Introduction:
Douglas Engelbart presents his research program at the Augmented Human Intellect Research Center at Stanford Research Institute. Engelbart aims to demonstrate the potential value of providing intellectual workers with instant access to responsive computer displays.

Technological Innovations:
Engelbart showcases a console with a display, backed by a computer, that enables real-time interaction. The system allows users to create and manipulate entities like statements, words, and text.

File Management:
Engelbart demonstrates creating, editing, and managing files. He highlights features like copying, renaming, and numbering statements within files.

View Control:
Engelbart introduces the concept of view control, which allows users to customize the display of information. He demonstrates collapsing statements, adjusting line spacing, and showing or hiding different levels of categorization.

Categorization:
Engelbart illustrates how users can categorize statements within files to organize information. He demonstrates moving statements under different categories and creating new subcategories.

Real-Life Application:
Engelbart shares an example of using the system to create a shopping list and categorize items. He emphasizes the system’s ability to facilitate efficient task management and organization.

Challenges and Troubleshooting:
Engelbart acknowledges occasional technical difficulties and emphasizes the importance of seeking assistance from programmers or hardware experts.

Conclusion:
Engelbart concludes the presentation by highlighting the potential of the system to enhance intellectual productivity and transform the way people work.

Jump to Identity and Location Numbers:
The system allows users to move around and create different views of a hierarchical structure through a “jump to identity” feature. Users can also jump to a specific location number by providing it directly.

Cross-Referencing and Naming:
Cross-references can be made to specific items by giving them a label or name. Named items can be easily accessed through the “jump to name” feature. Users can choose to display or hide the names of items in the structure.

Exploration of Structured Files:
Users can traverse hierarchical structures by moving down or up the hierarchy levels. There is also an option to create routes through the structure, which can then be followed to explore the content.

Drawing and Annotating:
The system includes a picture drawing capability, allowing users to create diagrams and illustrations. These drawings can be used to create maps or routes within the hierarchical structure.

Organizing and Manipulating Information:
Engelbart emphasizes the tool’s hierarchical structure, allowing users to organize and navigate information efficiently. The tool provides flexibility in manipulating the structure, including interchanging elements, modifying content, and creating different views.

User Interface:
The tool offers a user-friendly interface, enabling users to interact with the information intuitively and perform various operations. Users can select entities, perform operations on them, and modify the structure as needed.

Practical Implementation:
Engelbart reveals that the tool has been used for daily work within their system for about six months. The team has expanded from one to six working consoles, with more expected in the near future. This practical implementation has provided valuable insights into user needs and effective ways of organizing files and performing tasks.

Upcoming Discussion:
Engelbart announces a shift from discussing the illustrative material to focusing on the actual working tool. He plans to delve into the general features of the program, its architecture, and how users can effectively utilize it in their daily work.

Outline of Presentation:
Engelbart presents a file management system that allows users to jump between files and views. He explains how to create links between files and specify the view to display when a link is activated.

Jumping to a File:
Engelbart demonstrates jumping to a file named CNRO by using a link. The link specifies the file name, the location within the file, and the desired view.

Restoring a Different Kind of Vocal:
Engelbart switches to a different file to restore a different vocal style. He explains that he can easily change the vocal style by selecting a different format structure.

Controlling View Parameters:
Engelbart demonstrates controlling various view parameters, such as character size, spacing, and location. He shows how to use a specific format structure to display a simple large view.

Jumping to a Chain of Views:
Engelbart jumps to a chain of views in a different file. He explains that he can easily freeze a statement and set parameters before jumping to a link.

Link Parameters:
Engelbart shows a link that includes various parameters to control the view when the link is activated. He explains that these parameters allow users to customize the view to their specific needs.

Presentation on the AHIRC:
Engelbart introduces the presentation, which is about the AHIRC. He explains that the presentation is organized as a series of statements, and the current statement is focused on the AHIRC.

Program Overview:
HIRC (Augmented Human Intellect Research Center) at SRI studies how to improve individual and organizational efficiency in intellectual tasks. Funded by government agencies like ARPA, NASA, and RIDC. Goal: Improve effectiveness by providing better solutions faster, tackling more complex problems, and optimizing human capabilities. Secondary Goal: Establish a system-oriented discipline for designing greater effectiveness.

Research Approach:
Empirical and evolutionary approach due to the complexity of the system. Systematically develop and study tools to enhance human effectiveness. Use the research team as subjects to improve tools and develop a system-oriented discipline. Bootstrapping: Using the research team as subjects to improve tools and develop a system-oriented discipline.

NLS (Online System):
Principal tool: NLS (online system) – a general term for an evolving system. NLS serves as a tool to navigate, study, and modify complex information structures. NLS represents information structures in a computer, allowing users to navigate and interact with them. NLS helps organize work-related information, such as specifications, plans, programs, user’s guides, and reports.

Control Techniques:
Control devices: Mouse, standard keyboard, and a special key set. Control dialogue: “Chording” – pressing multiple keys simultaneously for commands. Control metalanguage: A set of commands and gestures for interacting with the system.

Introduction of the Mouse:
Douglas Engelbart introduces the mouse, a novel input device developed at their laboratory in Menlo Park. He explains that the mouse’s name originated from its early design and stuck since then.

Mouse Operation:
The mouse operates using two wheels positioned at right angles. As the mouse moves, one wheel rolls, while the other slides, generating voltage signals through potentiometers. The voltage outputs are sampled by an analog-to-digital converter, providing horizontal and vertical components to the computer. The tracking spot on the screen moves in conjunction with the mouse’s movements.

Mouse Limitations and Adaptation:
The mouse’s tracking accuracy may not be precise for tracing maps or diagrams. However, the mouse is primarily used as a continuous pointing device to follow the tracking spot. Users adapt to any tracking inaccuracies and adjust their mouse movements accordingly.

Additional Mouse Features:
The mouse stays in place even when lifted and replaced, allowing for comfortable adjustments. Control buttons on top of the mouse are utilized for various functions.

Unique Keyboard Design:
The keyboard is similar to a standard typewriter keyboard with additional special keys. The computer instantly recognizes keystrokes and responds accordingly. A unique device is integrated into the system, although its specific purpose is not mentioned.

Single-Handed Chording Keyboard:
The single-handed chording keyboard is designed to allow users to enter text and commands using one hand. There are five keys on the keyboard, and each finger rests on a key. Depressing any one key produces a character, and any two keys together produce another character. There are a total of 31 possible combinations of keys that can be depressed.

Feedback Mechanisms:
The keyboard provides a variety of feedback mechanisms to the user. The echo register displays the last six characters that were typed. A tracking spot indicates where the cursor is located on the screen. The view specs display the current viewing parameters. These feedback mechanisms help the user to understand the state of the system and to make corrections as needed.

Command Repertoire:
The keyboard allows users to execute a variety of commands. Each command has a specific function, and the user can control the execution of each command using the control dialogue. The command repertoire is carefully designed to be efficient and easy to use.

Conclusion:
The single-handed chording keyboard is a powerful tool that allows users to enter text and commands quickly and easily. The keyboard’s feedback mechanisms and command repertoire make it an ideal tool for use in a variety of applications.

Control Meta-Language:
Developed a precise language to describe command functions and control dialogs. Jeff Rulison will later discuss high-level programming of these functions and control feedback.

Implementation of Online System:
Hardware design by Bill English and software design by Jeff Rulison. Added a swapping drum, a large Bryant disk, two display systems, and an input controller to the SDS-940 system. Priority system on the bus allows multiple devices to access the memory without interfering with the CPU.

Display Systems:
Displays constructed on small, high-resolution CRTs. Commercial TV cameras with 875 line scanning rates used to view the displays. Video signal generated by looking at a small CRT, which is cheaper than traditional display monitors. Short-term storage in the camera tube allows for flicker-free display. One display generation hardware can be used for multiple displays.

Advantages of Video Display System:
Expediency for an experimental system due to the unavailability of storage tube displays. Less expensive than traditional display monitors. Flicker-free display due to short-term storage in the camera tube. Multiple displays can be driven by one display generation hardware.

NLS Special Languages:
NLS features multiple special languages that provide flexibility in designing and studying user features, functions, and commands. These languages have been particularly useful for programmers working online during system development.

System Guide File:
The system guide file is a tool for system programmers to navigate the NLS code. It contains an overlay structure diagram, where each label represents an overlay, code file, and statement. Selecting a label allows programmers to move directly to the corresponding section of the code.

Control Meta-language:
The control meta-language enables programmers to explore the routines used in specific commands, such as “move word” or “delete word.” By selecting a link in the system guide file, programmers can directly access the relevant code file.

Code Structure and Finite State Machine:
The code structure in NLS is designed to reflect the flow of a finite state machine. As programmers step through the code, they can follow the characters a user would type to execute a particular command.

Example of Move Word Routine:
The move word routine, QMW, is located in the overlay text edit. It is written in a special language called content analysis language, which analyzes text strings and identifies word boundaries. The routine then calls another subroutine, written in a different special language, which reconstructs the statement after an edit is made.

MOL (Machine Oriented Language):
The other portion of the text edit overlay is written in MOL (Machine Oriented Language). MOL is a low-level language that provides direct access to the machine’s instructions and registers. It is used for implementing system-level functions and optimizing performance-critical sections of the code.

The MOL programming language:
The Machine-Oriented Language (MOL) is a high-level language with phrase structure and control constructs like if and while statements, but it’s also very close to 940 machine language, allowing programmers to manipulate registers and perform indirect addressing. MOL enables the creation of fast and efficient code necessary for the operation of the time-sharing system. It’s designed to mesh with the block structure of NLS, making it easy to navigate and zoom in and out of different parts of the code.

Special-purpose languages in NLS:
NLS features a variety of special-purpose languages designed for specific tasks, such as editing, debugging, and searching. These languages are designed to fit with NLS’s linking structure and conventions, making it easy to move between them. The syntax of these languages is designed to complement NLS’s aids for moving around and navigating the system.

Tremeta: the compiler compiler:
NLS’s compilers are all written in a higher-level language called Tremeta, which is a compiler compiler. This allows for quick modifications to the syntax and meanings of commands in NLS’s control language and easy adaptation to new hardware features and experimental changes.

System guide file structure:
A system guide file consists of three sections: The first section contains information about program structure, pictures, and fast links. The second section focuses on retrieval. The third section includes notes and information about bugs and issues in the system.

Automated tracking of user activity:
NLS keeps track of who is using the system and what actions they are taking at all times. This allows users to leave notes for each other and provides automated information about who did what and when.

Search patterns:
NLS allows users to set up search patterns to find specific information within the system.

Demonstration of MOL code:
The speaker demonstrates how to use MOL to navigate and modify code, including branching to different parts of the code and viewing real code examples.

Nested Subroutines and Branching Structure:
The top branches of the NLS programming language are subroutines, each representing a user action. The names of these subroutines are in the programming language and are triggered by specific user inputs, such as hitting a key on the keyboard. The subroutine specifies the computer’s response to the user’s input, including displaying material on the screen and waiting for the next user action.

Hierarchical Structure of the Programming Language:
The programming language in NLS has a hierarchical structure, resembling a branching tree of choices made by the user. Each level of the hierarchy represents a specific user action and the computer’s response to that action. This hierarchical structure makes it easier for users to understand how the system works and to create new commands.

Concept-Level Programming:
The NLS programming language is designed to operate at the concept level, allowing users to work with concepts rather than specific programming details. This makes it easier for users to learn how to use the language and to create new commands that are meaningful to them.

User Experience:
Engelbart emphasizes the importance of providing users with a direct manipulation interface and the ability to see the results of their actions immediately. This user-centered approach is designed to make computing more accessible and efficient.

User Documentation:
NLS has a user guide that provides definitions, descriptions, and procedures for commands. Users can easily navigate the guide by jumping to specific terms or phrases. The guide is helpful for new users to quickly familiarize themselves with the system.

Paper Study and Modification:
NLS allows users to study and modify papers within the system. Users can easily open and navigate through a document, searching for specific terms or sections. The system can be used to organize and print papers, with special directives embedded in the text to control formatting and layout.

Joint File Usage:
NLS enables multiple users to collaborate on the same file. Users can leave messages for each other, facilitating coordination and planning. The system provides usage conventions to ensure that all users understand how to interact with the file.

Benefits of NLS:
NLS is a powerful tool for organizing and accessing information. It provides a user-friendly interface, enabling users to quickly find and manipulate data. NLS facilitates collaboration among multiple users, making it an effective tool for teams and organizations.

Conventions for Message Handling:
The @ symbol was used to indicate a message directed to a specific person. Messages could be marked for multiple recipients by using additional @ symbols followed by the recipient’s initials. The content analyzer tool allowed users to search for messages based on specific criteria, such as the sender or recipient.

Searching for Messages:
Users could use the content analyzer to search for messages that met certain criteria. For example, a user could search for all messages from a specific sender or all messages that contained a particular keyword.

Filtering Messages:
Users could use the content analyzer to filter out messages that did not meet certain criteria. For example, a user could filter out all messages that were not addressed to them or all messages that were not marked as urgent.

Finding Messages:
Users could use the content analyzer to find specific messages. For example, a user could search for a message from a specific sender that was sent on a specific date.

The Content Analyzer:
NLS’s content analyzer can find patterns and data within files, making it easier to locate specific information quickly.

Roles and Duty Roster:
Roles and categories are used to assign tasks and responsibilities to individuals for various events or projects. A duty roster provides a visual representation of who is responsible for what and when.

Special Patterns and Markers:
Special patterns can be created to filter and select specific data or entities within a file. Markers can be placed on characters or names to quickly reference and select them later.

Jumping and Moving:
NLS allows users to jump around and move through different sections of a file or document easily, facilitating rapid navigation and exploration.

Design Documentation:
NLS is also used for hardware design documentation, where structured components and logical equations are represented in a digestible format.

Searching and Modifying:
Users can search for patterns, jump on links, modify content, and recompile files seamlessly, enabling efficient editing and updating.

Importance of the Demonstration:
The demonstration showcases how NLS empowers users with powerful features for organizing, manipulating, and retrieving information, highlighting its potential for enhancing productivity and collaboration.

Early Collaboration Techniques:
NLS allowed collaboration via leaving messages and filtering them. Joint files enabled real-time collaboration with instant response times.

Establishing Collaborative Mode:
To initiate collaboration, a user would request to be connected to another user’s terminal. The user would then ask the other user for their terminal number.

Collaborative Features:
Users could see each other’s text and point to it using a marker. One user could control the display while the other could observe and comment. Audio coupling allowed users to communicate verbally.

Visual Connection:
Users could see each other through video cameras mounted on their consoles. This allowed for face-to-face communication while collaborating.

Information Retrieval Collaboration:
Users could discuss information retrieval techniques and explore complex data structures. They could utilize content analyzers to help locate relevant information. Collaboration enabled efficient navigation and discovery of information.

Direct and Indirect Retrieval:
Retrieval involves changing views and is divided into direct and indirect categories. Direct retrieval explicitly specifies the destination through pointing or using a pointer (jump to identity), name (jump to name), or link (jump to link).

Implicit Specification:
Implicit specification uses stored system information to specify the destination.

Categories of Retrievals:
Direct: Destination is known. Indirect: Destination is unknown, but it can be described.

Direct Retrieval:
Jump: Move through the file’s structure (e.g., successor, head of branch). Content analysis: Search for specific content (e.g., find “Roman numeral page numbers”).

Indirect Retrieval:
By hierarchy: Work through the file’s hierarchical structure using categorization. By keywords and associative reordering: Use terms from a specified vocabulary to describe the desired information. Select keywords from a list, each pointing to items in a catalog. Items referred to by multiple keywords are given special preference. Results can be used to jump to various places in the file.

Demonstration:
Use the NLS system’s documentation index to search for information on file handling. Select keywords related to file handling and assign weights to prioritize results. Use the “keyword execute” command to retrieve and reorder results. Jump to specific utilities or procedures in the documentation.

Keyword Organization and Weighted Search Results:
Keyword descriptor organization provides powerful search capabilities. Search results are ordered based on relevance, with the most relevant results appearing at the top. Weighted keywords allow for fine-grained control over search results.

User System and Service System:
The user system encompasses the methods, concepts, procedures, and skills used by individuals to interact with the computer system. The service system consists of the repertoire of commands and services provided by the software, hardware, and sometimes people.

Management System Work:
SRI is developing management tools to help manage their complex system and diverse activities. These tools are designed to help manage 17 people and all their activities.

ARPA Computer Network:
ARPA is developing an experimental computer network with 20 experimental computers. The network will have a bandwidth of 20 kilobits per second and a delay time of less than a tenth of a second. SRI plans to develop a special service to provide network information for operating the network.

Augmentation System as a Product:
SRI is providing a sample augmentation system that they use. This system is designed to augment computer system development. SRI is also developing design principles for developing augmentation systems.

Support and Acknowledgements:
The presentation was supported by a team of people at Menlo Park. Special thanks were given to Bill English, Dave Evans, Don Andrews, Jeff Wilson, Bill Paxson, and others for their contributions. SRI, Portola Institute, Vane’s Research Lab, TNT Communications, Tasker Instruments, the telephone company, and Herman Miller Research Company were also acknowledged for their support. The dedication was made to Engelbart’s wife and daughters for their support over the years.