Computer mouse inventor Douglas Engelbart dies

[The Straight Story]

Douglas Engelbart, whose invention of the mouse transformed the way people interact with computers, has died.

Engelbart died Tuesday night at his home in Atherton, California, SRI International -- the research institute where he once worked -- said in a statement. He was 88.

"Doug's legacy is immense — anyone in the world who uses a mouse or enjoys the productive benefits of a personal computer is indebted to him," Curtis R. Carlson, SRI's president and CEO, said in a written statement.

Decades ago, Engelbart came up with the idea we now know as a mouse.

His first prototype, which featured a carved out wooden block, wheels and a tiny red button, looks quite different from the sleek plastic designs now seen in homes and offices around the world.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/03/tech/mouse-inventor-dies/

[Recursion]

1. And the graphical user interface, and the word processor, and the multi-user database...

... and... and...

Here's the justly famous "Demo" in which he unveiled many of those ideas.

[The Straight Story]

2. Awesome link, thanks! (nt)

[shenmue]

3. Rest in peace.

[quinnox]

4. Inventing the mouse? Gigantic impact

The whole world uses his invention every day.

[Gregorian]

5. I grew up around these people. My dad knew him.

Having been raised in Palo Alto by a father who was intimately involved in the development of the computer industry, I was fortunate to see it all happen.

It's an era that's quickly coming to an end.