Comments on: Engineering Education "Today in History" Blog: Invention of the computer mouse http://www.k-grayengineeringeducation.com/blog/index.php/2007/11/17/engineering-education-blog-invention-of-the-computer-mouse/ Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:42:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Jono Hey http://www.k-grayengineeringeducation.com/blog/index.php/2007/11/17/engineering-education-blog-invention-of-the-computer-mouse/comment-page-1/#comment-34 Jono Hey Thu, 29 Nov 2007 21:29:53 +0000 http://www.k-grayengineeringeducation.com/index.php/2007/11/17/engineering-education-blog-invention-of-the-computer-mouse/#comment-34 It's interesting how the name mouse has stuck even though mouse technology has changed since the original invention. The mouse was a key part of what makes the desktop metaphor work. Though the dominant operating systems stick to it today there has been no shortage of criticism (Cooper for example) for how many metaphors used in the 'magical' world of computing actually hold us back. I have thought for a while about how we could usefully bring techniques from computing to the 'real world' rather than the other way around (as in the desktop metaphor). I could really do with a search, for example, on my physical desk. Or with folders that never get full... The other way though, I'd also played around with ideas of, for example, USB memory sticks getting heavier to let you know you have more data on them. So much of the useful physical feedback we get in everyday life is missing in computers. It’s interesting how the name mouse has stuck even though mouse technology has changed since the original invention. The mouse was a key part of what makes the desktop metaphor work. Though the dominant operating systems stick to it today there has been no shortage of criticism (Cooper for example) for how many metaphors used in the ‘magical’ world of computing actually hold us back.

I have thought for a while about how we could usefully bring techniques from computing to the ‘real world’ rather than the other way around (as in the desktop metaphor). I could really do with a search, for example, on my physical desk. Or with folders that never get full…

The other way though, I’d also played around with ideas of, for example, USB memory sticks getting heavier to let you know you have more data on them. So much of the useful physical feedback we get in everyday life is missing in computers.

]]> By: photowinks » Blog Archive » Engineering Education Blog: Invention of the computer mouse http://www.k-grayengineeringeducation.com/blog/index.php/2007/11/17/engineering-education-blog-invention-of-the-computer-mouse/comment-page-1/#comment-19 photowinks » Blog Archive » Engineering Education Blog: Invention of the computer mouse Mon, 19 Nov 2007 03:29:23 +0000 http://www.k-grayengineeringeducation.com/index.php/2007/11/17/engineering-education-blog-invention-of-the-computer-mouse/#comment-19 [...] the details here Author Damon Herman Comments [...] [...] the details here Author Damon Herman Comments [...]

]]> By: domainnameshg » Blog Archive » Engineering Education Blog: Invention of the computer mouse http://www.k-grayengineeringeducation.com/blog/index.php/2007/11/17/engineering-education-blog-invention-of-the-computer-mouse/comment-page-1/#comment-18 domainnameshg » Blog Archive » Engineering Education Blog: Invention of the computer mouse Mon, 19 Nov 2007 01:33:22 +0000 http://www.k-grayengineeringeducation.com/index.php/2007/11/17/engineering-education-blog-invention-of-the-computer-mouse/#comment-18 [...] You can read the full story here [...] [...] You can read the full story here [...]

]]> By: Teste » Engineering Education Blog: Invention of the computer mouse http://www.k-grayengineeringeducation.com/blog/index.php/2007/11/17/engineering-education-blog-invention-of-the-computer-mouse/comment-page-1/#comment-12 Teste » Engineering Education Blog: Invention of the computer mouse Sat, 17 Nov 2007 19:05:59 +0000 http://www.k-grayengineeringeducation.com/index.php/2007/11/17/engineering-education-blog-invention-of-the-computer-mouse/#comment-12 [...] Nina Smith wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptToday in History – November 16, 1970 – Invention of the computer mouse. In 1970, a US patent was issued for the computer mouse - an “XY Position Indicator for a Display System” (No. 3541541). Doug Engelbart’s invention changed the way … [...] [...] Nina Smith wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptToday in History – November 16, 1970 – Invention of the computer mouse. In 1970, a US patent was issued for the computer mouse – an “XY Position Indicator for a Display System” (No. 3541541). Doug Engelbart’s invention changed the way … [...]

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