2009 Archive: Culture
The „Unfriend” is named the New Oxford American Dictionary’s Word of the Year. Part of the 59 Fun Facts: The 2009 Avatar Premiere & King… Read More »2009 Archive: Culture
2009
2009 Archive: Wolfram|Alpha Goes Live
Stephen Wolfram launches the „computational knowledge engine.” Unlike search engines, Wolfram|Alpha tries to „understand” the question and calculate an answer using algorithms and structured data… Read More »2009 Archive: Wolfram|Alpha Goes Live
2009 Report: 2009
The Year of the Labeled World: This year closed the decade by giving AI what it lacked most: ImageNet as a visual standard and smartphones… Read More »2009 Report: 2009
2009 Classic: The H1N1 (Swine Flu) Outbreak
The WHO declares a global pandemic, leading to widespread public health campaigns and „swine flu” becoming a household name. Part of the 59 Fun Facts:… Read More »2009 Classic: The H1N1 (Swine Flu) Outbreak
2009 Edition: Science
NASA’s Kepler Mission launches, specifically designed to survey our region of the Milky Way to discover Earth-size planets. Part of the 59 Fun Facts: The… Read More »2009 Edition: Science
2009 Legacy: The Birth of Bitcoin’s Genesis Block
In January 2009, the first block of the Bitcoin network is mined. Algorithmic management of scarcity and security without central oversight becomes a new paradigm… Read More »2009 Legacy: The Birth of Bitcoin’s Genesis Block
2009 Record: The „Octomom” Phenomenon
Nadya Suleman gives birth to octuplets in California, sparking a massive national debate over ethics and reality TV culture. Part of the 59 Fun Facts:… Read More »2009 Record: The „Octomom” Phenomenon
2009 Legacy: Business
General Motors files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, marking a low point for the American „Big Three” automakers. Part of the 59 Fun Facts: The 2009… Read More »2009 Legacy: Business
2009 File: Microsoft Unveils Project Natal (Kinect)
At E3, Microsoft previews a camera system that uses advanced computer vision and machine learning to track a person’s entire body in 3D without a… Read More »2009 File: Microsoft Unveils Project Natal (Kinect)
2009 File: Sonia Sotomayor’s Appointment
In August, she is sworn in as the first Hispanic and third female Justice of the US Supreme Court. Part of the 59 Fun Facts:… Read More »2009 File: Sonia Sotomayor’s Appointment