While machine and assembly languages were used in earlier computers, the second generation saw the emergence and adoption of high-level languages. These allowed programmers to write instructions in a language closer to human language, which was then converted into machine code.

The defining technology of first-generation computers (approx. 1940-1956) was the vacuum tube. These electronic components were used for circuitry and as switches for processing and storing information, but they were large, generated immense heat, and were prone to burning out.

The World Wide Web was invented by British scientist Tim Berners-Lee in 1989 while he was working at CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research) in Switzerland. He developed it as a way for scientists to share information easily across different computer systems.

The third generation saw a shift away from punch cards and printouts towards using keyboards for input and monitors for output. This development made computers much more interactive and user-friendly.

The 'I Love You' worm, also known as LoveLetter, spread rapidly in May 2000. It propagated through email with the subject line "ILOVEYOU" and an attachment. It caused widespread damage estimated in the billions of dollars and is considered one of the most virulent computer viruses ever.

The Osborne 1 is celebrated as the first commercially successful 'portable computer.' While the term 'portable' in 1981 meant something different than today, it revolutionized personal computing by integrating the CPU, a tiny 5-inch CRT monitor, keyboard, and dual floppy disk drives into a single, suitcase-like unit. Weighing 24.5 pounds, it was often referred to as 'luggable' due to its substantial weight and form factor. This integrated design was a significant departure from the prevalent stationary desktop computers, offering users the unprecedented ability to transport their computer. It predates true 'notebook' or 'laptop' designs, which emerged later with lighter weights and clamshell forms (like the GRiD Compass introduced in 1982), and is distinctly different from 'desktop' computers which are not designed for movement, or 'tablet' computers which rely on touchscreens and generally lack integrated physical keyboards.

While John Napier invented logarithms, it was William Oughtred, an English mathematician, who first used two of Napier's logarithmic scales sliding against each other to perform direct multiplication and division. He is therefore credited with inventing the slide rule around 1622.

In 1981, IBM (International Business Machines Corporation) launched the IBM Personal Computer, model 5150. Its introduction was a landmark event that legitimized the personal computer market and set a standard for PC hardware compatibility that persists to this day.

The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), founded and led by Tim Berners-Lee, is an international community where member organizations, a full-time staff, and the public work together to develop web standards.

The Colossus computers were revolutionary machines developed by British cryptanalysts at Bletchley Park during World War II. Their primary and most critical function was to break the sophisticated Lorenz cipher messages, which were high-level encrypted communications used by the German High Command. These messages, codenamed 'Tunny' by the British, contained vital strategic information. The Colossus machines, considered the world's first programmable electronic digital computers, significantly accelerated the decryption process, providing crucial intelligence that impacted the course of the war.