Douglas Engelbart was responsible for inventing some of the most important interface elements that we use in computers almost everyday. Engelbert helped develop hypertext, networks, and early graphical user interfaces, but most notably, he invented the first computer mouse. During his time at the Stanford Research Institute, he created a device which would allow for point and click functionality through the use of what was essentially a wooden shell and 2 perpendicular wheels. It’s amazing to me that someone invented something that I take for granted everyday. It’s such a simple concept which massively assists in the usability of computers and adds a much more humanist approach to navigating a computer.
Sir Tim Berners-Lee created the World Wide Web while working for Cern in 1989, an invention which would go onto shape the world as we know it today. The World Wide Web is without a doubt the most influential invention ever which shows how important of a figure Sir Tim Berners-Lee is. While Berners-Lee is always credited for inventing the WWW, I think his other inventions are just as important. HTML, HTTP, and URI are all essential to the WWW and without out them the WWW wouldn’t be where it is now. It’s also important to note Berners-Lee philosophy towards the WWW, believing that monetising access to the WWW would defeat it’s purpose. I find it incredible how one man has been able to be so influential to todays society.
In 1994 AT&T purchased a small advertising space on HotWired.com, which began the revolution of WWW advertising. This makes Wired magazine responsibly for every ad you see on the internet and this one decision to allow an advert has changed the way we view the WWW. While AT&T’s ad was rather basic compared to today, it initiated the development of what WWW adverts could look like. Over the next few decades, ads became more interactive and complex, and most importantly, more able to collect data. The ability to advertise on the web caused the desire for companies to buy and sell user data, which allowed for targeted advertising. I’ve never been sure if targeted advertising on the WWW is a positive and negative but regardless, advertising on the WWW has allowed massive development in website technology, due to the masses of money being given to websites for advertisements.
It’s insane to me that the internet and world wide web, the basis of todays society, was invented under 50 years ago. The amount they have influenced the world is truly staggering which makes this week extremely interesting to me. I’m very interested in the influence design has on society so seeing how individuals have to massively caused societal shifts was great.