Discover 10 amazing technology facts, from the first SMS and .com domain to Ada Lovelace, Apollo 11's computer, Google and Apple's early history.
We spend so much time with technology that it is easy to forget how unusual its history can be. A phone in our hand can do things that once required huge machines. A website name can be worth millions. Even the first text message had a surprisingly simple beginning.
Here are 10 technology facts that are worth knowing.
1. The Nuclear Launch Code Was “00000000â€
Nuclear weapons comes with serious security so this fact sounds almost unbelievable. In the Cold War, some U.S. nuclear missile systems reportedly used 00000000 as their code.
The reason was not complicated. Keeping the code simple made the missiles quicker to prepare if they were ever needed. It is a strange example of how security decisions can sometimes create their own weaknesses.
2. Your Phone Is More Powerful Than Apollo 11’s Computer
Think about what your smartphone does normally. It handles photos, GPS, videos, internet browsing, several apps without causing you much trouble.
But the computer used for Apollo 11 mission had nowhere near the memory or processing power of today's phones. Yet that machine helped astronauts complete their historic journey to the Moon.
The difference between then and now is quite exceptoinal.
3. The First Domain Name Is Still Online
The first registered .com domain was symbolics.com. It was registered in 1985, when the internet was different from what we know today.
That domain is still live. From one early website address to millions of domains today, the change has been enormous.
4. Google Started in a Garage
Before Google became a company known worldwide, Larry Page and Sergey Brin were working on their search engine project from a garage in California.
It was in late 1990s. At that stage, it was simply a young technology project. Nobody could know that it would eventually grow into one of the biggest names in the industry.
5. Apple’s Co-founder Sold His Shares for $800
Ronald Wayne was one of Apple's early co-founders. He worked with Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak when Apple was still in its early days.
Wayne later left the company and sold his shares for about $800. Apple then became one of the world's most valuable companies.
6. The Strange Story Behind the 404 Error
Seeing 404 Not Found means one thing: the webpage you wanted isn't there.
You may have heard that the number came from a particular room at CERN. That explanation is considered a myth. The 404 status belongs to HTTP system and tells the browser that the requested page couldn’t be found.
7. The First SMS Was a Christmas Message
The first SMS was sent on 3rd of December, 1992.
There was nothing complicated about the message. It simply said “Merry Christmas.†Engineer Neil Papworth sent it from a computer to a mobile phone.
Today, billions of messages are sent around the world. It all began with those two words.
8. Amazon Was Almost Called “Cadabraâ€
Amazon could have had a completely different name. Jeff Bezos initially considered Cadabra, taking inspiration from “abracadabra.â€
His lawyer felt the name could sound like “cadaver†when spoken. Bezos changed direction and eventually chose Amazon.
It turned out to be a pretty important naming decision.
9. A Domain Name Sold for $30 Million
A good domain name is a valuable business asset. Voice.com is an good example.
In 2019, this domain was sold for around $30 million. Short names that are easy to remember can have serious value when they fit a company's brand.
10. The First Computer Programmer Was a Woman
Ada Lovelace is widely considered the first computer programmer. Back in 1800s, she worked on Charles Babbage's proposed Analytical Engine. Lovelace wrote instructions for the machine to perform calculations, even though modern electronic computers were still far in future.
Technology Has an Interesting History
Technology did not become what it is today overnight. It came through many small ideas, unusual decisions, experiments that were difficult to predict.
A simple garage project became Google. The first SMS was just a Christmas greeting. And a domain registered in 1985 is still part of internet history.
Sometimes, the strangest stories are also the most fascinating ones.
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