The inventor for one of gaming's most vital tools, and all of Information Technology in general, passes away at 91.
The computer mouse has been at PC users' sides since 1968 and has remained one of the most fundamental and consistent tools for any gamer's computer interface. The computer mouse may often go overlooked, but any PC gamer knows the importance of a good quality mouse and how it can make a big difference in their gameplay.
William English, the engineer and researcher behind it all, is an ex-Navy member. He had an interest in electrical engineering after learning from his father and went to school for it at the University of Kentucky. English sadly passed away on July 26th in San Rafael, California. The cause of death was confirmed at a medical facility by his wife Roberta, who informed the public that English died from respiratory failure.
At a time when computers were mainly used by professionals in various industries, such as the robotic technology field, English imagined a future where the technology would be more readily available to the public by manipulating images on a screen. He met his colleague, Douglas Engelbart, at the Stanford Research Institute who helped make his seemingly impossible vision become a reality.
His co-workers credited English for not only having the engineering talent to make this a reality, but the patience and social skills as well. English and Englebart released their first experimental computer called NLS at an event in San Francisco known as "The Mother of All Demos." While using a live video feed, the duo worked together to show how revolutionary the technology is to a massive audience, even though the computer was in a facility 30 miles away.
English and Englebart's presentation paved not only the way for what future laptops and desktops would look like but also consumers' smartphones and tablets that are used every day. Since then, huge tech companies have worked off the shoulders of these two giants in bringing players the powerful gaming mice that they use today.
Next time gamers pick up their mouse to play with their friends online, they may want to take a moment to remember the hard work that was spent bringing the technology to them by both English and Englebart. A big thank you to English for all of his hard work and dedication to making this technology convenient and affordable; he will be missed. English is remembered by his two sons Aaron and John, his stepdaughter Patricia, and his granddaughter.
Source: The New York Times