History

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1921

Electrical Engineering separates from the Department of Mechanical & Electrical Engineering; becomes Division of Electrical Engineering.

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1930-1939

Shannon develops mathematical principles of Information Theory (1939-1967)

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1930

Evans Hall completed and dedicated

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1946

ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer) is put into operation

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1947

Transistor is invented at Bell Labs

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1948

UD is desegragated

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1952

Electrical Engineering student Elbert Wisner, UD’s first African American student, graduates

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1958

First semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) is demonstrated

 

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1960-1969

An experimental nuclear reactor, used for education and research, is housed in DuPont Hall

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1969

ARPANET, the first digital global network, is launched

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1969-1975

Public key cryptography is invented

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1970-1979

UD becomes on of the first ARPANET nodes and helps develop CSNET, NSFNet, and NREN

UD introduces PDP 11 mainframe computers to campus

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1972

HP-35, first handheld scientific calculator, is developed

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1979

First CD audio player is demonstrated

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1980-1989

UD establishes first global “post office” for academic mail

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1981

IBM introduces its first personal computer, uses MS-DOS

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1984

EE Chair Peter Warter and UD Officials rededicate Evans Hall after $2M renovation

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1984

Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh computer

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1993

World Wide Web browser Mosaic is released

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1996-1997

Computer engineering degree is established and the department name is changed to Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE)

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1997

UD develops concept of vehicle-to-grid technology

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2000-present

UD research launches multiple high-tech start ups, including FingerWorks, ETI, EM Photonics, Nuvve, and Cloudamize

UD establishes Cybersecurity Initiative & Cybersecurity Minor and MS degrees

Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) Program begins

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2007

Apple acquires UD startup FingerWorks

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2017

Innovation Suite (iSuite) Laboratory is opened

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2022

Expected completion of the six-story FinTech Innovation Hub on the University of Delaware’s Science Technology and Advanced Research (STAR) Campus.