Final answer:
The first computer to run a program from memory was around 1948, with significant developments like the microprocessor and microchip occurring in the 1970s. These innovations led to the proliferation of personal computers, making them accessible to a larger market and revolutionizing user interfaces.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first computer ran a program from memory around the year 1948, marking the early stages of the digital computer age. These colossal machines, such as the UNIVAC I and the IBM 701, utilized vacuum tube technology and were pivotal in data management systems, particularly in governmental and business applications. As the cost of computers decreased over time, thanks in part to the invention of the microprocessor in 1971 by companies such as Intel and Texas Instruments, computers became more accessible to the general public. By the early 1960s, around 12,000 computers were in use nationwide, a number that would only grow exponentially in the following decades.
The introduction of the microchip greatly condensed the size of computers, enabling the development of the first personal computers in the 1970s. Notably, in 1975, the Altair 8800 was released and quickly became popular among computer hobbyists, sparking a new industry for personal computers with competitors like Apple entering the market. This led to the proliferation of personal computers throughout the 1980s, with Apple's introduction of the Macintosh in 1984 revolutionizing the user interface with graphics and icons, eventually becoming the industry standard.
Steve Jobs and Apple played a significant role in making personal computers accessible to consumers, competing with giants like IBM and pushing the boundaries of computing technology. The results of these advancements are evident today, with powerful desktop and laptop machines ubiquitous in modern society.