1973

World's First LCD Calculator <EL-805>

Thanks to the tireless efforts of Sharp's engineers, the company achieved the first practical application of LCDs. The EL-805 COS-type pocket calculator introduced in 1973 was the first product on the market to use LCDs. In December 2005, the EL-805 was one of the calculators recognized with a prestigious IEEE Milestone*1 from the IEEE*2.

*1
The IEEE established the IEEE Milestone program in 1983 to honor significant achievements in the history of electrical and electronics engineering that have contributed to the betterment of society. Currently there are more than 100 Milestones around the world, including Volta's Electrical Battery Invention and the Fleming Valve. In Japan, the Directive Short Wave ("Yagi") Antenna (1995), the Mount Fuji Radar System (2000), the Tokaido Shinkansen ("Bullet Train") (2000), and the Electronic Quartz Wristwatch (2004) have been recognized.
*2
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). The IEEE (pronounced"Eye-triple-E") is the world's largest non-profit, technical professional association of electrical and electronics engineers. Through its more than 377,000 individual members in approximately 150 countries worldwide, the IEEE plays a leading role in technical areas ranging from computer engineering, electronics, and telecommunications, to electric power, aerospace engineering, and biomedical technology, among others.