rroche – ENG 381.01 Spring 17

The Smart Bookmark

Ryan Roche

ENG 381-01

The Smart Bookmark

Purpose

In a world filled with distractions, complex assignments and mixed media, there needs to be a way to simplify the reading, studying and learning process. In an effort to smoothly integrate books with computers and people, the Smart Book will allow for information from physical texts to be easily stored, analyzed, transferred and shared using digital means. Readers will be able to know that they saved important, interesting or required information for later use, without the stress or hassle of interrupting the flow of their reading.

The Smart Bookmark will be intended to aid in this streamlining and organizing of the reading process. Students will be able to highlight, note, save, lookup and share key parts of both their required and personal readings quickly and easily. Teachers will be able to approve of it, students will enjoy using it, parents will have no problem buying it and the face of education will be positively changed forever. Though other features may eventually be added in, the tool will remain to true to its purpose, to help keep the attention of readers where it belongs, in the reading.

Audience

When first launched, the primary audience for the Smart Bookmark will be college students, scholars and other recreational as well as professional bibliophiles. It will initially be a tool geared for the serious reader or academic. My invention is fairly niche, but as its popularity grows, price drops and potential is realized by the masses, it will have a much wider mainstream appeal. I envision online communities and forums popping up to allow users to help each other take full advantage of the Smart Bookmark and its features, as well as adding to them.

Early adopters will be a major secondary audience to target, especially at the Smart Bookmark’s time of launch. People willing to give new and radically different technology a try may even be sought out and given a Smart Bookmark in exchange for a review or article discussing the product. Teachers and professors are another secondary audience to target. The Smart Bookmark will be introduced to them at conferences and conventions where demo’s, seminars and sample lesson plans will be available.

Technical specifications (what products are you modeling this on, how will the user interface with the product, and include a mock-up/prototype)

Using military grade nanotechnology, OCR software and Bluetooth signaling, the bookmark will be able to scan text right off the page and send it to your computer. Options to have it open in your browser under a new tab, saved to a folder similar to Zotero, or in an email to be shared with a friend will be included and selected via larger color coded and labeled touch screen buttons on the back of the bookmark. Smaller buttons on the bottom left corner will allow for a Google search of the selected term, a Wikipedia search or a voice annotation.

At the top of the bookmark, on the front, there will be a camera. This will provide real time imaging to the back of the bookmark and is shown through a rectangular text-finder at the top on the back. A green crosshair is centered on this text finder screen and used to select the text the user wants to interact with. Next to the bottom right hand corner of the text finder screen, there is a microphone for use with the voice annotation feature.

In order to keep the bookmark thin enough to fit between pages of a book, the touch screen buttons are heat sensitive and textured rather then click-able. When each button feels the heat of a human finger, its function will be activated. When finished, the bookmark should be paper thin and about 2 inches wide by 5 inches tall.

Most of the technology I want to implement into this smart bookmark will basically be slimmed down and borrowed technology from apple’s iPhone. An iPhone is still a little too bulky to be slipped seamlessly into a book, but has the Bluetooth pairing, camera, voice and touchscreen technology that the bookmark will need in order to be user friendly. Making sure the bookmark is WiFi and Bluetooth compatible is important, since these features are what allow for the information to be transferred from the bookmark to other devices.

I want to make sure the Smart Bookmark is somewhat “future-proofed” in terms of forwards compatibility as well. As smart TV’s, tablets, smart phones and other technologies become more commonplace in our homes and workspaces, the Smart Bookmark should be able to interface with the users platform of choice, whether this means the text is sent to a phone, computer, tablet, TV or other device will be up to the user.

Some technology will be borrowed from existing OCR technology as the bookmark’s processor needs to be able to almost instantly recognize and scan a variety of fonts and font sizes in from many different lighting conditions and angles. Making sure that the scanning takes place quickly will be a major priority and result in most of the bookmarks processing power being dedicated to this task.

Implementation plan (advertising/marketing/long term vision)

I think it makes the most sense for these bookmarks to be advertised towards college students at first, as this is my intended audience. Due to both this demographic and the advanced type of technology that is being advertised, the ad campaign will be almost exclusively digital. Ads should play before YouTube videos start, be featured prominently on social media sidebars, announced on internet radio stations and be featured during demos on college campuses. College students will be identified based on their online clues identified by cookies, browsing history and computer usage, many other companies are doing this and the Smart Bookmark parent company will purchase a list of potential college aged customers from other popular online organizations like Instagram, Goodreads or Pandora radio. If the product is a success, sponsoring academic organizations like Quiz-Bowl or Trivia teams and programs would be the next logical step. Perhaps a Smart Bookmark Scholarship foundation will be setup to help students in need pay for their furthered education. Any publicity will be taken as good publicity as athletes, celebrities, doctors and scholars are invited to use the product in exchange for a review.

In addition to the aggressive digital marketing campaign, college bookstores, local bookstores and larger chain bookstores will all be eligible dealers for the Smart Bookmark. Advertising the bookmarks near the checkout in order to capture the attention of the maximum number of customers will be a company priority. Some professors might even go as far as to make the Smart Bookmark a requirement for their classes in order to help students focus. In order to capture the attention of professor’s and teachers looking to integrate the bookmark into their classes, a team from Smart Bookmark will travel around to most of the major academic conferences and conventions. At target conferences like NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English), attendees will be able to borrow Smart Bookmarks to use during other seminars and before eventually attending the Smart Bookmark seminar. The Smart Bookmark seminar will feature sample lesson plans and templates for possible assignments that teachers can adapt for use with their own classes.

In addition to physical, in-class usage, connectivity to web based learning tools such as Hypothesis and Zotero will allow teachers access to student annotations, expanding on the social aspect of the Smart Bookmark. Students will be able to add annotations to groups within their classes to keep notes and assignments organized in addition to making it easy for teachers to find, check and interact with their student’s work.

I want there to be a lot of aftermarket support for the Smart Bookmark to allow for users to tweak it to better suit their needs. The code should remain open source and simple, as well as flexible, letting tech savvy users modify the bookmark to meet unique challenges that may not be possible to overcome from a production standpoint. I picture there being night vision, infrared, x-ray and flashlight add-ons as the technology and community around these bookmarks begin to grow. At the same time however, I want the bookmark to remain true to its purpose and keep the readers flow from being interrupted. Features like web browsing, instant messaging and social media updates will not be supported in order to prevent encroachment from further distractions into the reading process. Smart Bookmark will have a forum page dedicated to users helping users, the creation and sharing of modifications/updates and company support. Keeping user’s happy, the product supported and current will be a major priority.

As the bookmarks become cheaper to produce and improve in quality and popularity, these ads might expand to T.V. channels, magazine pages and nationally syndicated radio. This gradual shift coincides with long term intention for the Smart Bookmark. My long term goal for this product is to have Smart Bookmarks become so easy to use and cheap to produce that they are given out everywhere and extremely common. They will be used by people from all age groups, from elementary schools to nursing homes. Schools will integrate them into classroom usage, linking from the bookmark to school computers in class. Companies will be able to brand them for advertising use like Frisbees, hats and the disposable pens are currently given out and circulated. The Book2.0 revolution will be closely followed by Bookmark2.0.

Works Cited

Davidson, Cathy N. Now you see it: How the Brain Science of Attention Will Transform the Way We Live, Work, and Learn. New York, Viking, 2011, raley.english.ucsb.edu/wp-content2/uploads/234/CDavidson.pdf. Accessed 1 May 2017.

McCann, Allison “Okay, but How Do Touch Screens Actually Work? » Scienceline.” Scienceline. N.p., 17–17 Jan. 2012. Web. 6 May 2017. http://scienceline.org/2012/01/okay-but-how-do-touch-screens-actually-work/ Accessed 5 May 2017.

Woodford, Chris “How Does OCR Document Scanning Work?” Explain that Stuff. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 May 2017. http://www.explainthatstuff.com/how-ocr-works.html Accessed 5 May 2017.

Pitch: The Open-Tab OCR Smart Bookmarker

The Smart BookMark

Last week I was diagnosed with a serious digital condition. I found out I have what is known as “open tab syndrome” or OTS. With the recent spike in popularity of web browsers such as FireFox and GoogleChrome this condition is spreading rapidly. As college students, we form the most at risk demographic. Many of you, and many of your loved ones, may also be effected by this grave condition. The most common symptoms include a high rate of distraction, slow browser operation, absorption of trivial information and off-topic research. As of now, there is no cure. We can only hope to contain the symptoms.

It turns out I’m doubly at risk. Not only do I have open tab syndrome, I also recently contracted marginalias distractionmosis, a highly invasive infection that is spreading like wildfire throughout the Stevenson English department. I write and doodle all over books. I pause mid-page to look up terms or make notes relating to the text’s subject matter. I make promises to myself that I will remember to look up that obscure work, by some obscure author, mentioned obscurely in the assigned text…

But I never do.

I always forget to look up the cool information that I highlighted and made a careful note next to. Despite the highlighting and noting, as soon as the book is closed the reminders are meaningless. Book and computers inhabit two distinct planes of existence for most people. They exist in parallel universes. They’re so very close, but they never quite touch. Attempts at interdimensional travel to bridge this gap have been made. However, Kindles, eBooks and literature digitization are still in their early stages and have had limited success.

My pitch will hopefully provide a better solution. Using military grade nanotechnology, OCR software and the silhouette of your favorite animal, I’m here to propose the idea of a bookmark that would be able to scan text right off the page and send it to your computers browser, where it will open in a new tab. This way we will never ever forget to look up that cool topic the author referenced and we pinky-promised ourselves we would look up, as soon as we close the book.

Image result for animal bookmark +=

A Bluetooth signal will send the information from the bookmark to either your smartphone or computer. A separate folder will be created on the receiving device and filled with the information of interest. We can then fall down the rabbit hole of open tabs on Google, Yahoo or Bing in a state of Zen, knowing everything we wanted to look up will be right there at our fingertips.

While this technology won’t cure open tab syndrome, it will make it far more manageable. By creating sub-folders in the browser, the software will help keep personal reading and homework separate. It’ll also ease user’s consciences, allowing readers to know that all their annotating wasn’t done in vain. All their notes were just saved for later use, able to be looked up at their earliest convenience.

*Terms and conditions may apply. You and your family should still be tested for open tab syndrome. Privacy policy is subject to change.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Research/Evidence:~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nothing I found in my research pointed to the current existence of a device like this. One with my desired combination of both portable and accurate OCR, Bluetooth pairing, super long battery life and also paper-thin technology.

Kindles and other e-readers allow you to look up highlighted text, but these functions interrupt the flow of your reading and are not as conducive to use in providing outside research. I’m hoping for a more fluid design that will also work with those of us who still prefer physical books.

http://rightword.com.au/megatheriums/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Kindle_search.png

Other audio search functions like Siri and Google voice searching require you to talk, and don’t allow you to fluidly create a list of search terms to save for later use.

Image result for siri — http://cdn.bgr.com/2015/12/siri-iphone.jpg?quality=98&strip=all

With advances in OCR, nanotechnology and Bluetooth, I don’t think “smart bookmarks” will remain science fiction for long.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(I will go back and provide proper citation for my visuals)

Animal Headed Bookmark URL:

www.ckcreatives.com.sg/images/images/felt_animal_bookmark_party_kit4.jpg

DSLR Lense URL:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/86/Canon_EF-S_18-135mm_IS.JPG/220px-Canon_EF-S_18-135mm_IS.JPG

Meditating Man URL:

https://mindbodygreen-res.cloudinary.com/images/c_scale,w_770,q_80,f_auto,fl_lossy/crp/charlie-crop-feature2-850×400/meditation-help-calm-relaxed-healthy-happy.jpg

Career Fair Reflection

The English Career Fair last Friday, March 31st featured four speakers and several potential employers that were we able to speak with. Being able to see how what we are taught in English classes will effect, influence open up career possibilities was a really neat opportunity. I found myself focusing in mostly on the possibility of working within the technical writing field and resume/applications tips offered by the speakers.

Lynda Del Genis was the speaker representing the technical writing field. She highlighted the importance of taking initiative within the workplace and the potential benefits of being proactive with on-the-job learning. Talking to her one on one, she told me that there is almost always opportunity to find work as a technical writer and that a subsection of technical writing known as industrial writing might interest me. I’m currently in my second year here at Stevenson so I’ll have awhile before I need to start seriously considering internship/job possibilities, but I’ll definitely look into that area when I begin my search.

According to the panel, writing is a fairly universal and transferable skill appreciated by many employers in many fields. The ability to write effectively should be highlighted, as well as demonstrated on any resume or application. Each round table member highlighted the importance of writing while sharing their personal “employment narratives” with us. Other advice included the completion of an internship, self-confidence, perseverance and communication skills. While job searching still seems somewhat anxiety inducing and stressful, attending this career fair did help improve my concept of what I should do to prepare for/look for, which does help keep things in perspective and manageable!

Book Traces with Dr. Andrew Stauffer

The presentation both in class and in the library by Dr. Stauffer was pretty incredible. The amount of history that can be extracted from notes within the marginalia of Victorian-era books is very deep and thanks to modern technologies like google, able to be explored. He estimated that 12.5% of Victorian-era books contain significant historical marginalia. Dr. Stauffer’s process of looking up who people were and their relationships based on their marginalia so many years later almost seems like science-fiction.

The frequency of physical artifacts found within the books was also something really unusual that caught my attention. Sewing needles, locks of hair, and dolls as well as botanical insertions are all common within these older books. The botanical insertion portion was especially interesting as we were able to follow how a habit or action by people (inserting a flower into a book) became practice by publisher’s incorporating printed flowers and other botanical designs into the margins and illustrations where people normally would press one in. This practice evolved into layers of images being incorporated into the works of writer’s like Wordsworth. Images in works like that were connected to other images that sprawled over pages in a psychedelic style. I guess they could be considered meta-illustrations.

The social-historical aspect of the event was immense as well. The social function and form of annotation as a type of communication similar to a modern day email was very cool. Notes to lovers and friends were scrawled on pages or passages that reminded people of each other. Following the Victorian-era books also came pre-annotated in a sense as a result of the practice. Life stages (specifically those of women) were included in books with parts left blank for a mother to fill out for a daughter as she grew up.

The major role of books within peoples lives during the Victorian-era was put into perspective as a result of Stauffer’s work. Books were not just educational, religious or recreational, they were major social tools as well. Book traces open-source accessibility is a wonderful layout for a really intriguing project.

Questions for Andrew Stauffer

Do you work with any books outside of the 19th century? Do you have any Victorian era books in your own personal collection?
Do you foresee specialized collections of 19th century works springing up to acquire these vulnerable texts? Or current collectors of 18th century books expanding their collections to include 19th century ones?
What is your favorite/coolest piece of social-historical content you have found or worked with, within a 19th century book?
How heavily do you personally annotate books that you read? Do you leave messages or evidence for future scholars to find?

Transcription of Manuscript X

Young soldier of 17. Charles Cutter of Lawrence City, Mass. 1^st class. Heavy Artillery, Battery M.; he was brought to one of the hospitals mortally wounded in the abdomen. Well, I thought to myself as I sat looking at him, it ought to be a relief to his folks if they could see how little he really suffered. He lay very placid in a half lethargy with his eyes closed. As it was extremely hot and I sat a good while, silently fanning him and wiping the sweat at length, he opened his eyes, great wide and clear and looked inquisitively around. I said “What is it my boy? Do you want anything?” He answered quietly with a good natured smile “Oh nothing, I was only looking around to see who was with me.” His mind was somewhat wandering, yet he lay in an evident peaceful state that sanity and health might have envied.

I had to leave for other engagements. He died without any special agitation, in the course of the night.

–Walt Whitman (I think)

Letter Press(ure)

The letterpress demo we did as a class last week was really eye opening. I had no idea that in the past, printing was such an involved and time consuming process. Just setting the type was complex in itself. The use of em-quads to space the text block and create margins required planning that I had never considered. Having to proofread the sentence with it positioned upside down was also mind boggling. The amount of focus that early printing press workers possessed to compose their print successfully is very impressive. It’s easy to take modern word processing features like spellchecking and formatting for granted. I never realized how much time these features save us when writing or editing documents.

In addition to the extra mental acuity required by early print workers, they also needed to demonstrate a healthy amount of dexterity to make it through the day. Handling the composing stick, tracking down specific letters and punctuation in the type-case and transferring the text block onto the printer all required fine motor skills and coordination. At any time one wrong move would have sent tons of small pieces flying. This would have required even more time for pieces to be tracked down and re-organized. Once the actual printing process had begun it was also important to keep hands, hair and clothing away from the rotating machinery and out of the printed work.

The printing press itself was a mechanical work of art. Multiple rollers spread the ink across themselves before coating the organized moveable type. The use of “furniture” allowed for the text to be spaced appropriately before the paper was rolled across, transferring the ink to the page. The machine had pedals, handles and switches that had to be used to print successfully. I imagine that a larger scale printing operation even more complex machinery to operate on a daily basis. In comparison a modern printer seems so high-tech in its ability to quickly and cleanly print, scan or copy. What used to be a high pressure job is now easily accessible and user friendly thanks to word processing programs and laser printers.

The Codex (200 – 1500 A.D.)

Image result for dresden codex

The codex is the predecessor to what we would all recognize as a modern book. It replaced the scroll in ancient times as the main source of information storage. The movement from scroll to codex to book was fairly natural and intuitive as each new technology used the same materials as the previous, only improved production, usage and accessibility.

One of the biggest improvements the codex offered over the scroll is its ability to allow “random access”. This means you can open up the codex to any point or page and begin reading. Scrolls did not allow random access and forced readers to begin at the point where the scroll was last rolled up to, usually the start (Dykes). To find information the whole scroll had to be unrolled and then gone over. Codices also took up much less room than scrolls, which in addition to being slow to use were bulky and delicate. The codex eliminated this tedious process and made information easily and quickly accessible (Dykes).

A codex is usually made of thicker material than the paper of a modern book. Usually papyrus, vellum or an earlier paper would be used depending on what era the codex was made in. Several styles of codex exist and have been found all over the world. Most had pages that face each other just like a book and most codices featured a spine. Some codices, usually the earlier ones, folded out accordion style or featured panels like the one pictured above (Frost). While not as easy to use or read as a codex with a spine, these fold-able manuscripts still were a massive improvement over scrolls and still allowed for random access.

The exact time that the modern book replaced the codex is a fuzzy area as technically a paper-back book is still a codex. Some definitions of a codex require the text to be handwritten still (manuscript), I like that definition and think its the easiest to understand when comparing codices to modern books. Sometime around the beginnings of the first printers and thinner paper, the codex was fazed out and replaced by the modern style book. (Norman)

Consistent with the time in which they were developed, many of the first codices contained religious information. Various cultural renditions of the bible have been historically preserved in codices and have proved useful for historical and academic studies. (Frost) Religious groups were quick to adopt codices because of their convenience, portability and versatility. Illustrations and text were both able to be added to pages and easily shown to audiences or congregations and the ease-of-use allowed for the codices to be easily handled or distributed. Right around the same time the codex was invented, Christianity began to spread across the middle east. The new religion adopted the codex in the form of its bible and is largely responsible for transporting the codex along with the knowledge regarding how to produce them across their region (Dykes).

Sources:

Frost, Gary . “Adoption of the Codex Book: Parable of a New Reading Mode.” [CoOL]. N.p., 3 Aug. 2003. Web. 23 Feb. 2017. http://cool.conservation-us.org/coolaic/sg/bpg/annual/v17/bp17-10.html

Dykes, Victoria. “From Scroll to Codex: A Religious and Practical Transition (Victoria Dykes ’13) – From Tablet to Tablet: A History of the Book.” Google Sites. N.p., 2013. Web. 23 Feb. 2017. https://sites.google.com/a/umich.edu/from-tablet-to-tablet/final-projects/-victoria-dykes-13

Norman, Jeremy. “The Transition from the Roll to the Codex: Technological and Cultural Implications.” The Transition from the Roll to the Codex: Technological and Cultural Implications. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2017. http://www.historyofinformation.com/narrative/roll-to-codex.php

Image:

Tilford, Charles. Mayan Dresden Codex. 2012. Flickr. Web. 23 Feb. 2017.

Typewriter (1860s-1980s)

Various inventors in multiple countries had been experimenting with typing machines in many forms for many years by the time Christopher Latham produced the first version of what would become recognized as the modern typewriter in 1867 (Dugan). His prized machine would later evolve into the various incarnations of the famous Remington branded typewriter.

The early typewriters had many obstacles to overcome before becoming commonplace in offices and homes in the 1930s. The largest obstacle to be overcome wasn’t economic or technological, it was social. People did not like the idea of typing on a machine when they had been writing by hand their whole life. (Monaco 214) All sorts of cultural norms and etiquette were threatened by the typewriter. Even the United States government was opposed to typewriter usage due to the bureaucratic issues that it would impose as a result of all the prior rules requiring document usage, storage, transfer and maintenance to be done by hand.

One of the most important social influences the typewriter had on the modern world involved women in the workplace. During the end of the 19th century and into the 20th century, women began to flood into offices along with typewriters (BBC). Typewriters were actually marketed towards women, with advertisements featuring smiling, independent women in the office. Until this point in history, men had hired boys at cheap rates to do tedious work like typing and filing. The boys however still required supervision. Women were able to be hired and trained to type for cheaper than a grown man and could work independently. Women were valued for their attention to detail and organizational skills, something the younger boys also lacked (BBC).

The first female typists were called “type-writer girls” and were at first kept separate from the men in the workplace. Separate bathrooms, break-rooms and offices were provided for them. Work conditions for the women were typically poor. Their rooms often had very little ventilation, lighting and space. Their hours were long and wages were low (BBC). Though the typewriter provided a strong foothold and entrance way into the workplace for women, it did not provide equality.

Eventually the superior speed, neatness and potential of typewriters was realized and the appearance of documents was transformed forever. Once the initial skepticism was overcome people actually became deeply attached to their typewriters, custom painted options were offered and rare models collected (Dugan). The machines themselves became personal and considered works of art despite the association of early models with bland, bulky and utilitarian appearances.

Legible documents were able to be quickly created, copied and distributed allowing for massive improvements in efficiency and organization. During the typewriters era, letters were the main way that social, commercial and fiscal communication was sent. By allowing for letters to be typed, the spread of information was able to drastically increase. Typing or keyboarding classes were offered to train typists and to maximize potential efficiency (Monaco 215).

The shift key on a modern keyboard actually came from typewriters where it worked to “shift” the baskets of keys from their uppercase to lowercase versions. Since holding down the shift key meant physically raising a basket which was fairly difficult for longer sections of text, the “caps-lock” key was invented to hold the desired basket in position (Daskeyboard). Typewriters are also responsible for the now standardized QWERTY layout of keyboards. This format goes all the way back to the first Remington’s that were produced (Dugan).

The lowered prices, increased availability and accessibility of computers with word processing, printing and emailing capabilities were responsible for the downfall of the typewriter in the 1980s. The increased use of email to share information made paper communication seem somewhat obsolete. The typewriter was one of the last truly analog processors, requiring no electricity, just ink, paper and a writer. (Holt)

Though typewriters in developed countries were phased out by the 1980s, many underdeveloped countries still rely on typewriters as a reliable source of word-processing. Typewriters are still common and very important in parts of Africa and South America that do not have consistent access to electricity or computers. (Holt)

Bonus fact: February is actually national typewriter month.

Sources:

“The arrival of women in the office.” BBC News. BBC, 25 July 2013. Web. 28 Feb. 2017. http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-23432653

Dugan, Bryan. “A Brief History of the Typewriter.” Mental Floss. N.p., 18 Feb. 2013. Web. 22 Feb. 2017. http://mentalfloss.com/article/48912/brief-history-typewriter

“Typing Through Time: Keyboard History | Das Keyboard Blog.” Daskeyboard. N.p., 22 July 2011. Web. 28 Feb. 2017. http://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/typing-through-time-the-history-of-the-keyboard/

Holt, Gerry. “Five reasons to still use a typewriter.” BBC News. BBC, 20 Nov. 2012. Web. 28 Feb. 2017. http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-20410364

Monaco, Cynthia. “The Difficult Birth of the Typewriter.” Harvard Business Review, vol. 67, no. 2, Mar/Apr89, pp. 214-215. EBSCOhost.

Image:

Nienhouse, Tyler. Still Life (35mm) – Typewriter. 2010. Flickr. Web. 22 Feb. 2017.

Computer Mouse (1961-Present)

A keyboard and mouse; this common scene is familiar to most of us. It’s hard to believe that there was once a time when mice and keyboards were not always paired. That time ended 1961 when Douglass Engelbart invented the “X-Y position indicator for display system”, due in part to this intimidating name, the mouse wasn’t commercially released until 1981 when Xerox began to sell it with their personal computers (Latson). The rest as they say, is history.

Prior to the invention of the mouse, computers were limited to use in laboratories and other technical professions. The only way for professionals to interact with system software was through the keyboard. Specific commands were required to preform on-screen actions, this meant anyone using a computer needed a fairly significant technical background.

The average person’s ability to use a computer is severely limited without a mouse. Command line functions are not taught to students and are no longer viewed as being necessary or desired. The mouse evolved hand-in-hand with the GUI (Graphic User Interface, think click-able Windows icons), making the usage of computers much more user friendly. It opened up access to information for tons people and allowed for mainstream use of the internet. (Atkinson 49) It’s impact is immense yet subtle, using a mouse is second nature to most now.

The mouse received its contemporary name from its early appearance. The first computer mice had the wire coming out of their back, rather then the front, like on modern ones (Atkinson 48). With a little bit of imagination the two buttons may look like ears, the scrolling button looks like a nose and a rear exiting wire might look like a tail.

Though its basic function has remained the same, the modern mouse is highly refined compared to its predecessors. The first mice were heavy, large and made of wood. They had a tracking ball underneath rather than a laser underneath to detect movement. (Atkinson 47) Some of you may remember using this style when you were little. Dust and other household/office debris would accumulate underneath and have to be cleaned out eventually. Newer mice are cheap to produce, much lower maintenance, highly ergonomic and track on just about any surface thanks to lasers and other modern technology.

Around 1985 when the computer mouse hit first began to become mainstream. Apple’s Macintosh computer system shipped with a mouse and keyboard included and brought what was once NASA technology to homes and offices everywhere. Continual improvements have taken place since then with variations of mice having anywhere from one to four buttons, wireless capability and scroll buttons (CNN Staff).

The computer mouse remained a desktop fixture for a very long time now, its impressive how close modern refinements remain to the original concept. Its design consistency is a testament to Engelbart’s genius. (Atkinson 59) The computer mouse is one of the best examples of “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it”. 56 years later the mouse is just starting to receive some competition. The smartphone/tablet revolution introduced touch-screen technology to the masses and some newer gadgets feature voice-recognition software, allowing for instructions to be dictated. The mouse is still going strong, but may finally be on its way out.

Sources:

Atkinson, Paul. “The Best Laid Plans Of Mice And Men: The Computer Mouse In The History Of Computing.” Design Issues 23.3 (2007): 46-61. Business Source Complete. Web. 21 Feb. 2017.

Latson, Jennifer. “Why The Computer Mouse’s Inventor Isn’t The Big Cheese.” Time.Com (2015): N.PAG. MAS Ultra – School Edition. Web. 21 Feb. 2017. http://time.com/3831359/computer-mouse-history/

Staff, CNN. “Computer mouse inventor Douglas Engelbart dies.” CNN. Cable News Network, 7 July 2013. Web. 22 Feb. 2017. http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/03/tech/mouse-inventor-dies/

Image:

Black and White Cup Hand Mug. N.d. Pexels. Comp. Unsplash. Web. 21 Feb. 2017.