The computer mouse turns 40

 
On December 9, 1968, computer history was made when Douglas Engelbart, a scientist with the Stanford Research Institute, demonstrated a very unique invention in public for the very first time: the computer mouse. That first rudimentary mouse didn’t catch on right away – in fact, it took a decade and a half for it to make its way into routine use.
 
Back in the early days of computing, virtually everyone used a keyboard to accomplish their computer tasks, but when Apple finally began selling computers with the feisty digital rodents attached people really began to take notice. Soon afterwards, PC manufacturers and Microsoft jumped on the bandwagon, and the rest is history. Nowadays it’s hard to even imagine using a computer without a mouse (or one of its derivatives).
 
The photo above shows Mr. Engelbart’s prototype of the device that ended up changing the way millions of people around the world use their computers. That very first mouse wouldn’t have won any awards for style or beauty, but its introduction was a monumental event in the history of computer technology.