Here are significant technology events that occurred on May 11th:
1. On May 11, 1997, IBM’s Deep Blue chess-playing supercomputer defeated reigning world champion Garry Kasparov in a six-game match under standard tournament rules. This was a landmark event in artificial intelligence, demonstrating computers’ capability to rival human intellect in complex strategic domains.
2. On May 11, 2009, Space Shuttle Atlantis launched on mission STS-125, the fifth and final servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope. This mission successfully upgraded Hubble with new instruments and repairs, significantly extending its operational life and scientific capabilities.
3. On May 11, 1949, U.S. Patent 2,470,001 was issued to Edwin H. Land for his invention of the instant “Polaroid” camera, which had been first demonstrated to the public in 1947. This technology revolutionized photography by allowing near-instant development of prints.
4. On May 11, 1960, the first fully automated, regularly scheduled television service began broadcasting from the BBC’s Lime Grove Studios in London. This marked a significant step in the automation of television program transmission.