Microsoft Company History Timeline
Microsoft Company History Timeline
The History of Web Design
In 1936, Konrad Ruse built the first freely programmable computer. By 1951, IBM enters the history of the computer…fast forward to 1986 and explosion of the personal computer onto the high tech scene. Networked computers and Microsoft versus Apple Computer wars all enter into the picture and shape the destiny of the World Wide Web.
Today, one of the hottest businesses to be part of is the high-tech computer industry, specifically web design. Although engineers, mathematicians, programmers, and scientists all have a niche in the computer industry too, web designers are part scientists, part computer programmers, and part graphic artists that use their high tech skills to create an online portal for the researcher or consumer. They create a company's public face to the global audience.
The first high level programming language was FORTRAN Computer Programming Language. This scientific and mathematical language, created by John Backus in 1954, is still in use today. Web designers have a more user friendly programming language to choose from like HTML and Front Page. Instead of learning a completely new language of code or formulas, today’s web designers can create a basic website. Flash animation allows even more technical visual graphic interfaces.
A website is always a work in progress, requiring the owner to hire someone to take charge of their web presence or do it themselves. This is how web design can be a lucrative profession for anyone willing to take the time to learn the basics of creating HTML pages and staying on top of this highly innovative industry.
A main consideration for anyone creating web designs for their own personal use or for others is where to host the website. Web hosting companies like Go Daddy and Just Host are an example of two companies that provide web designers a portal to get their website online. The company provides the servers and storage space that is required as part of the web design process. As these companies grow in number their competitiveness also grows. Some of the best prices and service can be found with a simple search engine request. These companies want even people with no web design background to create a website so they make it as simple and affordable as possible.
The timeline of a website goes from the idea stage (business or research project) to web design to web hosting to going live to a global audience. An effective web design is like a virtual business card that captures the viewers’ attention, answers their questions, and provides a learning experience, product, or service with a call to action. For example, ‘here is how to do this’,’ buy this product’, or ‘use my services.’ The designer should have this foremost in their mind when creating a website that is easy to use, quick to load, and calls the consumer to an action of some type like those listed above.
A web designer can learn their craft and start their own business from anywhere in the world. Web design is a field that allows a telecommuting and work at home options. It is a fulfilling career that anyone can start at any age. Even teens and preteens have learned how to create websites (and then taught their parents!) It is a viable option for stay at home moms, retired people, and entrepreneurs looking for a new niche.
About the Author
To learn more about the importance of web design in Business visit the Web Design page for more information and how to apply for a quote today.
Microsoft Company History Timeline
History of Microsoft -- 1975
With a Great Product, Marquee Investors and Widespread Publicity, Tech Start Up Xobni Seeks to Become the Google of Email
Matt Brezina, age 27, grew up in a small Pennsylvania town and attended Penn State University. Always deeply interested in science and business, he also studied electrical engineering. While at PSU, he worked as a consultant on naval research in robotics, but discovered that he did not have the necessary education for such work. After a professor advised him to attend graduate school to learn more about the field, Matt attended the University of Maryland for his graduate degree, but things took an unexpected turn.
The idea for Xobni (”inbox” spelled backward) came from late-night conversations with his roommate, Adam Smith. Their mutual passion for technology and business led to a partnership. Adam saw how much information emails contain and planned to revolutionize the way people use the system; he wanted Matt to help him build a company around it. In turn, Matt-who did not find graduate school fulfilling-wanted more entrepreneurial experience, and Adam’s plans to start a software company became the perfect fit. He dropped out of school and quickly moved up to Cambridge, MA.
When deciding upon a product, Matt suggests, “Start with a broad space of problems that you should solve.” What he learned from working with business professionals was the amount of time taken up from a lack of organization, noticing that they have a difficult time simultaneously accomplishing tasks and keeping organized. To make their lives easier, Matt and Adam created software that not only organizes email, but generates a profile for each contact, consisting of a picture, previous conversations or emails exchanged, mutual contacts and other data collected from the Internet. The product is fun and can save up to 30 minutes a day in mindless searches through one’s inbox. Statistically, email is one of the Web’s biggest uses; the partners knew this could become a huge success because the market is so large. To tackle such an ambitious project they needed funding.
Building their company took time. “Take every meeting you can; you don’t know where it will lead,” says Matt. He learned that it takes many lunches and introductions to find an investor willing to take a chance. After going through the highly-touted Y-combinator boot camp, Xobni’s jumping-off point arrived when a fellow entrepreneur arranged a meeting for Matt and Adam with a prospective investor, which led to a dinner invitation and Xobni’s initial funding. “The reality is that most milestones in a company’s history are defined by the money,” he acknowledges. With the initial venture capital raised, they were able to hire a seven-man software-development team. Dedicated to their cause, the team literally lived in the office, even buying air mattresses for nights when they worked straight through.
When deciding on Xobni’s flagship product, Matt and team immediately flocked to Microsoft Outlook, the most widely used email system by business professionals that had substantial room for improvement. Advice Matt’s father had given him came to the fore: “The best thing to do is go learn from another business, see where they’re making mistakes, see how you can do it better, then jump off and compete with them.” The team built nearly all of the technology in-house before coming up with a rough working prototype. The idea was to slowly integrate the product into public use by first testing it with a limited group of users. Approximately 30,000 were allowed access to the software and able to return feedback, which the team implemented before launching it on a wider scale. Matt advises all young companies building technologies, “Product launch cycles and version-testing timelines are extremely important. You must create a well-thought out timeline and stick to it as much as possible.” He also mentions that “many companies do not believe their products are ready to launch so they will iterate, iterate and iterate. You cannot be afraid to fail, so do not wait too long to pull the trigger with a product launch.”
Matt is exceptionally proud of everyone who helped develop the software, as well as those who use it. One of his keys to success is finding low-cost ways to both develop and market a product. When looking for ways to improve, Matt recommends going to public places such as bus stops or coffee shops, and showing people mockups of your business model to test the product. Asking if they understand the model and like your idea is an easy and relatively cheap way to research, and can provide ideas for improvement. One of the biggest problems Matt recognizes in new entrepreneurs is managing finances; once they earn a little money, they immediately go out and buy something expensive like a car. His advice is to save money and not attach importance to material things, another key consideration for entrepreneurs looking to ensure business startup success.
Matt doesn’t sweat the fact that Xobni is not currently generating revenue. “It’s all part of the plan.” When asked his goal for Xobni, he returns a calm and cool response. “We want to become the Google of email.”
You know what we say to you Matt? OD TI!
… that’s Do It backwards.
About the Author
Written by: KJones (for uwemp.com)
Microsoft Company History Timeline
