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William EnglishAmerican computer engineer
Date of Birth: 27.01.1927
Country:  USA |
Content:
- William English: Pioneer of the Computer Mouse
- Naval Service and Early Career
- Invention of the Computer Mouse
- NASA Project Leadership and "The Mother of All Demos"
- Xerox PARC and the Ball Mouse
- Sun Microsystems and Later Years
- Legacy
William English: Pioneer of the Computer Mouse
Early Life and EducationWilliam "Bill" English was born on January 27, 1929, in Lexington, Kentucky, to Harry and Caroline English. Growing up in a family with an engineer father and a homemaker mother, he developed a keen interest in technology. After attending boarding school in Arizona, he enrolled at the University of Kentucky to study electrical engineering.
Naval Service and Early Career
After completing his studies, English served in the United States Navy from the late 1950s, including tours in Northern California and Japan. In the 1960s, he joined the Stanford Research Institute (SRI International), where he played a key role in developing one of the first all-magnetic arithmetic units with Hewitt Crane.
Invention of the Computer Mouse
In 1964, English joined Douglas Engelbart's laboratory at SRI. There, he collaborated with Engelbart to create the first computer mouse in 1963. While Engelbart is credited as the inventor, English was the engineer who built the initial prototype and became its first user.
NASA Project Leadership and "The Mother of All Demos"
In 1965, English led a NASA-sponsored project that utilized the mouse. He also played a crucial role in Engelbart's groundbreaking 1968 "The Mother of All Demos" presentation, which showcased the mouse and other technologies developed as part of their NLS (ON-Line System). Notably, English demonstrated remote terminal access over a distance of 48 kilometers, transmitting both audio and video between locations.
Xerox PARC and the Ball Mouse
In 1971, English left SRI for Xerox PARC, where he led the office systems research group. During his tenure at PARC, he developed the ball mouse, replacing the original set of wheels with a single ball. This improved design was similar to the Rollkugel trackball device developed by Telefunken in Germany and offered with their computers since 1968.
Sun Microsystems and Later Years
In 1989, English joined Sun Microsystems, where he continued to work on innovative technologies. He passed away from respiratory failure in San Rafael, California, on July 26, 2020, at the age of 91.
Legacy
William English's contributions to the field of computer science are immeasurable. As the engineer behind the first computer mouse, he played a vital role in revolutionizing human-computer interaction. His work laid the foundation for today's ubiquitous pointing devices and continues to shape the way we interact with digital technologies.
