Trivia Tuesday

Forty years ago Doug Engelbart and his team at the Stanford Research Institute in California designed something we use everyday and probably something we now take for granted. 

The MOUSE.

When patented the mouse was named the X-Y Position Indicator for a Display System (glad that didn't become its name!!), and was deigned to control their computers. The result was a carved wooden block mounted on wheels, with a long cable trailing out the back. One researcher nicknamed it a mouse.

The first commercial product was released in 1981.

But it wasn't until Apple acquired the license for the mouse for $40,000 from the Standford Institute that the technology really took off. The Apple Macintosh, launched in 1984.
Now with the touch screen on the iPhone and iPad, what is the future for the humble mouse?

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Comments

  1. AnonymousApril 27, 2010 at 6:37 PM

    Hi Jo,
    I am so glad that the name of the mouse didn't remain that long. :P

    Thank you so much for the Teddy bear hug on Tuesday - it has been a woeful day today. My new monitor has died, and it seems that it is now a battle of wills to see who will fix it - the computer shop where we bought it, or ViewSonic.

    Have a wonderful week, my friend,
    Love and blessings, Jillian ♥

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  2. Finding JoyApril 27, 2010 at 6:45 PM

    Jillian, I am so sorry to hear about your monitor. I find getting things fixed very stressful at time with companies and the games they play. They don't care about the consumer at all. I will pray that it is sorted quickly.

    Glad to send you a BIG Bear Hug :) xx

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  3. AmandaApril 27, 2010 at 10:23 PM

    The picture of the first mouse looks little like a saw/tool. Haven't we come a long way? Sometimes I am not so sure that is a good thing lol...

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  4. Vicki BosterApril 28, 2010 at 11:53 AM

    And now we know the rest of the story! I always learn something from you dear Jo! Have a great day dear!

    Vicki

    ReplyDelete

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