Author Archives: admin

First USB prosthetic

In May 2008 Finnish computer programmer Jerry Jalava lost part of a finger in a motorcycle accident. He made a 2 gigabyte USB memory stick prosthetic for his finger, allowing him to carry his data around with him constantly. The idea came to him when doctors, having learned of his profession, joked that he should make a ‘finger drive’ for his hand.

First US pro sports league to play in China

The National Basketball Association is the first American professional sports league to stage games in China. Led by Yao Ming (China), the Houston Rockets (USA) posted an 88-86 preseason win over the Sacramento Kings (USA) at Shanghai Stadium in Shanghai, China on 14 October 2004. The Kings defeated the Rockets 91-89 at Capital Stadium in Beijing during the second game on 17 October 2004.

First use of a graphite bomb

The earliest use of a graphite bomb (G-bomb) in battle occurred in 1991 when Allied forces used it to disable 85% of Iraq’s power supplies during the Gulf War. These bombs (also known as ‘black out bombs’) are also the first of many ‘soft’ bombs since they are non-lethal and seek to disadvantage the enemy by disabling power supplies. They work by exploding a cloud of thousands of ultra-fine carbon-fibre wires over electrical installations, short-circuiting the electrical systems. A later version of the G-bomb was Continue reading →

First use of a force feedback wheel in a video game

1989’s Hard Drivin’, originally designed as a driving simulation, had seen driving games head down a slightly different track and go in search of a more realistic automotive experience with the first use of a force feedback wheel. This enabled the gamer to get a “feel” of the road with the steering wheel responding to the driver’s actions. Guinness World Records Gamer’s edition 2009

First use of a crossbow

The earliest reliable record of the use of a crossbow was in 341 BC at the Battle of Ma-Ling, Linyi, China.  Historians believe these weapons were single-shot, with no springs, which are held with a pistol-style grip. The crossbows were probably used before this date, but no reliable information proves this. The earliest (non-recorded) was probably by the Stoneage people in Africa and south east Asia. They have remained as a popular military weapon, although largely replaced by firearms in later centuries. Crossbows were introduced to England Continue reading →

First use of aircraft in warfare

The first time an aircraft was used in warfare occurred on 22 October 1911. Captain Carlo Piazza of the Italian Army flew a Blériot monoplane from Tripoli to Azzia in Libya during a reconnaissance mission of Turkish forces, whom they were fighting in the Italo-Turkish War of 1911–12. Please note, some sources state 23 October. I have gone with RAF Museum’s date. Ottoman Turks were defending their territories in Libya from Italian colonial designs from 28 September 1911- 18 October 1912. It could also be Continue reading →

First use of air blocking in a video game

The earliest use of air blocking, in which a fighting character is able to block an offensive strike while in mid-air first appeared in Darkstalkers which was released in 1994. This was also the earliest fighting series to use Capcom’s advanced animation engine, which allowed more animation frames per character than other fighting games of the time.