Today in Tech History: July 3, 2008 Video

Today in Tech History: July 3, 2008 Video Transcript

Hi, I'm Molly Wood. It's July 3, 2008, and here's what happened today in technology history. On this date in 1886, the New York Tribune became the first paper to use the linotype machine, which let a small number of people set the type for many pages. It revolutionized newspaper publishing, and is still in limited use today. Also today, in 1969, the biggest explosion in the history of rocketry. The Soviet N1 rocket exploded after a loose bolt was sucked into a fuel pump. The intensity of the explosion and fire destroyed the rocket AND its launchpad. Fortunately, no one was killed, but it must have been something to see. In all, the Soviets attempted four unmanned launches of their top-secret N1 rocket, and the rockets exploded EVERY TIME. The program was, as you might imagine, cancelled in 1976. And finally, today marks the passing of [1998]Danielle Bunten Berry, an American game designer and programmer who created the multiplayer game M.U.L.E. in 1983. Will Wright dedicated his game, The Sims, in memory of Bunten. And that's it for today's explosive tech history. Come on back tomorrow for more historic facts and figures. (music) Wait, is it Danielle or Daniel? It says 'Danielle' there. Maybe we should Google it. Is it a chick? I thought it was a chick. Oh, Ok. But, uh, I mean it definitely says 'Danielle'. It would be kind of notable if it was a chick. Danielle could be a French version of Daniel. Yeah, it could be. Seems unlikely that? "Born Daniel, had sex reassignment surgery and became Danielle. Dude, how is that not in the script? Anyway, yeah, OK, could to know. You just don't hear about that kind of thing way back then, you know? And then, I really want to know the story with Will Wright and Daniel/nielle. Did they have a thing after she became Danielle? It's so dishy!