The 1st Computer Rodent
Kirt's Cogitations™ #54

RF Cafe University "Factoids," "Kirt's Cogitations," and "Tech Topics Smorgasbord" are all manifestations of my ranting on various subjects relevant (usually) to the overall RF Cafe theme. All may be accessed on these pages:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37

< Previous Next >

The 1st Computer Rodent

In 1964, Dr. Douglas Engelbart received a patent for a device consisting of a wooden shell and two metal wheels - the computer mouse. In 1970, a patent was awarded (out of more than 45 for Dr. Englebart) for what was described in the patent application as an "X-Y position indicator for a display system." He nicknamed it the "mouse" because the tail came out the end.

Dr. Douglas Engelbart's mouse prototype

World's First Computer Mouse, by Douglas Engelbart

(Wikipedia image)

X-Y Position Indicator for a Display System

USPTO Patent #US 3541541 A

RF Cafe began life in 1996 as "RF Tools" in an AOL screen name web space totaling 2 MB. Its primary purpose was to provide me with ready access to commonly needed formulas and reference material while performing my work as an RF system and circuit design engineer. The World Wide Web (Internet) was largely an unknown entity at the time and bandwidth was a scarce commodity. Dial-up modems blazed along at 14.4 kbps while tying up your telephone line, and a lady's voice announced "You've Got Mail" when a new message arrived...