In the 1960s, computing was dominated by large mainframe machines used for business data processing and scientific computing. The 1970s introduced minicomputers focused initially on scientific applications but later expanded with timesharing technology. The 1980s saw the rise of desktop computers powered by microprocessors, leading to the development of personal computers and workstations. The 1990s marked the advent of the Internet, handheld devices like PDAs, and high-performance digital consumer electronics.