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This Week in Tech History: First HDTV Broadcast and First Photo from Space

On this week's look back at the tech achievements of yesterday, Chris reminds us of the beginning of hi-def TV broadcasts as well as the first time two computers were linked together. But first, he tells us of a big milestone in the area of communications.

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This week in 1861 – The First Transcontinental Telegraph line across the United States was completed, spelling the end for the 18-month-old Pony Express, which ceased operations just two days later.

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View of Earth from a camera aboard the V-2 #13 rocket, launched October 24, 1946.

1946 – A camera on board the V-2 No. 13 rocket took the first photograph of earth from outer space.

1969 – The first-ever computer-to-computer link was established on ARPANET, the precursor to the Internet.

1987 – In Japan, NEC released the first 16-bit (fourth generation) video game console, the PC Engine, which was later sold in other markets, including the US, under the name TurboGrafx-16.

TurboGrafx16
NEC’s TurboGrafx-16 gaming console

And this week in 1998 – ATSC HDTV broadcasting in the United States was inaugurated with live coverage of the launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery from Cape Canaveral in Florida

 

Written by Chris Graveline

Chris has covered consumer technology for over 20 years. He is the host of This Week in Tech History as well as a regular co-host on "Into Tomorrow with Dave Graveline" and our Technical Director.

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