A video every interaction designer should watch
In 1968, Douglas Engelbart showcased technology and presented a groundbreaking system with the transformative potential to revolutionize our world.
On December 9, 1968, at the Fall Joint Computer Conference in San Francisco, Engelbart showcased the groundbreaking “oN-Line System.”
In this 90 min live demonstration he introduced pioneering innovations, such as the introduction of the computer mouse, video conferencing, hypertext and even a collaborative real-time editor.
“The 1968 demo was one of the great moments in computing.” Steven Levy
My goal is not to describe what happens in this video, but to draw attention to how important this moment in HCI history was and encourage more designers to watch it.
The debut of key concepts in modern interactive computing.
In this demonstration, Engelbart shows fundamental concepts of human-computer interaction that have become so commonplace that now we often take them as something very natural. This is definitely a groundbreaking advancement for all of us. For the younger generation, these concepts are ingrained in their lives, much like learning to write or read. And this evolution took only 50 years.
Watching this presentation, we can see how the concept from 1968 remains relevant to this day. The fundamental idea of using a computer has hardly changed. It still revolves around interacting with the screen using an external tool — the mouse, joystick or touchpad. We still make selections by “pointing and grabbing”, with the cursor and the click serving as the primary means of interaction.
Why is this demo so revolutionary, and what can we learn from it?
Douglas Engelbart was way ahead of his time in many ways, and the computer world has been catching up with his vision ever since. He is the inventor of the foundations of human-computer interaction, which is still at the core of experience design. Here are some of the most important facts that can be drawn from this historic event:
1. The evolution of point-and-click: Introduction of the computer mouse
The demo introduced the computer mouse as a user interface device. It was a big change from using punch cards and keyboards. The mouse revolutionized human-computer interaction, making it more intuitive and also accessible. Today, the mouse remains a fundamental input device for personal computers.
Douglas Engelbart and Bill English named their first prototype after the rodent due to its shape. The name computer “mouse” has been used ever since the first prototype. Read more here.
2. Making computers accessible: Graphic User Interface
Something without which our world would probably look different, and I would not have written this article in this way. Engelbart introduced a graphical user interface featuring windows, hypertext, and dynamic file linking. This idea set the groundwork for today’s operating systems, which transformed computing and made it easier to create user-friendly way of using a computer. As a result, they have become more accessible for everyone, not just those in the tech industry.
3. Creating a virtual world: Hypertext and Hypermedia
Engelbart demonstrated a system that allowed users to navigate and link information dynamically, known as hypertext. This concept became the basis for the World Wide Web, where hyperlinks form the backbone of interconnected information. The demo showed the potential of organizing and accessing information in non-linear ways.
4. The future of communication: Collaborative Computing
The demo showcased collaborative computing, introducing concepts such as real-time document editing and video conferencing. When Engelbart typed a word, it appeared simultaneously on his screen in San Francisco and on a terminal screen at the Stanford Research Institute in Menlo Park. When Engelbart moved his mouse, the cursor moved in both locations. He highlighted the potential of computers to significantly enhance collaboration and believed that computers could revolutionize the way people work and communicate together. Half a century later, it’s clear he was absolutely right.
Long-Term Vision
Engelbart’s demo demonstrated a far-reaching vision for computing, including concepts that took decades to fully materialize. His ideas and predictions foreshadowed many of the technological advancements we take for granted today. It shows the importance of imagining the future and pushing the boundaries of what is possible.
Engelbart’s 1968 demo may seem unimpressive and primitive to us in the 21st century, as we now live in the interactive world he helped create. However, at the time it was revolutionary and far ahead of its time. When he ended the presentation, he was greeted with a standing ovation that lasted for minutes.
Years later, when tech journalist Steven Levy wrote his book “Insanely Great” about the Macintosh, he started with Engelbart’s remarkable performance. He gave it a name that has since become associated with the event. He called it “the mother of all demos.”
¨Presenting to a relatively cloistered audience, Engelbart and his team presented a future that billions would later inhabit.” Steven Levy
Douglas Engelbart passed away in 2013, yet he lived long enough to witness the profound impact of his work on contemporary computing.
Related Resources
- Experience the complete “Mother of All Demos” interactively,
- Augmenting Human Intellect: A Conceptual Framework (D. Engelbart, 1962),
- The paper for the demo (“A Research Center for Augmenting Human Intellect “),
- Memorial article at the Computer History Museum,
- Stanford event 1999, “Engelbart’s Unfinished Revolution.” Video of event at archive.org, 1 of over 20 segments.
- ¨The Mother of All Demos¨ — The History of Computing Podcast episode
