1968 “Mother of All Demos” by SRI’s Doug Engelbart and Team

Highlights and descriptions of the December 9, 1968 demo by Douglas Engelbart and his team at SRI (at the time called Stanford Research Institute). It was the first public demonstration of the computer mouse and fundamentals of modern computing. The demo included the world debut of personal and interactive computing, featuring a computer mouse that controlled a networked computer system to demonstrate hypertext linking, real-time text editing, multiple windows with flexible view control, cathode display tubes, and shared-screen teleconferencing.

[quarterburnt]

If you want to see just how advanced this was, the BBC had a demo of “home computer terminal 20” just one year previously (1967) that is on YouTube.

Up until this demo, the best we hoped for is a typewriter that was connected to a mainframe computer.

[burghquay]

this is truly extraordinary - 60 years ago he presented all the tech that is essential to our lives today. This should be far more widely known; we cannot allow these things to be taken for granted. I was 8 years old then, can you just imagine being there in the audience when he demonstrated this. It must have been close to light years beyond their real lives at that point.

[MaximNightFury]

The amount of innovation that this actually was, especially in 1968 is insane. To think Douglas was apologetic about the naming of the mouse, yet it stuck and works perfectly. Plus the demonstration of copy and paste... The team behind all of this really needs to be known even more.

[timburr]

how on earth is this not more well known

guy jumped on a zoom call in 1968

[suvrochoudhury]

You folks are the true architects of modern computer science which we use today; we shall remember your contributions. RIP Sir!

[manco]

This guy invented the GUI and file linking. What a genius.

[Atrere]

Sitting here in 2020, 52 years later, I'm amazed at how much of the world today was sketched out here. And I can't help but wonder what in 52 years we'll look back on and see and think, "This. This was the one that was right."

[bayrockwhk]

WOW!
1968!
I think we're looking at one of the turning points in human history.
Many thanks for posting this.

[shanedeconinck]

He even pioneered the hipster fonts we find at coffee bars nowadays.

[hehehoho]

that video call is still clearer than modern security cameras

[verybrd]

This is just mindblowing, he just invented it all. The key components to our 21st century digital world. I wonder if there is someone envisioning and being completely correct about the next world changing innovations that will mark the 22th century

[crimemastertoto]

What a contribution to the modern day daily use technology... God bless and RIP

[chris]

HOLY MOLY
we talked about this guy in class in university (mediascience) but our lecturer never mentioned this demo. WHY NOT ?!?=!??!?! this is mindblowing!!

[christianbeaumont]

This work was pivotal for humanity and society. I encourage everyone to look at 1968 in thorough detail as records show the events that occured in that time window were breathtaking in their impact.

[dwaindibbley]

Wow... Just wow. I have seen this more than once but it's still mind blowing.

[Pancakes]

Why did this video make me feel so emotional?

[Spectral_RotD]

This guy was a genius, a true genius to this day

[jsbabasanmi]

This is so beautiful. 🎉 and truly extraordinary

[cathylegg]

Seminal! And he looks so happy just to be sharing his amazing ideas 💡 💡 💡

[sinashahandeh]

This is extraordinary. Notion is just this vision come true 50 years later.