Happy Birthday, Mouse

[HAL 9000 96]

The Mouse That Soared

On December 9, 1968, Stanford Research Institute scientist Douglas Engelbart demonstrated his unique invention -- the computer mouse -- for the first time in public. It took another decade and a half for it to catch on, but once it did, computing was never the same. And today, it's hard to imagine using a desktop or laptop computer without a mouse (or one of its latter-day substitutes such as the touchpad). In celebration of this anniversary, Technologizer's Harry McCracken looks at some of the mightiest mice of the past four decades.

Above is Engelbart's first prototype mouse (held by its inventor). Note the square shape, hand-crafted wood case, and giant wheel inside. The part of this little beast that most resembles a modern mouse is the tail-like cord that gave it its name–though many mice do away with that today, of course.

Link

[NickD 203]

The Mouse That Soared

On December 9, 1968, Stanford Research Institute scientist Douglas Engelbart demonstrated his unique invention -- the computer mouse -- for the first time in public. It took another decade and a half for it to catch on, but once it did, computing was never the same. And today, it's hard to imagine using a desktop or laptop computer without a mouse (or one of its latter-day substitutes such as the touchpad). In celebration of this anniversary, Technologizer's Harry McCracken looks at some of the mightiest mice of the past four decades.

Above is Engelbart's first prototype mouse (held by its inventor). Note the square shape, hand-crafted wood case, and giant wheel inside. The part of this little beast that most resembles a modern mouse is the tail-like cord that gave it its name–though many mice do away with that today, of course.

Link

Are you directed by a mouse, Hal 9000?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Happy Birthday, Mouse!!!

I remember the days back when PC users laughed at Mac users for having a mouse. They thought it was just a gimmick...Ha! (c. 1988)

[HAL 9000 96]

The Mouse That Soared

On December 9, 1968, Stanford Research Institute scientist Douglas Engelbart demonstrated his unique invention -- the computer mouse -- for the first time in public. It took another decade and a half for it to catch on, but once it did, computing was never the same. And today, it's hard to imagine using a desktop or laptop computer without a mouse (or one of its latter-day substitutes such as the touchpad). In celebration of this anniversary, Technologizer's Harry McCracken looks at some of the mightiest mice of the past four decades.

Above is Engelbart's first prototype mouse (held by its inventor). Note the square shape, hand-crafted wood case, and giant wheel inside. The part of this little beast that most resembles a modern mouse is the tail-like cord that gave it its name–though many mice do away with that today, of course.

Link

Are you directed by a mouse, Hal 9000?

Dear NickD,

A good question for my letters thread- but I'll make the exception for our friend, Mouse.

Indeed- there are some upgraded terminals on Discovery that allow for user interface with me via a mouse device... but at this moment I am away from Discovery so that is only on a discontinuous basis.

[Niels Bohr 72]

Did you know that the optical mouse uses a 486 microprocessor? It's built-in. My Tandy Computer had a 486 with no math co-processor. Weird huh.

Edited December 16, 2008 by Niels Bohr