Profession: Computer Scientist
Biography: Douglas Engelbart was an American engineer and inventor, known for his pioneering work on interactive computing. He is most famous for inventing the computer mouse, a device that revolutionized personal computing and dramatically altered how we interact with computers today.
Engelbart worked at the Stanford Research Institute (SRI) during a transformative period in technology. His research contributed to many of the foundational concepts of modern computing, including hypertext, networked computers, and the graphical user interface. This suite of innovations facilitated a new level of collaboration and interaction between humans and computers.
The high point of Engelbart's career was the "Mother of All Demos" in 1968. During this event, he demonstrated the functionality of the computer mouse and other inventions for the first time. The presentation had a profound impact on the field of computing, revealing the potential of these new tools for improving productivity and collaboration.
Born: January 30, 1925
Birthplace: Portland, Oregon, USA
Generation: Greatest Generation
Chinese Zodiac: Ox
Star Sign: Aquarius
Died: July 2, 2013 (aged 88)
Cause of Death: Complications from Alzheimer's disease
Historical Events
- 1968-12-09 Douglas Engelbart demonstrates in "The Mother of All Demos" the computer system NLS (oN-Line System) to a live audience in San Francisco. Shows for the first time, the mouse, word processing, windows, hypertext links, video conferencing, real-time collaboration, and other modern computing concepts.
- 1970-11-17 Douglas Engelbart receives the patent for the first computer mouse
Biographies and Sources
- Doug's Great Demo: 1968 - Doug Engelbart Institute
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