ITC
Evolution and tech change
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1950
The birth of modern computing
Although the origin dates back to Jacquard’s loom in 1801, the first business-use computer, UNIVAC, was released in the United States in 1951.
Advance
Programming languages
High qualifications for a new discipline
Impact
1950
Advance
Programming languages
Programming, as we know it today, arose in the late 1940s with the invention of Plankalkül by German engineer Konrad Zuse. This language allowed defining procedures for performing structured calculations or databases.
Impact
High qualifications for a new discipline
Until the first half of the 20th century, ICT was applied only in the military sphere. As an underdeveloped field, the predominant activity was research and highly qualified profiles were employed, mainly scientists with degrees in mathematics, statistics, technical engineering or mechanical engineering.
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1960 - 1970
The origins of the Internet
In the context of the Cold War and with the aim of achieving a system of communications immune to external attacks, Arpanet was born as a precedent for the future Internet.
Advance
Network Computers
Computational research and academic drive
Impact
1960 - 1970
Advance
Network Computers
In 1969, thanks to funding from the US Ministry of Defence and within the ARPANET project (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network), the first connection between computers —located at the universities of UCLA and Standford— was made. The message simply contained the word “login”.
Impact
Computational research and academic drive
Although it had a military origin, the development of the Internet was made possible by the work of over 200 university researchers from pioneering centres such as MIT, the National Physics Laboratory and the Rand Corporation, who were trained in computer science, programming, or engineering. This network expanded with the addition of more scientists and centres.
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1970 - 1980
The information revolution
The term information and communication technologies (ICT) arose, referring to the transmission of data between computers and programmes that make it possible.
Advance
Office Software
Maintenance and Programming Profiles
Impact
1970 - 1980
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Office Software
The rapid evolution of early computers gave way to a generation of devices that could be used by non-experts. Commercial computers of the 1970s already had a screen, a keyboard, a graphical interface and incorporated office software, such as spreadsheets and word processors.
Impact
Maintenance and Programming Profiles
With the advent of ICT and computers as a central work tool, equipment and software maintenance professionals appeared and computer science departments were created in companies. Specific programming languages were also developed for database management or software creation, leading to specialisation of programmers.
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1980 - 1990
The popularisation of computers
The emergence of personal computers gave the general public access to new technologies. At the same time, it increased their functionality and capacity.
Advance
Personal Computer
Specific university training
Impact
1980 - 1990
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Personal Computer
Mass and affordable computers were produced, specifically the Apple II models, the TRS-80 and the Personal Electronic Transactor. They were computers with limited memory, but more economical than models used by large companies. This facilitated the purchase by small businesses, educational establishments and private homes.
Impact
Specific university training
The success of computers triggered a commercial war and the arrival of a wave of new manufacturers offering clones of the most powerful and economical PC up to that time (the IBM Personal Computer). In this context, companies demanded personnel with knowledge of data processing and programming. For this reason, universities began to offer specific courses.
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1990 - 2000
Universal Internet access
In 1990 the Internet stopped being exclusive to the research and university field as the World Wide Web (WWW) was created, an interconnected global network accessible to all.
Advance
World Wide Web
Web-related jobs
Impact
1990 - 2000
Advance
World Wide Web
In 1989, scientist Tim Berners-Lee created the WWW, an interconnected system of public websites based on three components: the HTML language, URL addresses, and the HTTP protocol. The key to its rapid expansion was that Berners-Lee made the code public and royalty-free in 1993, allowing anyone to access it free of charge and without the need for a license.
Impact
Web-related jobs
While there were only 100 websites in 1993, by 1997 there were over 200,000 sites. This rapid expansion led to the emergence of professions related to the creation of web pages, such as: graphic design, web demo, web animation, web programming, information architecture, and others related to digital marketing and marketing management.
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2000 - 2010
Computer Services and Virtual Infrastructures
The appearance of the Cloud allowed the externalization of infrastructure (IaaS), platforms (PaaS), software (SaaS) and computer services, paying only for use and reducing costs.
Advance
The Cloud
Cloud computing
Impact
2000 - 2010
Advance
The Cloud
The expansion of ICT accelerated many business processes, but also created costs related to data and servers maintenance. Thus the Cloud’s success was assured, as it made it easier to access virtual servers, use uninstalled software, and view content on streaming platforms without downloading it.
Impact
Cloud computing
Today, many companies depend on the Cloud. This has transformed professional profiles —such as those linked to software development and data analysis—, which have had to learn how to work in a virtual environment and have generated new specific profiles, such as the Cloud Administrator, the Cloud Security Analyst, and the Cloud Engineer.
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2010 - Future
Digital innovation and acceleration
The pace of technological innovation has accelerated and spread to all economic sectors, incorporating the digitisation and application of ICT.
Advance
Emerging Technologies
Requalification and Hybrid Profiles
Impact
2010 - Future
Advance
Emerging Technologies
Many technologies have been incorporated into the ICT sector. Among the most impactful are artificial intelligence, virtual reality, quantum computation, Internet of Things, data science, 5G and Blockchain. Each of them has great capacity to be applied across a variety of fields.
Impact
Requalification and Hybrid Profiles
ICT has great potential for employment, but the incorporation of new technologies will need for constant professional requalification and for employees to work within interdisciplinary teams. Hybrid profiles will be particularly valued, as they bring together knowledge from various disciplines and make it easier to apply ICT to different areas.