Quizzicle: What Computer Accessory did Doug Engelbart Invent in 1963?

Answer: Mouse

In the 1960s, Doug Engelbart was working at the Stanford Research Institute and exploring ways to make computers more usable and intuitive. In 1963, he came up with the idea for a handheld pointing device that would control the cursor on a computer screen. Engelbart built a prototype out of wood, with two wheels perpendicular to each other to track movement, and a button on top. This was the first computer mouse. Engelbart showed his wooden mouse at "The Mother of All Demos" in 1968, a landmark presentation where he also demonstrated hypertext, video conferencing, and other revolutionary computer technologies. The demo brought Engelbart's inventions to the attention of Xerox PARC researchers, who went on to refine and popularize the mouse.