CW@60: Six stories for sixty years
AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication
On 22 September 2026, Computer Weekly celebrated its 60th anniversary by commissioning experts, parliamentarians, IT leaders and suppliers to reflect on six pivotal technology stories—one from each decade since the 1960s. The series begins with the emergence of electronic calculators in the 1960s, noting early adoption, policy debates in the US and UK, and a modern consensus that calculators aid mathematical fluency when paired with foundational skills. It then moves to the 1970s, tracing the commercial birth of video games through Atari, the development of Breakout by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, and the sector’s explosive growth to an estimated $522.5 billion in global revenue by 2025. The commentary links these historic disruptions to today’s AI inflection point, arguing that societal impact hinges on usage rather than technology itself.
💡 Why It Matters
- · The piece shows how past tech revolutions reshaped education and entertainment, offering a lens to anticipate AI’s societal effects based on how we choose to apply it.