History of the Internet

Trident University

David Hunter

Module 1 Case Assignment

HIS 205

Dr. Benjamin Yeo

January 26, 2015

For this case assignment, I am to write a 3 to 5 page essay on why did it take twenty-five or more years for Douglas Engelbart ideas about work tools to start to be widely implemented in work groups; Mr. Engelbart was one of the earlier pioneers in the design of interactive computer environments best known for his invention of the computer mouse in 1964 and his contributions toward the creation of the oN-Line System. Was Mr. Engelbart ideas to much for his society back in the 60’s? He was way ahead of his time.

Mr. Engelbart was an early pioneer in the world of computing, according to an article listed on http://www.biography.com/ “he was born in 1925 in Oregon; he went on to college when he finished high school to obtain a degree in electrical engineering however his studies was put on hold due to the World War II. During the war he served as an electronic radar technician, he also read Vannevar Bush book titled “As We May Think” as this book inspired him to want to do more for our society.

Mr. Engelbart received his degree in 1948 and moved to San Francisco to take a job as an electrical engineer working at a government laboratory research facility in California; according to Markoff, J. (2013, Jul 04);”Mr. Engelbart began thinking about how complicated the world had become and how humans would manage the complex new challenges they were facing”. He considered the human thought process, and the tools humans use to think. In my opinion Mr. Engelbart basically wanted a vehicle that would help with the world’s urgent and complex problems.

During 1950 Mr. Engelbart became restless with his job; he realized that the only goals he had in life was the typical goals that everyone had; get married, get a job, and live happily thereafter. He wanted to maximize his contribution to our society back then; he always thought about how the world was growing...