Tech History Today – Dec. 31

In 1923 – The chimes of Big Ben were broadcast on radio for the first time by the BBC, beginning a new year’s tradition.

In 1938 – Cops in Indianapolis put Indiana University professor Rolla Harger’s drunkometer to its first practical New Year’s Eve test as a breath analyzer. Suspected tipplers blew into a balloon and the air was mixed with a chemical solution that turned darker the more alcohol was present. The drunkometer was replaced in 1958 by the more portable Breathalyzer.

In 2001 – Microsoft provided its last day of support for Windows 95 making it officially “obsolete” according to the Microsoft Lifecycle policy, after only 6 years.

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