John von Neumann dies.
Eric S. Raymond is born.
J. C. R. Licklider writes "The Truly SAGE System, or, Toward a Man-Machine System for Thinking".
The Soviet Union announces the launch of an ICBM, then launches Sputnik and Sputnik II, beginning the space race.
BBN hires J. C. R. Licklider as vice president of psychoacoustics, engineering psychology, and information systems.
The Stanford Research Institute hires Doug Engelbart.