“Douglas C. Engelbart, a visionary scientist whose singular epiphany in 1950 about technology’s potential to expand human intelligence led to a host of inventions – among them the computer mouse – that became the basis for both the Internet and the modern personal computer, died on Tuesday at his home in Atherton, Calif. He was 88.” We lost one of the greatest – if not the greatest – visionaries of computing today.
Cue the comments about how recognition of this one person magically diminishes the efforts of others due to a worldwide shortage of recognition after the Global Recognition Supply Crisis.
Cue the comments about how Douglas Englebart was just a minor pioneer, and Steve Jobs is the greatest man to ever touch a keyboard.
Comments like the above two can become a self fulfilling prophecy (like how people make similar remarks about BSD and GPL licenses, which inevitably end up taunting others into replying on that topic)
So I suggest if you don’t want arguments about the aforementioned, then it’s smarter not to raise the subject to begin with.
If people were intelligent, they’d be self-negating prophecies. Consider this a social experiment. In two previous occasions, one Neil Armstrong’s death, the other a suggestion for Turing’s pardon, precisely that response arose within the first page, if I remember correctly. Both cases without me making the prediction.
Just because some threads get tarnished, it doesn’t mean that every thread will be and nor does it mean that you need post some pseudo-intellectual remarks pre-empting the trolls.
The better thing to do would have not to been to post ironic statements about the aforementioned topic – and only broach such a debate if some idiots did decide to post such drivel. However posting your remark (and particularly as the first and thus most visible post in this thread) makes you little better than those trolls in my opinion. So can we please keep this discussion on topic and respectful to Engelbart instead of dragging this thread off into irrelevance.
(and yes, I’m aware that I’m now a hypocrite because I’ve responded to you and thus given life to this dumb argument – however I equally disagree with “hit-and-run” down-voting so felt you deserved an explanation for the moderation).
Thanks for tirelessly demonstrating by example how some people are not very bright, and in some cases downright crass and classless indeed. Obviously we could have not been able to figure that one out without your defecation on this thread.
So, thanks again! You sure added to the understanding and celebration of Prof. Engelbart’s legacy and context…
Edited 2013-07-04 16:36 UTC
Hmm, don’t remember seeing you defending Armstrong’s and Turing’s legacy in those other news items when people were really saying that giving them credit somehow diminishes other people’s works.
As far as I am concerned, almost everyone, including your illustrious self, completely add nothing to the understanding or celebration either.
I guess it’s easier for you to attack me than those other people when it mattered.
Coward.
When someone dies its best to just say something nice about them or keep silent, using their death as an opportunity to make stupid, churlish and juvenile remarks is crass and unpleasant in the extreme. Really – just get some manners.
Personally I thought Engelbart was a great and creative thinker who contributed much to the fabric of our modern lives and I offer my condolences to his family and friends.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pU17zYt6nBQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJDv-zdhzMY
I am unsure why comments thus far are only denigrating. An undeniably influential man (who has influenced ALL our lives) has passed on and instead of cynicism we should pass on our condolences and sympathies to his family and highlighting the impact of his work.
+1
I consider my comment to be positive in preempting responses that will try to diminish Engelbart’s accomplishments as negating other’s works, as have happened on two previous occasions regarding Neil Armstrong’s death, and Turing’s suggested pardon.
As a person who uses a computer and mouse (ok touchpad) almost every day, this is indeed a great loss to us all!
Anyone know what happened to the inventor of the trackball, Kenyon Taylor?
I suffer from RSI after using a mouse for many years and recently moved to a Logitech M570. It was like night and day in terms of comfort and stress compared to using even the most ergonomic mouse.
Wished trackballs had taken off more and there even better options than the limited selections in the market.
Good riddance. We need new blood.
um, no. It’s certainly useful for the internet, but not the basis of it, or absolutely necessary for it.
That’s not what the sentence says; this is what happens when you cut the quotation too much; read it in full: “a host of inventions – among them the computer mouse – that became the basis for both the Internet and the modern personal computer”.
So yes, a great pioneer lost.
Edited 2013-07-06 18:19 UTC