Science & Technology
By the 1981, the first sucessfully marketed the IMB personal computer. Primarily relegated to business and scientific use. Already by 1985, 2 million American were using personal computers to perform various tasks. By 1982, Apple became the first personal computer company to have an annual sale total of $1 billion. Then came the Macintosh in 1984 and was faster, smaller, and less costly.
The Space Shuttle Luanched
In April 12, 1981 Space Shuttle Culumbia was the first shuttle to orbit the earth. It was flown by Cammander John W. Young and Pilot Robert L. Cripper. The Space shuttle spent 2 days on its check-out mission. Culumbia was launched again seven months later. but was destroyed in 1986. This Shuttle accomplished over 100 orbital missions.
AIDS/HIV
In December 1981, it was clear that the disease affected other population groups, when the 1st case of PCP were reported in injection drug users. At the same time the 1st case of AIDS was documented in UK. An anagram of AIDS, SIDA, was created for use in French and Spanish. Doctors thought AIDS was a appropriate name because people acquired the condition rather than inherited it. By 1982, number of AIDS specific voluntary organisation had been set up in the US. By the end of 1982 many more people were taking notice of this new disease, as it was clearer that a much wider group of people was going to be affected. AIDS transmission became a major issue in San Fransico, where the police department equipped patrol officers with special masks and gloves for use when dealing with what the police called " a suspected AIDS patient ". By the end of the year, 85 countries had reported 38,401 cases of AIDS to the World Health Organisation. By region these were: Africa 2,323; America 31,741; Asia 84; Europe 3,858; and Oceania 395.
By:Beth Garcia
