Scientists collaborated on the "Multiplexed Information and Computing Service" project in 1965 to develop a time-sharing operating system, leading to the creation of Unix by Ken Thompson and the team at Bell Labs, which was later adopted globally due to its affordability and accessibility. Unix's expansion continued with the development of the Berkeley variant, further evolving with virtual memory capabilities and contributing to the Internet's development, eventually transitioning into a commercial industry with companies like Sun Microsystems, Microsoft, and NeXT commercializing Unix.
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The development of Unix originated from a collaborative project involving Bell Labs, MIT, and General Electric, focusing on creating a time-sharing operating system with innovative concepts like virtual memory, leading to the creation of a space game called "Space Travel" and ultimately evolving into a platform for software development.
Unix's widespread adoption was facilitated by the AT&T Consent Decree, which mandated AT&T to make its inventions available to the academic community, resulting in Unix's global expansion in the early 1970s. This expansion was further propelled by the Berkeley Unix variant, introducing key features like a Pascal implementation and virtual memory capabilities, solidifying Berkeley's position as a leading provider of Unix releases and supporting the development of the Internet.
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Recent questions
What was the initial purpose of the "Multiplexed Information and Computing Service" project?
To create a time-sharing operating system for multiple users to share computer resources.