Did You Know: The Dawn of Home Computing

This date 33 years ago immediately preceded the dawning of a digital age milestone. On August 12, 1981, IBM introduced its model 5150 — which soon became known simply as the "PC." There had been consumer computer models for some years before, such as the early Apple and Commodore, but the IBM machine marked a turning point in acceptance due to the manufacturer's prestige. The company was famous for its pioneering, large mainframe computers, and even by 1984, barely over 8 percent of American households had personal computers. Now, more than three-quarters of American households have computers, with the Asian-American population's figure reaching nearly 83 percent. Over 93 percent of college graduates live in homes with at least one computer. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at www.census.gov.