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Posted, Dec. 16, 2004
Updated, Mar. 18, 2008


QuickLink: A75887

New Media Timeline (1984)

By David Shedden (more by author)
Library Director, Poynter Institute

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Previous: 1983 / Next: 1985
View all of the years in the New Media Timeline

                TECHNOLOGY

  • The Macintosh personal computer is introduced by Apple. The Mac is one of the first popular computers to use a 3 1/2" disk drive, a mouse, and a graphical user interface.

  • Jan. 22, 1984 -- During the 1984 Super Bowl, Apple introduces its new Macintosh computer with what has become one of the most famous television commercials of all time. The ad features Orwellian images from the book 1984 and is directed by Blade Runner director Ridley Scott. It ends with the voice-over: "On January 24th, Apple Computer will introduce the Macintosh. And you'll see why 1984 won't be like 1984."
    (See also: "1984 Macintosh TV commercial." Posted on YouTube.)

  • The Internet Domain name system (DNS) is established. DNS allows the use of domain names rather than corresponding internet protocol numbers.

  • "10 People and Computers in Commerce: A Spreadsheet Way of Knowledge." Steven Levy, Harpers, Nov. 1984.
Additional Resources

 

              THE MEDIA

  • The ExtraVision teletext system is tested at various CBS affiliated television stations.

  • The Times Mirror company offers its Gateway videotex service to selected communities in California. The Gateway service uses both telephone and two-way cable distribution.

  • The Dow Jones News/Retrieval service offers full-text versions of The Wall Street Journal.

  • The Knight-Ridder Vu/Text database service is started with full-text editions of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Daily News, the Detroit Free-Press, and The Miami Herald.

  • There are 15 newspapers that offer full-text database versions of their stories through vendors such as Nexis, Vu/Text, Dialog, or DataTimes.
    (Source: News Media Libraries: A Management Handbook)

  • News Example:
    "1984 Summer Olympics
    in Los Angeles."
    (Story available from
    database vendor services.)
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