history

USB interface created for Engelbart’s 1968 keyset, part of his “Mother of All Demos.” Engelbart revolutionized computing with innovations like the mouse and GUI, showcasing them at a conference but the keyset was less successful. The author created a modern USB interface for the keyset, detailing technical aspects and challenges. The term “Mother of All Demos” originated from a 1991 Intel presentation, later retroactively applied to Engelbart’s demo. Engelbart’s work faced long-term neglect, but eventually gained recognition, influencing future technology.

https://www.righto.com/2025/03/mother-of-all-demos-usb-keyset-interface.html

Tristan Davey’s Punch Card Archive preserves the history of punched cards, once vital in accounting and computing during the 1950s-60s, now largely forgotten. The archive features various punch cards from manufacturers like IBM and 3M, showcasing their attributes and materials.

https://punchcards.tristandavey.com/

“Mainframe” originated from the physical frames of early computers like the IBM 701 (1952). Initially, it referred to the main part of a computer, later evolving to denote a large, powerful computer for transactions. The term’s meaning shifted in the 1970s to differentiate from minicomputers, and definitions transitioned in dictionaries over the decades. IBM was hesitant to use “mainframe” as a marketing term until the mid-1980s, after which the usage surged, peaking in the 1990s before declining. Despite predictions of obsolescence, mainframes persist today, and their terminology continues to evolve.

https://www.righto.com/2025/02/origin-of-mainframe-term.html