The History of the Computer Mouse

The History of the Computer Mouse It was technology visionary and inventor Douglas Engelbart (January 30, 1925  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ July 2, 2013) who revolutionized the way computers worked, turning it from a piece of specialized machinery that only a trained scientist could use to a user-friendly tool that almost anyone can work with. During his lifetime, he invented or contributed to several interactive and user-friendly devices such as the computer mouse, Windows operating system, computer video  teleconferencing, hypermedia,  groupware,  email, the  Internet  and much more. Making Computing Less Cumbersome Most of all, though, he was known for inventing the computer mouse. Engelbart conceived of the rudimentary mouse while attending a conference on computer graphics, where he started thinking about how to improve interactive computing. In the early days of computing, users typed codes and commands to make things happen on monitors. Engelbart thought an easier way was to link the computer’s cursor to a device with two wheels- one horizontal and one vertical. Moving the device on a horizontal surface would allow the user to position the cursor on the screen. Engelbart’s collaborator on the mouse project  Bill English built a prototype- a hand-held device carved out of wood, with a button on the top. In 1967, Engelbart’s company SRI filed for the  patent on the mouse, although the paperwork identified it a little differently as x,y position indicator for a display system. The patent was awarded in 1970. Computer Mice Hits the Market Before long, computers designed to work with a mouse were released. Among the first was the Xerox Alto, which went on sale in 1973. A team at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich liked the concept as well and built their own computer system with a mouse called the  Lilith computer, sold from 1978 to 1980. Perhaps thinking they were on to something, Xerox soon followed up with  the  Xerox 8010, which featured a mouse, ethernet networking and e-mail among various innovative technologies that have since become standard.   Ã‚   But it wasnt until  1983  that the mouse started to go mainstream. It was that year that Microsoft updated the MS-DOS program Microsoft Word to make it mouse-compatible and developed the first PC-compatible mouse.  Computer manufacturers such as Apple, Atari and Commodore would all follow suit by debuting mouse compatible systems as well.    Tracking Ball and Other Advancements Like other present forms of computer technology, the mouse has evolved significantly. In 1972, English developed the â€Å"track ball mouse† that allowed users to control the cursor by rotating a ball from a fixed position. One interesting enhancement is technology that enables wireless devices, a fact that makes Engelbarts recollection of an early prototype almost quaint. We turned it around so the tail came out the top. We started with it going the other direction, but the cord got tangled when you moved your arm, he said.   For an inventor who grew up on the outskirts of Portland, Oregon and had hoped his achievements would add to the collective intelligence of the world, the mouse has come a long way. It would be wonderful,† he said, â€Å"if I can inspire others, who are struggling to realize their dreams, to say if this country kid could do it, let me keep slogging away.

Top 10 Ways To Improve Your Daily Commute That You Hate

Top 10 Ways To Improve Your Daily Commute That You Hate Commuting can be terrible- an annoying, uncomfortable waste of time. But it is also an opportunity to multitask in your busy life. Whether you’re driving or taking public transport (or even walking or biking), here are 10 ways you can turn a negative into a positive. 1. Listen to PodcastsTake a little downtime and catch up on all the reading you aren’t doing. Try a podcast or even an audiobook (on headphones or your car stereo). Your commute time will fly by and you’ll learn stuff! Plus you’ll get all the pleasure of reading without having to have your hands free.2. Discover New MusicBored of your same old Spotify playlists? Tired of your music and not sure where to turn for your new favorite tunes? Use your commute to try new artists. If you have wi-fi access while commuting, try a streaming station. If not, make a list of bands you hear about on the radio or at work and look for them on Spotify and download a playlist to your phone. If you like it, keep it! If not, delete!3. Practice Self CareYour commute might be the only time you have â€Å"to yourself† in the week. Make yourself a priority and do something for your mental well being. Try doing gratitude journaling exercises, or just thinking about things that are going really well in your life. Try a simple meditation technique. Or deep breathing. Try giving yourself time to read something for pleasure and tune the rest of the world out- provided you don’t miss your stop. Or use the time to connect via phone or email (provided you aren’t driving) to a friend or family member you don’t get to see enough. If all else fails, just try to decompress a bit and cut your stress.4. Leave Earlier So You Can Slow DownGive yourself a little extra time so you’re not always racing to be on time. If you know you can take your time, you can linger a bit and smell the roses, so to speak- or the coffee! Take a moment to sit and sip a latte. Or enjoy not being pa nicked when you run into traffic. Slowing down a little can really be a grounding way to start your day.5. Check in With Your Work ProgressMaybe evaluating your progress weekly is too daunting a task. But if you’re stuck on a train or in traffic, you can always do a little self-review and see how you did meeting your goals that day. And strategize how you can improve tomorrow. Make sure you’re actually working through your top priorities, and not just spending your day on less important stuff.6.  Mix Up Your Route Once in a WhileIf your commute is too long or annoying, try to find a better workaround! Thinking outside your rut can actually give your brain a boost, and you might just find a way to make your life that much more pleasant! Keep in mind a longer route that’s less annoying or has fewer stops could make all the difference.7. Brainstorm Solutions to Your ProblemsUse the time to brainstorm or troubleshoot problems at home or at work. Take advantage of being alone with your own thoughts and start strategizing. You never know, the next big answer might come while you’re just spacing out and giving your brain a break.8. Sit in SilenceMaybe your life moves too fast and you’re already optimizing every waking moment to get the most out of your time. Maybe you read and listen and engage too much. Maybe you try to cram too much in. Try turning off your phone, your music, putting away that book or magazine and just sit there not doing anything at all. Concentrate only on getting where you need to go safely. You and your fellow commuters will all benefit.9. MeditateBe present in the moment. You don’t need special props or techniques. Just be where you are, take a few breaths, and maybe shut your eyes. Give your brain the recharge it deserves.10.  Ask If You Can Skip ItAll that said, if you have the opportunity to work remotely, or could convince your boss, then you wouldn’t have to commute every day. Make the argument about how much more productive you could be in that time. It’s always worth a shot! If that’s not an option, consider moving closer, or carpooling. Anything to condense or cut out this part of your daily grind.