Growing Up in Oregon:
Douglas Engelbart grew up on a small farm just outside Portland, Oregon. His father was a trained electrical engineer who ran a radio shop. Engelbart developed an interest in invention and making things from an early age.

Exploring Technology:
Engelbart experimented with making ropes and building a car from an abandoned barn. He purchased a 1916 Model T Ford for $10 and spent a year restoring it. His interest in technology was sparked by the secrecy surrounding radar during World War II.

Education and Military Service:
Engelbart attended Oregon State University to study electrical engineering. He was drafted into the Navy and received training as an electronic technician. He was assigned to operate radar systems in the Pacific during the war.

The End of the War:
Engelbart was on a troop ship headed to Japan when the war ended. The ship turned around and eventually reached the Philippines 38 days later. He continued to serve as a technician maintaining various communication electronics.

Engelbart’s Reading Habits:
Douglas Engelbart was an avid reader from an early age. He enjoyed exploring the library stacks and reading extensively.

Discovery of Red Cross Library:
While stationed in the Philippines during World War II, Engelbart found a Red Cross Library in a native Philippine hut. He spent a significant amount of time there, reading books and magazines.

Encounter with Life Magazine Article:
In the Red Cross Library, Engelbart came across a Life Magazine article that discussed Vannevar Bush’s Memex concept. Memex was an information retrieval machine that allowed users to store, link, and retrieve information using microfiche.

Intrigued by Hypertext:
Engelbart was fascinated by the idea of hypertext and the ability to link information together. He realized the potential of this concept for organizing and accessing information efficiently.

Searching for Meaning:
Engelbart also mentioned finding a book that discussed how to make the most of one’s life. This book had a profound impact on him, inspiring him to seek purpose and direction in his own life.

Early Influences:
Engelbart had limited exposure to career planning discussions during his youth and the Depression era. He found a book in a library while stationed in Manila that inspired him to think positively and set goals. Engelbart took a job at the Ames Aeronautical Laboratory after graduating from college.

Vision and Goals:
After getting engaged, Engelbart realized he lacked professional goals. He set a goal to maximize the benefits his career would have on humanity. Engelbart explored big challenges facing mankind, recognizing the need for collective action.

The Idea of Computer Augmentation:
Engelbart’s knowledge of electronics and radar led him to envision interactive computer systems. He realized the potential of computers to augment human capabilities and facilitate collaboration. Engelbart’s vision drove him to pursue graduate studies in research at Berkeley.

Seeking Social Connections:
Engelbart sought opportunities to meet women beyond his work environment. He attended folk dancing classes in Palo Alto, overcoming his initial hesitation.

Engelbart’s Side Venture:
Douglas Engelbart’s interest in bistable phenomena in gaseous discharges led him to build shift registers of little patterns of glow. He saw potential in this technology and considered building a whole computer out of these gaseous plasma elements. A fast-talking patent attorney encouraged him to pursue patents for his discoveries, resulting in 13 or 14 patents.

Engelbart’s Academic Background:
Engelbart moved to Berkeley and pursued a PhD in electrical engineering, focusing on computer systems design and research. He recalls encountering strange bistable phenomena in gaseous discharges, like neon tubes, which sparked his interest in exploring their potential in the computer world.

Practical Application of Bistable Phenomena:
Engelbart describes a practical application of the bistable phenomena in gaseous discharges. He mentions using a neon tube to tune transmitters by observing the brightness of the light near the antenna. He noticed that the light would stay lit at a lower voltage level than it took to turn it on, leading him to explore its potential as a bistable element in computer systems.

Engelbart’s Business Venture:
Engelbart briefly pursued a business opportunity with neon signs featuring moving patterns. The venture failed after four to five months due to lack of support from backers.

Transition to Research:
Engelbart decided to pursue his passion for computer research. He continued folk dancing with his wife, Ballard, and met various university people.

Encounter with an Economics Professor:
At a party, an associate professor of economics asked Engelbart about his special interest. Engelbart explained his passion for computer research.

Understanding the Promotion Process in Academia:
The professor explained the peer review process and how promotions are granted based on published papers in top journals. Engelbart realized that his non-traditional approach to research might hinder his academic career.

Engelbart’s Naivete and Determination:
Engelbart’s lack of awareness about the academic promotion process highlighted his naivete as a newcomer. Despite the challenges, Engelbart remained determined to pursue his research interests.

Engelbart’s Job Search:
Engelbart approached Hewlett-Packard for a research position, impressing them with his thesis work. He negotiated with Packard to retain ownership of his inventions for the first six months of employment.

Stanford’s Disinterest in Computing:
Engelbart applied to Stanford University for a teaching position in computer science. The dean of engineering responded, stating that Stanford focused on highly academic topics and considered computers a service activity, not a research area.

SRI’s Initial Rejection:
Engelbart interviewed at Stanford Research Institute (SRI), which was developing a computer for Bank of America. A former colleague advised Engelbart to focus on his patents and research and avoid discussing his interest in computers to secure a job.

SRI’s Magnetic Logic Group:
Engelbart accepted a position at SRI, working in a laboratory to explore various research interests. He joined a group funded by the Pentagon, focused on developing magnetic logic technology as potential building blocks for future computers.

Development of Innovative Magnetic Devices:
Engelbart contributed to the development of innovative magnetic devices, including multi-aperture shift registers. These devices allowed for the shifting of bits down a chain and could potentially be used in future computer designs.

Similitude and Scaling Ideas:
While at SRI, Engelbart attended an international conference in Philadelphia to present his ideas on similitude and scaling. These ideas involved exploring the concept of scaling and its implications for computer design.

Background:
Douglas Engelbart joined SRI in 1957, hoping to engage in more active computer-related projects.

Scaling Phenomena in Electronics:
Engelbart discussed the concept of similitude, particularly scaling issues in airplanes, with an Air Force research manager. He received a grant to study the effects of scaling down electronic components. Engelbart discovered that as electronic devices become smaller, their behavior changes due to variations in phenomena affected by linear dimensions, area, and volume. Scaling down can lead to the failure of existing phenomena and the emergence of new ones.

Implications for Computing:
Engelbart realized that miniaturization could lead to faster and more powerful computers. This insight was significant for his vision of building advanced computer systems. Engelbart’s work laid the foundation for the concept that became known as Moore’s Law, describing the exponential growth of computing power over time.

Moore’s Law:
Engelbart’s discovery predated the formalization of Moore’s Law in 1965. Moore’s Law codifies the observed trend of increasing transistor density and decreasing device size in integrated circuits. This phenomenon has been a driving force behind the rapid advancement of computing technology.

Conclusion:
Engelbart’s early exploration of scaling phenomena in electronics contributed to the development of Moore’s Law, a fundamental principle that has shaped the evolution of the computer industry.

Early Encouragement and Air Force Funding:
Douglas Engelbart’s initial ideas for augmenting human intelligence found support from Charlie Rosen at SRI, who encouraged him despite limited funding opportunities. The Air Force Office of Scientific Research provided the first funding for Engelbart’s research, enabling him to begin studying the potential of interactive computer use.

Conceptual Framework and Augmentation Terminology:
Engelbart’s research led to the publication of a comprehensive report titled “Augmenting Human Intellect, a Conceptual Framework” in 1962. This report introduced the concept of “augmentation,” highlighting the potential of computers to transform work and thinking beyond automation.

J.C.R. Licklider’s Support and Early Machines:
J.C.R. Licklider, a prominent figure in computer science, provided Engelbart with funding to implement his ideas using computers. Engelbart acquired a series of early machines, including a small CDC machine, to begin his research on interactive computing.

Paradigm Shifts and Challenges:
Engelbart faced challenges due to prevailing paradigms that hindered the acceptance of his ideas within academia. He recognized the need to break free from these paradigms to develop new concepts and approaches.

Paradigm Book and Organizational Politics:
Engelbart’s research on paradigms led him to a book that explained the concept and its significance. Despite his groundbreaking work, Engelbart faced resistance from SRI administrators, who initially sidelined him from the project due to his non-traditional approach.

Licklider’s Visit and Political Naivete:
J.C.R. Licklider’s visit to SRI revealed Engelbart’s difficult situation, but Engelbart’s naivete about organizational politics prevented him from seeking support or addressing the issue effectively.

Initial Collaboration with Taylor:
Engelbart initiated contact with Taylor, who was working for NASA at the time. Engelbart introduced Taylor to ARPA and Licklider, leading to Taylor’s eventual involvement in those projects.

Challenges with the First Time-Sharing Computer:
The initial time-sharing computer, located in Southern California, was too small for Engelbart’s needs. The computer was frequently crashing, hindering their progress.

The Development of a Larger Computer:
Engelbart obtained a larger computer that could support their research. This computer allowed them to incorporate a display, which became a crucial aspect of their work.

The Birth of the Mouse:
Engelbart conceived the idea of the mouse as a tool to interact with the display. The mouse was initially part of a research project testing various display selection devices.

Timeline and Motivation:
The development of the mouse took place in the early 1960s, around 1963-1964. Engelbart’s primary motivation was to find an effective way to interact with the display.

Engineering and Components:
Bill English handled the engineering aspects of the mouse’s development. The team had to build their own computer display due to the lack of commercially available options. The cost of the custom-built display was approximately $90,000 in 1963.

Origin of the Technology:
Engelbart does not provide specific information about the origins of the technology used in the mouse.

First Stage of the Computer Mouse Idea:
Engelbart had the initial idea for the computer mouse while taking a power option course in college. He was inspired by a device used to calculate the area under a closed-loop data plot. The device used two wheels that only rolled in specific directions, allowing for precise movement tracking.

Second Stage of the Computer Mouse Idea:
Years later, during a boring conference, Engelbart thought of combining two of these devices to capture X-Y axis movement. He sketched the idea on a notebook, envisioning it as a box that could translate movement into digital signals.

Building the First Computer Mouse:
Engelbart’s colleague, Bill English, built the first computer mouse using a wooden box and mechanical design drawings. It had one button and a cord that came out the tail end, leading to its eventual nickname, “the mouse.”

Determining the Number of Buttons:
Engelbart initially designed the mouse with only one button due to technical limitations. He believed that more buttons would have been ideal, allowing for more powerful and versatile actions.

Paradigm Shifts in User Interfaces:
Engelbart emphasized the importance of exploring capabilities and breaking down paradigms in user interface design. He believed that the mouse opened up new possibilities for interaction but acknowledged the need for easy learning and adaptability.

Chord Key Keyboard:
Engelbart also developed a chord key keyboard to improve typing efficiency while using the mouse. This keyboard allowed users to perform commands with minimal keystrokes, reducing the need for switching between typing and mouse usage.

Augment Command Language:
Engelbart’s Augment system featured a command language designed to minimize keystrokes and simplify user interaction. It used a combination of verbs and nouns to represent actions and objects, enabling intuitive and efficient command execution.

Bootstrapping and Self-Improvement:
The idea of bootstrapping in the Augment system stemmed from Engelbart’s model of human augmentation. He believed that individuals and systems could continuously improve and build upon existing capabilities, leading to a virtuous cycle of self-improvement.

Key Concepts and Insights:
Douglas Engelbart believed that significant organizational change required facilitating the evolution of the entire system, including skills, methods, language, customs, and organizational structures, rather than just plugging in new artifacts.

The NLS System and Real-World Usage:
Engelbart and his team set up an arrangement to sell NLS usage as a service over the ARPANET, enabling them to cultivate usage and facilitate the evolution of the system.

The Historic 1968 Demonstration:
Engelbart realized that colleagues in the computer field struggled to understand what NLS was and why it mattered. He decided to demonstrate the system publicly to showcase its capabilities and challenge prevailing paradigms.

Technical Setup and Collaboration:
The demonstration required a complex setup, including video and audio links, a customized platform, and a special projector that modified light using a thin film of mercury. Bill English, an amateur theater enthusiast, played a crucial role in directing the demonstration and ensuring smooth communication.

Interactive Computing and Hyperlinks:
The demonstration showcased interactive computing, a novel concept at the time, allowing users to interact with the system in real-time. Engelbart emphasized the use of hyperlinks, enabling users to navigate and connect various pieces of information seamlessly.

Audience Reaction:
The demonstration garnered a positive response from the audience of about 1,000, including leading computer scientists. Engelbart highlighted the innovative features of NLS, such as the ability to jump between links and customize views, which challenged existing paradigms in computing.

The Triumph of the Demo:
Douglas Engelbart shares his overwhelming emotions after the successful live demonstration of his groundbreaking technologies, expressing relief and gratitude for avoiding technical disasters.

Audience Reaction and Post-Event Dynamics:
Despite the resounding applause and excitement during the demo, the event seemed to have little immediate impact on the broader world, leaving Engelbart and his team with a sense of anticlimax.

Missed Opportunities and Unfulfilled Potential:
John Markoff highlights the commercial success of certain ideas derived from Engelbart’s work, while acknowledging that crucial aspects of his vision remained unrealized.

Engelbart’s Critique of Cost-Benefit Analysis:
Engelbart argues against prioritizing ease of learning over exploring the potential of higher capabilities, suggesting that this mindset hindered the development of truly transformative technologies.

The Tricycle Analogy:
Engelbart compares the pursuit of easy-to-learn technologies to riding a tricycle, emphasizing the limitations and inefficiencies of such an approach.

The Brick on the Pencil:
Engelbart uses the metaphor of attaching a brick to a pencil to illustrate the ineffectiveness of adding complexity without addressing fundamental design principles.

The Automation Trap:
Engelbart identifies the shift towards automation and office-centric design as a deviation from his original vision of machines augmenting human intelligence.

Getting Back on the Curve:
Markoff explores Engelbart’s belief that a renewed focus on paradigms and powerful tools could lead to a resurgence of progress in human-computer interaction.

The Significance of Paradigms:
Engelbart emphasizes the importance of challenging prevailing paradigms and exploring new approaches to unlock the full potential of human-computer interaction.

Engelbart’s Vision for a New Reading and Study Paradigm:
Engelbart challenged the traditional “book paradigm” and saw the potential of new artifacts like computers to enable transformative changes in reading and studying. He emphasized the need to jump around and navigate documents and information flexibly, rather than being limited to linear reading.

The Power of Flexible Jumping and Viewing:
Engelbart’s system allowed users to jump between different parts of a document or to different documents with ease. The introduction of multiple views enabled users to see different parts of a document simultaneously, enhancing the flexibility of exploration.

Flexible Addressing for Editing:
Engelbart’s system allowed users to address any element of a document or information flexibly, enabling powerful editing capabilities. This included the ability to move chapters or sections within a document or even across different documents with a single command.

The Stunted Development of Powerful Tools:
Engelbart lamented the failure of the industry to develop powerful tools that could significantly enhance productivity. He believed that the focus on ease of learning rather than capabilities hindered the advancement of truly transformative tools.

The Rediscovery of Engelbart’s 1968 Demo:
A 90-minute video of Engelbart’s 1968 demo was rediscovered and shown at a European conference, leading to rave reviews and recognition of his pioneering work. The demo showcased the advanced capabilities of his system, including the flexibility of jumping, viewing, and editing.

The Role of NLS in the Development of the Modern Internet:
The original ARPANET was built to facilitate remote use of Engelbart’s NLS system. NLS was intended to be the first “killer app” for the ARPANET, which eventually evolved into the modern internet.

The Importance of Network Information Centers:
Engelbart recognized the need for a central location to catalog and share information across the network. He volunteered to start a network information center on Servit, which played a crucial role in the early development of the internet.

Engelbart’s Impact on the World:
Engelbart’s forward-thinking ideas and contributions to the development of the internet have had a profound impact on the world. His work laid the foundation for modern computing and networking, shaping the way we interact with information and communicate today.