Douglas Engelbart (1925–2013) was an American computer scientist and inventor, best known for his pioneering work in the development of early computer technologies and his vision for human-computer interaction. He is particularly renowned for his contributions to the invention of the computer mouse.
Engelbart was born on 30 January 1925, in Portland, Oregon. He earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Oregon State University in 1948 and later received a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1955.
In the 1960s, while working at the Stanford Research Institute (SRI), Engelbart and his team developed a range of groundbreaking technologies as part of the Augmentation Research Center. One of his most significant contributions was the development of the oN-Line System (NLS), which featured the first implementation of the computer mouse. The mouse was a crucial innovation for interacting with computers, and its design became a standard input device that remains in use today.
In a landmark demonstration on December 9, 1968, Engelbart showcased a comprehensive set of technologies that would later become foundational elements of modern computing. This demonstration, often referred to as "The Mother of All Demos," showcased the mouse, graphical user interface, hypertext, video conferencing, and collaborative editing systems. Engelbart's vision was centered around enhancing human intelligence through the use of computers, and his work laid the groundwork for many of the technologies we use in computing today.
Douglas Engelbart's contributions earned him numerous awards and honors, including the National Medal of Technology and Innovation. His work had a profound impact on the development of interactive computing and has influenced the way we interact with computers and information technology.
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