Graphical User Interfaces: Crash Course Computer Science #26

Today, we're going to discuss the critical role graphical user interfaces, or GUIs played in the adoption of computers. Before the mid 1980's the most common way people could interact with their devices was through command line interfaces, which though efficient, aren't really designed for casual users. This all changed with the introduction of the Macintosh by Apple in 1984. It was the first mainstream computer to use a GUI, standing on the shoulder of nearly two decades of innovation including work from the father of the GUI himself, Douglas Englebart, and some amazing breakthroughs at Xerox Parc.

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[MichaelRicksAherne]

I love the little wrap-up speech at the end of each episode, making a callback to one of the visionary ideas (in this case augmenting human intellect). It's really beautiful writing, almost poetic. And Carrie does a great job delivering it.

[Ohio-ksde]

This is extremely informative and this channel is a amazing source for information

[vylbird]

Windows 95's 'protected memory' was about as protected as putting a fragile sticker on a parcel. It was a matter of backwards compatibility: It was essential that Windows 95 be able to run programs written for DOS without issue, and most of those programs would not have worked at all under protected memory. There's a reason the OS was infamous for constant crashes and the Blue Screen of Death.

[Garland]

I hope this isn't a weird question, but is this series going to cover the origin and creation of Computer viruses? Trojans, worms, etc? I can never seem to imagine why they were created or how.

[MECUIify]

2:38 Englebart doing let's plays before it was cool

[thx]

Loved the way Carrie wrapped it up with the quote from Douglas Engelbart. Can't wait for the next video!

[JM-usfr]

You are one of the best hosts of Crash Course we've ever had!

[MiguelAPerez]

I really enjoy this series. Thank you,  Carrie Anne and all of the Crash Course team!

[datastrategypros]

“[T]he complexity of the problems facing mankind [was] growing faster than our ability to solve them. Therefore, finding ways to augment our intellect would seem to be both a necessary and a desirable goal”

Englebart was obviously way ahead of his times! Writing in 1962, even his wording seems very much aligned with the modern transhumanist movement.

[IceMetalPunk]

I'm a developer. Many of my colleagues have a mindset of "real programmers use the terminal for everything". When I say I prefer a GUI when possible, they treat me like I can't possibly be a decent developer if I think that. I don't know why there's such terminal elitism in the industry, but you know what? I don't care. I know how to use the terminal just fine, but if humans had to remember specific words to get everything done, we'd have gone extinct very quickly. Why not make our lives easier if we can?

[punboleh]

Great series! I was hoping for a few words about application centric interfaces vs document centric interfaces, though.
Other than that, I'm impressed with each episode how fast you go from a brief introduction to a deep dive, all in just a few minutes.

[netindigo]

love this channel! Being a computer scientist myself I enjoy teaching vlogs like this one.

[dvklaveren]

I still do manual copy-pasting in real life with real paper and real scissors at times. I sometimes need to make a summary of something and the only way I'd be able to concentrate at times is if I don't have a super useful everything-tool in front of me. It's a lot of work, but I refined it a lot.

[srwapo]

"Windows 95 introduced many elements still seen today, like the Start Menu..."

Despite how hard MS tried to get rid of it! :D

[MrCraigincanada]

I'm surprised when talking about natural selection there was no mention of the fsn 3d filesystem interface by SGI, famously displayed in the "It's a UNIX system! I know this!" scene from the movie Jurassic Park. It's interesting because most people still to this day think was an example of "fake computer interface" so commonly seen in film for decades.

[juanmanuelrodriguez]

13 minutes of good compressed information, thanks.

[YoungEli]

U actually have to be intelligent to even reach this level of information, God bless u all

[hanro]

Yea...
I swear its easier to reinstall Windows then to uninstall McAfee antivirus

[WindFireAllThatKindOfThing]

I was just a kid, but I remember the Light Pen vs Mouse tech expo controversy in the beginning of the 80's. Back then, everyone figured the pen (and handwriting recognition software) would be how we interface with the GUI.

[orneliofernandopenicelacha]

I like this channel, the way you make and explain the content is amazing. Many thanks.