The Inventor Of the Humble Computer Mouse, Douglas Engelbart, Passes Away

Mouse Inventor Passes Away

Puck Mouse (1998)

Computers are an integral part of our lives today and a day without computers feels impossible. The mouse, a humble element of the computer is equally integral to one’s lives. In the touch-screen era the mouse is one gadget which still survives and is strong. Douglas Engelbart, the inventor of the humble mouse passed away today at the age of 88.
Doug Engelbart was enamoured by the computer world right since a young age. The path-breaking essay by Vannevar Bush, “As We May Think”, which deals with science and the growing use of technology for destructive measures, inspired Doug to view at technology for the benefit of mankind. He was aware of the computer revolution which was setting in by that time and made it his aim to make computers more interactive and user-friendly.
In 1950s and 60s computers were more of a hazard as they were not compact and cumbersome. However, Doug was a visionary and envisioned computers which would be an aid to humanity and not be cumbersome in the long run. Doug enrolled in University of California to pursue electrical engineering and graduated with a Master of Science degree.

computer mouse

According to PTI, at the time, the computer was a wooden shell covering two metal wheels: An "X-Y position indicator for a display system." That is when Doug came up with the idea for a mouse. The notion of operating the inside of a computer with a tool on the outside was way ahead of its time. Though the mouse was designed and developed by him, it wasn't commercially available until 1984, with Apple's new Macintosh. In fact, Engelbart's invention was so early that he and his colleagues didn't profit much from it. The mouse patent had a 17-year life span, and in 1987 the technology fell into the public domain meaning Engelbart couldn't collect royalties on the mouse when it was in its widest use.
Though the tiny gadget is popular by the word mouse, it has not always been called ‘mouse’. Infact no-one really knows who named the gadget a “mouse” and it was definitely not Doug. But name or not, Doug Engelbart gave the world one of the best inventions and will be remembered in history for his contribution to the now dying PC-era.

Doug Engelbart

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