Humble mouse turns 40

[Noreen]

The name was never meant to stick. When Doug Engelbart and his team at the Stanford Research Institute in California designed a computer controller encased in a carved-out wooden block, with wheels mounted on the underbelly, one researcher nicknamed it a 'mouse'. 'We thought that when it had escaped out to the world it would have a more dignified name,' Engelbart recalled later. 'But it didn't.'

Engelbart's invention became the mouse that soared, an essential piece of computer hardware. Its 40th birthday will be celebrated next week when Engelbart returns to Stanford (now known as SRI International). The mouse was first shown to the world when he gave a presentation of a working network computer system in San Francisco on 9 December, 1968, which is still revered as 'the dawn of interactive computing'....................

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/nov/30/computer-science-it-mouse

[Rik]

Happy birthday. 

[Glenn]

I thought mice only lived from a few months (in the wild) to a few years

[Rik]

Mine certainly don't have great longevity.

[Glenn]

This 40 year old mouse is a prolific breader, there must be 100's of millions of them now

[Rik]

True.

[Noreen]

Well, I love its Logitech VX Revolution descendant which I have.

[Rik]

Is that anything like a Louise XVth?

[Noreen]

I doubt it, Rik.

[Rik]

Shame really, I saw an appearance on Antiques Road Show beckoning.

[Noreen]

Shame really, I saw an appearance on Antiques Road Show beckoning.

I dare say that any object from the reign of Louise XVth would be pretty remarkable.

[Glenn]

She was a good king

[David]

I have seen his shoes on there,although to be fair when they wrote a very sad song about his footwear it has proved a classic for the clubs and inspiration for many other songs....I am referring to that great number.......St Louis shoes,

[Rik]

I dare say that any object from the reign of Louise XVth would be pretty remarkable.

I only speak English and a smattering of Gaelic.

[Rik]

I am referring to that great number.......St Louis shoes,

Go Satchmo.

[David]

 

[vitriol]

I love my Intellimouse Explorer 3 (the new relaunched black version)

so much so that I bought another two as backups.

[Rik]

I know what you mean, Vit, I tend to buy two or three at a time...

[john]

So Rik, you and Vitriol are responsible forthis 

[Rik]

I try to do my bit for employment, John.

[Sebby]

Happy birthday, mouse.