Inventor of PC mouse dies

[Taffycat]

Doug Engelbart, a visionary who invented the computer mouse and developed other technology that has transformed the way people work, play and communicate, has died. He was 88......

The notion of operating the inside of a computer with a tool on the outside was way ahead of its time when Engelbart began working on it. The mouse did not become commercially available until 1984, with the release of Apple's then-revolutionary Macintosh......

Engelbart conceived the computer mouse so early in the evolution of computers that he and his colleagues didn't profit much from it. The mouse patent had a 17-year life span, allowing the technology to pass into the public domain in 1987. That prevented Engelbart from collecting royalties on the mouse when it was in its widest use. At least a billion have been sold since the mid-1980s.

Story in full can be read here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2013/jul/04/doug-engelbart-computer-mouse-dies

 

[nivrip]

'Twas a great idea. Used throughout the world by many millions.

 

[crazylegs]

Way ahead of his time..R.I.P Doug!

 

[Becky]

Great story of invention, he must have been a really interesting guy. Such a shame he didn't benefit financially though!

 

[EvanDavis]

Such a shame he didn't benefit financially though!

Yup, Steve Jobs pinched the idea from Xerox and got rich instead....

 

[floppybootstomp]

RIP fella...

This may or may not have been played at his funeral

 

[nivrip]

Others who didn't profit from their inventions.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-23179103