Chapter 26

1977
Alan Kay and Adele Goldberg

• envisioned the importance of the notebook computer with their Dynabook vision
• understood the computer from a totally different perspective than their peers - believed it would one day be a device used by "educators, business-people and poets" alike for computational and creative purposes
• their ideas were used to create the Star computer by Xerox Systems Development Division
• the interface designed for the Star was later incorporated into Apple's Macintosh
  
• helped to create the Ethernet cable, the mouse, the laser printer, and WYIWYG printing standard for today's computers
• Dynabook: handle all information-related needs (Iphone : check), a programming and problem solving tool, interactive memory, text editor, medium for expression
• the dynabook would allow for human-computer interaction, for the medium to be affected by the user; to be responsive
  
• imagined that there would be no delay in response time
• imagined that children should also be able to use this device

It is incredible that these people had the foresight to envision today's laptop or iphone-like device. They sought to create a computer that could literally be used by everyone, and that everyone's specific needs and wishes could be met. At the time, this would have been incredibly far-fetched but I'm glad they pursued it so that we can have this kind of technology today.