Python!

Why didn’t someone tell me this was happening?

HB, mouse

On this day in 1968, Douglas Engelbart and William English, of the Stanford Research Institute in Menlo Park (CA, US) introduced a computer pointing device that they dubbed a “mouse” during a press conference held in San Francisco’s Brooks Hall. Mr. Engelbart had earlier (1964) prototypes of the device, and later (17 November 1970) he obtained a patent (# 3,541,541) for an “X-Y Position Indicator for a Display System Computer Mouse.”

The mouse changed things. As noted elsewhere (9 July 2008, 1 February 2008, 4 January 2008, 12 September 2007, 12 March 2007), I suspect that multi-touch screens will change things yet again. I wonder if it will take ~30 years (about as long as it took for the mouse to penetrate into the mainstream via Windows 95 [AKA Mac 88]) for multi-touch to become commonplace.

Learn more from the entries at the Bootstrap Institute and Wikipedia

HB, JMK

JMK hidden under a hat

Today is Jim Kauffman’s birthday. In addition to be a wonderful contributor to my career, Jim’s been a loyal and good-hearted friend on whom I can count for fun and counsel. We share not only a passion for improving the lot of children with disabilities and their teachers and families, but also many other views of the world (e.g., pacifism, atheism, and a healthy sketicism).

HB, Buddy. I’m happy to be able to call you friend and colleague.