager 2

DSS-43 is the only antenna that can communicate with the probe

5 min read
brown and beige box with curved end in front with a keyboard and screen and two pieces sticking out on top right side
The InstituteGuest ArticleIEEE History

The Legacy of the Datapoint 2200 Microcomputer

The machine laid the foundation for personal computers from Apple and IBM

4 min read
portrait of two men standing with their hands on a small beige and gray box while looking at the camera
The InstituteGuest ArticleHistory of TechnologyIEEE History

How Engineers at Digital Equipment Corp. Saved Ethernet

Their groundbreaking learning bridge technology increased LAN performance

7 min read
A red haired man sits at a computer with a render of cowboy Woody from Toy Story on the screen
The InstituteHistory of TechnologyIEEE HistoryArticle

The Story Behind Pixar’s RenderMan CGI Software

Used to create Toy Story, the tools revolutionized animation

9 min read
An illustration of a robot and a representation of a brain wave.
The InstituteIEEE HistoryArticleRoboticsHistory of Technology

35 Years Ago, Researchers Used Brain Waves to Control a Robot

The achievement has paved the way for other EEG-controlled devices such as drones

4 min read
close-up of ethernet cable with clear fibers in the background
The InstituteMagazineIEEE HistoryArticleHistory of TechnologyMarch 2024

Ethernet is Still Going Strong After 50 Years

The technology has become the standard LAN worldwide

3 min read
IEEE Day logo
The InstituteIEEE Member NewsNewsIEEE History

Happy IEEE Day!

Engineers worldwide celebrate innovation and collaboration “for a better tomorrow”

1 min read
portrait of a woman wearing a bright pink shirt against a gray background
The InstituteIEEE Member NewsWomen’s History MonthIEEE HistorySpectrum CollectionsCareersProfile

This USC Professor Is Developing an Artificial Brain

Alice Parker is working on how to mimic disorders such as schizophrenia

4 min read
drawing of a hand holding out a bar to two squares attached to a pole
The InstituteHistory of TechnologyIEEE HistoryArticle

The Pioneer Behind Electromagnetism

Ampère’s theory was fundamental to electronic inventions such as motors and generators

3 min read
a book that reads “Over 100 Years of the IEEE Medal of Honor” against a blue background
The InstituteMagazineIEEE HistoryArticleJune 2023

IEEE’s Medal of Honor Ebook Explores 100 Years of Innovation

It celebrates recipients such as Intel’s Robert Noyce

4 min read
black and white image of a man in a suit standing next to a large x-ray machine
The InstituteMagazineSeptember 2023IEEE HistoryArticleHistory of Technology

How This Record Company Engineer Invented the CT Scanner

The machine, made to image the human brain, won him a Nobel Prize

4 min read
Two women programmers preparing a computer to be demonstrated.
The InstituteNovember 2022MagazineWomen’s History MonthArticleSpectrum CollectionsIEEE HistoryHistory of TechnologyJune 2023

The Women Behind ENIAC

A new book tells the story of how they broke a computer-science glass ceiling

6 min read
An electrical tower against a cloudy sky
The InstituteHistory of TechnologyIEEE HistoryArticle

How Microwave Radar Brought Direct Phone Calls to Millions

The Trans-Canada Microwave System also made live TV possible

4 min read
an old computer in a display box surrounded by other old computers
The InstituteDecember 2022IEEE Member NewsMagazineIEEE HistoryHistory of TechnologyNews

Take a Trip Through Switzerland’s Museum of Consumer Electronics

IEEE members get free admission and can help curate exhibits

4 min read
Looking through the opening of an MRI machine
The InstituteBiomedicalIEEE HistoryArticle

The Superconducting Shields Behind MRIs’ Triumph

Actively shielded magnets brought the machines from iron-walled rooms to the mainstream

4 min read
Five gray towers with switch boards and other tools.
The InstituteMagazineIEEE HistoryArticleHistory of TechnologyMarch 2023

The Birth of Random-Access Memory

The Manchester “Baby” was the first electronic digital computer to store a program

4 min read
A Fresnel lens at the Seguin Island Light Station in Maine.
The InstituteHistory of TechnologyIEEE HistoryArticle

Before Ships Used GPS, There Was the Fresnel Lens

This bright idea revolutionized lighthouses and saved lives

3 min read
Photo of a smiling man with a large camera with several cameras in front of him.
The InstituteMagazineArticleIEEE HistoryHistory of TechnologySeptember 2022

The First Digital Camera Was the Size of a Toaster

Kodak’s camera displayed photos on a TV screen

4 min read
Close-up of a white USB cable on a red background Info for editor if needed: USB cable for an Apple G4 computer, 2003. This USB cable was used for connecting the keyboard to the computer.
The InstituteMagazineArticleIEEE HistoryHistory of TechnologyJune 2022

How USB Came to Be

Intel’s 26-year-old plug-and-play tech made it easy to connect everything

5 min read
A black and white photo of a submersible in the water in front of a pier with debris on it.
The InstituteMagazineArticleMarch 2022IEEE HistoryHistory of Technology

The First U.S. Human-Operated Submersible Changed the Course of Oceanography

Alvin was built by researchers at Woods Hole

4 min read