Gallery: Tech Time Warp of the Week: The Mother of All Demos, 1968

  • Image may contain Human Person and Electronics
    01

    Doug-nls-4912-542x364

    Doug Engelbart, working at an NLS workstation in the 1960s. Alan Kay describes him as biblical. "He looked more like Moses than Charleston Heston and had one of the most craggy faces of all time," Kay says. *Photo: Courtesy of SRI International/Computer History Museum.*
  • Image may contain Human Person Electronics Monitor Screen Display Crowd Indoors Tie Accessories and Accessory
    02

    Untitled-2

    Don Andrews, Bill English, and Doug Engelbart at SRI's Augmentation Research Center during a meeting with sponsors of the program. The meeting was driven by NLS, which was used to display the agenda, show off the system features, and perhaps lay out other documents. Each participant had access to a display and a mouse. *Photo: SRI International.*
  • Image may contain Electronics Computer Hardware Hardware Computer Computer Keyboard and Keyboard
    03

    Untitled-1

    The input devices of the NLS system, mounted on a custom Herman Miller swivel console. *Photo: SRI International.*
  • Image may contain Head Face Human Person Text and Jaw
    04

    NLS

    Doug Engelbart shows off his errand route using NLS. *Image: SRI International.*
  • Image may contain Electronics Monitor Display Screen Human Person Furniture Table Desk Tie and Accessories
    05

    English-ergo-setup-500004647-03-01-542x406

    Bill English and th eNLS workstations. English co-invented the mouse with Engelbart, orchestrated the Mother of All Demos, and was the brains behind most of NLS's technical resources. He was "a wonderful person, who has not received anywhere near the recognition he deserved," according to Alan Kay. *Photo: SRI International/Computer History Museum.*
  • Image may contain Text Label Page Paper and Letter
    06

    not-yet-catalogedNLS-Harvey-Lehtman-untitledreverse-colors1-542x403

    A screenshot of NLS. *Image: Computer History Museum.*
  • Image may contain Human Person and Tool
    07

    500004646-03-01

    Doug Engelbart's mouse prototype. *Photo: SRI International.*
  • Image may contain Adapter
    08

    keyset-102673512p-03-01

    The keys on the NLS' keyset were the predecessors to the function keys at populated machines in the 80s, 90s, and beyond. *Photo: Computer History Museum.*
Read More
The Best Ski Clothes for Staying Warm and Having Fun
From weatherproof jackets and pants to puffers, gloves, and socks, WIRED’s winter sports experts have you covered.
Chris Haslam
The Best Automatic Litter Boxes Tested by Our Spoiled Cats
With these high-tech automatic litter boxes, gone are the days of scooping and smells. Welcome to the future.
Molly Higgins
The Best Apple Watch Accessories
You finally caved and bought an Apple Watch. These are our favorite bands, screen protectors, and chargers to go with your new smartwatch.
Adrienne So
The Best Fitness Trackers Check Your Sleep, Heart Rate, or Even Your Blood
With almost ten years of hands-on testing, WIRED knows what separates the best fitness trackers from the rest.
Adrienne So
The Best iPhone 17 Cases and Accessories—We’ve Tested More Than 100
Protect your expensive iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone Pro, or iPhone 17e with our favorite cases and screen protectors.
Julian Chokkattu
These Are Our Favorite Standing Desks to Liven Up Your Workstation
Take your home office to new heights with our favorite motorized standing desks.
Nicole Kinning
The Best Game Controller for Every Kind of Player
A great gamepad instantly levels up your play. These are our top picks for Switch, Xbox, PlayStation, and PC.
Brad Bourque
Give Your Back a Break With Our Favorite Office Chairs
Sitting at a desk for hours? Upgrade your WFH setup and work in style with these comfy WIRED-tested seats.
Julian Chokkattu
The Best MagSafe Grips for Getting a Handle on Things
Keep your phone firmly in hand and add some personality with these comfortable, durable, and nifty smartphone grips.
Louryn Strampe
The Best Heart Rate Monitors Check Your Cardiac Health
These chest straps and watches will help you keep your finger on your pulse—and many other heart-related metrics.
Michael Sawh
The Best iPad to Buy (and a Few to Avoid)
We break down the current iPad lineup to help you figure out which of Apple’s tablets is best for you.
Luke Larsen
Death to Dry Skin. These Humidifiers Are Better Than Chapstick
From models for traveling to humidifiers that double as planters or air purifiers, we've tested a dozen of them.
Matthew Korfhage