Timeline of Parallax

The BASIC Stamp microcontroller was envisioned by Parallax founders to bring the power of microcontrollers to ordinary people. Parallax knew the BASIC Stamp microcontroller would be special - it was the tool we wanted for our own hobby projects. When hobby transformed into business we developed a manufacturing facility, distribution network, off-shore relationships and of course a high-quality office team.

2006 - Parallax releases the Propeller chip. The Propeller represents the first custom all-silicon product designed by Parallax.

2004 - Parallax becomes Master Distributor of the SX Microcontroller and a distributor for FTDI. Parallax Forums replaces all Parallax-related Yahoo! Discussion Groups. RadioShack stocks the Boe-Bot robot in retail stores and online. Key new products consist of the USB Board of Education carrier board, Parallax Servo Controller (PSC), and the Parallax Digital Oscilloscope.

2003 - PBASIC 2.5 is made available through the new BASIC Stamp Windows Editor v2.0. BS1-IC is now programmable in the Windows environment instead of DOS. Popular products such as the Stamp PLC, Memsic Accelerometer, and EmbeddedBlue AppMod (Bluetooth) are released. Stamps in Class program announces availability of Understanding Signals and Elements of Digital Logic guides.

2002 - In a partnership with Altera Parallax releases the Smart Pack FPGA development tool.

2001 - The new BASIC Stamp 2p 24 - and 40-pin modules are released.

1999 - World-wide BASIC Stamp Educator’s Courses begin to train instructors on the use of the BASIC Stamp microcontroller in education. Over 1,500 educators are trained in BASIC Stamp microcontroller.

1998 - Parallax launches Stamps in Class educational program. Experiments for robotics, analog and digital and process control are  developed. Additionally, Parallax forms partnership with Scenix Semiconductor (Ubicom) to develop tools and BASIC Stamps using their new SX microcontrollers.

1997 - Parallax sells intellectual interests in programmers and emulators for the Microchip market (to Tech Tools) in order to concentrate on BASIC Stamp microcontrollers.

1995 - BASIC Stamp 2 module is released amid much excitement and long-standing backorders around the world.

1993 - Parallax designs and manufactures ClearView 5x/xx and Mathias, a hardware emulator for Microchip controllers. The Parallax BASIC Stamp microcontroller is a finalist for EDN’s “Innovation of the Year” award.

1992 - Original BASIC Stamp 1 Rev. D released in through-hole format on PCB with prototype space and battery clip. Parallax develops international distribution.

1990 - Parallax creates the first 3rd party Microchip PIC programmer. PIC Programmer is later sold to Microchip (1992).

1987 - TopRAM, a 1 Megabyte Memory Card for your Apple IIGS, is released.  Parallax becomes Incorporated in Sacramento, California, on September 4, 1987.

1986 - ISEPIC (say “Icepick”) software duplication device released for Commodore 64 computers.