The Invention that Shaped Modern Society

First Computer Mouse and Word Processor

General Information

Who created it?

Douglas C. Engelbart, created in 1968

What was the retail price?

Xerox was the first mouse. The mouse had LEDs and optical sensors, plus a special grid-printed mouse pad for it to function. Then, in 1981, Xerox refined its tech in the mouse/computer industry. The mouse worked with Xerox Star interface, and was the first mouse that the public could purchase for use — but it would run at $75,000 for the full system. The mouses produced were sold for $35, respectively.

Iterations- (How many attempts to achieve a technological break through)

It would be another 8 years before the mouse would be developed any further. An optical mouse was developed in around 1980, eliminating the ball which often became dirty from rolling round the desktop, negatively affecting its operation. In 1988, US patent no. 4751505 was issued for an optical mouse invented by Lisa M. Williams and Robert S. Cherry, which was to be sold commercially with Xerox products, such as the Xerox STAR.

The Significance/ Context

Context

The first mouse was invented in 1964, two decades before the first partnership with Apple Macintosh. This product did not sell very good until the apple company reinvented the mouse. The basic idea for the mouse first came to him in 1961 while sitting in a conference session on computer graphics.

Doug Engelbart’s goal to develop better ways to support intellectuals worldwide with the task of finding quicker, more effective solutions to growing problems. He wanted to revolutionize and make more efficient the world of interactive/collaborative computing. They had to expand the boundaries of display technology and interactive computing and human-computer interface on the technical front, by inventing entirely new organizational concepts and methodologies. His seminal work earned him many awards, and sparked a revolution that blossomed into the Information Age and the Internet. It is thanks to Engelbart’s vision for dramatically boosting our collective IQ in the service of humankind's “greatest challenges” that our society’s technology is so advanced today.

Usability/Significance

Douglas C. Engelbart's first mouse and computer processor help made the computer much easier and quicker to use. Before the invention of the mouse, the people using the computers had to send codes which could be time consuming whenever they were doing a big project on the computer. With the mouse it could make it easier to text, edit, video conference, hypertext, and search the web.

Features/How it worked

Using a pair of small wheels traversing a tabletop, one wheel turning horizontally, one turning vertically, the computer could track their combined rotations and move the cursor on the display accordingly. The wheels could function something like the wheels on a planimeter – a tool used by engineers and geographers to measure areas on a map, blueprint, drawing, etc. – but in this case, rolling the wheels around on the tabletop would plot the x,y coordinates for a cursor on a computer screen. He recorded the idea in his notebook for future reference.

Why was it created?

It was created as Engelbart was attending a computer graphics conference and he had an idea to better improve the on-screen cursor; that's how one of the most used objects on the planet was born. He believed that the mouse should be able to carry about 10 buttons for greater control options. He had always had interest in computing and taught at UC-Berkeley where he found his passion and love for the computer world. After constant use of the computer with no mouse, he decided it was about time to invent an idea that would benefit all computer users around the world.

What was the public reaction?

When Douglas C. Engelbart first tried to show his invention, it did not become popular as people would think. Not a lot of people were buying it and there were no high demand for it. However, when apple improved and reinvented it, it became more useful and began gaining popularity.

Synthesis:

Compared to our modern-day technology such as the internet, programs such as Google Docs, wireless mouses, and touch screen devices, the first computer mouse seems very primitive. According to today’s standards, it is hard to believe how such an invention could be revolutionary, but compared to existing technology at the time, Engelbart’s mouse was very efficient in opening new technological worlds, spurring globalization.

Works Cited

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Faizan-

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