Back to 1981
On the occasion of the fortieth anniversary of the computer science study programme at ETH Zurich, we look back to 1981 and explore what made the world go round back then. Buckle up and enjoy the ride!
Space Shuttle Columbia at first take-off (Picture: NASA)
Our Prof. Olga Sorkine-Hornung was born.
The song Making Your Mind Up by the British group Bucks Fizz wins the Eurovision Song Contest. (Picture: Tuzapicabit, CC BY-SA 4.0)
The ZX81, a pioneering British home computer, was launched by Sinclair Research. (Picture: Dave L. Jones, CC BY-SA 4.0)
Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer got married. (
Picture: Joe Haupt, CC BY-SA 2.0)
The solar-powered electric aircraft Solar Challenger, designed by MacCready, flew 163 miles. (Picture: NASA) Europe's largest hackers association, the Chaos Computer Club (CCC), was founded. (Picture: Neil Kandalgaonkar, CC BY-NC 2.0)
Our Prof. Torsten Hoefler was born in 1981. The first IBM Personal Computer was introduced. (Picture: Federigo Federighi, CC BY-SA 4.0) The band Odissey released the song Going back to my roots. (Picture: Steven Collazo, CC BY-SA 3.0)
The Swiss tennis star Roger Federer was born. ( Picture: Tatiana, CC BY-SA 2.0)
Diana Ross and Lionel Richie released their song Endless Love. (Picture: Motown Records) The movie Mad Max starring Mel Gibson came out. (Picture: Alan Light, CC BY 2.0) Nintendo introduced the player character Mario in the platform game Donkey Kong (Picture: Pixabay)
Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel gave their legendary Concert in Central Park in New York in front of half a million people. ( Picture: Eddie Mallin, CC BY-SA 2.0 )
Release of first Indiana Jones Movie Raiders of the Lost Ark, starring Harrison Ford. The German war movie Das Boot (English:"The Boat") came out.
Singer Kim Carnes released her song Bette Davis Eyes. (Picture: Leitostar1, CC BY-SA 4.0)
The American cable channel MTV went live. (Picture: Fred Seibert, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
The solar-powered electric aircraft Solar Challenger, designed by MacCready, flew 163 miles. (Picture: NASA) Europe's largest hackers association, the Chaos Computer Club (CCC), was founded. (Picture: Neil Kandalgaonkar, CC BY-NC 2.0)
Our Prof. Torsten Hoefler was born in 1981. The first IBM Personal Computer was introduced. (Picture: Federigo Federighi, CC BY-SA 4.0) The band Odissey released the song Going back to my roots. (Picture: Steven Collazo, CC BY-SA 3.0)
The Swiss tennis star Roger Federer was born. ( Picture: Tatiana, CC BY-SA 2.0)
Diana Ross and Lionel Richie released their song Endless Love. (Picture: Motown Records) The movie Mad Max starring Mel Gibson came out. (Picture: Alan Light, CC BY 2.0) Nintendo introduced the player character Mario in the platform game Donkey Kong (Picture: Pixabay)
Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel gave their legendary Concert in Central Park in New York in front of half a million people. ( Picture: Eddie Mallin, CC BY-SA 2.0 )
Release of first Indiana Jones Movie Raiders of the Lost Ark, starring Harrison Ford. The German war movie Das Boot (English:"The Boat") came out.
Singer Kim Carnes released her song Bette Davis Eyes. (Picture: Leitostar1, CC BY-SA 4.0)
The American cable channel MTV went live. (Picture: Fred Seibert, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Logitech produced the first Swiss pc-mouse called the Logitech P7. Prof. eme. N. Wirth had brought the idea from the USA.
Singer Kenny Rogers released his song Lady. (Picture: Eva Rinaldi, CC BY 2.0) McD onald's added the barbecue-flavoured pork sandwich McRib to its menu. ( Picture: Evan-Amos)
Technology & Computer Science
- external pageSpace Shuttle Columbiacall_made It took off for the first time in April 1981.
- external pageFirst IBM Personal Computercall_made The PC was introduced in August 1981.
- external pageSolar Challengercall_made the solar-powered electric aircraft flew 163 miles.
- external pageZX81,call_made a home computer, was produced by Sinclair research.
- external pageChaos Computer Clubcall_made Europe's largest hackers association was founded.
- external pageLogitech P7call_made, the first commercial computer mouse was produced.
- external pageProf. Olga Sorkine-Hornungcall_made was born.
- external pageProf. Torsten Hoeflercall_made was born.
Movies & Music
- external pageMad Max 2call_made, a movie starring Mel Gibson, was released.
- external pageRaiders of the Lost Arkcall_made , the first Indiana Jones movie, came out.
- external pageDas Bootcall_made ("The Boat"), a war movie from Germany was released.
- external pageBette Davis Eyescall_made by Singer Kim Carnes came out.
- external pageMaking Your Mind Upcall_made by Bucks Fizz, won the Eurovision Song Contest.
- external pageEndless Lovecall_made, a duett by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie, was released.
- external pageConcert in Central Parkcall_made by Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel took place.
- external pageLadycall_made, a song by Kenny Rogers came out.
Pop culture mix
- external pageMTVcall_made short for Music Television went live.
- external pageRoger Federer,call_made a Swiss tennis star, was born.
- external pageMariocall_made by Nintendo was introduced in the platform game Donkey Kong.
- external pagePrince Charles and Lady Diana Spencercall_made got married.
- external pageMcRibcall_made McDonald's added a pork sandwich to its menu.
Find more stories, interviews and historical facts on our celebration website.