Augment/NLS

Doug Engelbart, inventor of the mouse, was inspired by Bush's article. Although computers were still too expensive to be used interactively and for non-numeric tasks, Engelbart started the Augment project in 1962 [EWN73], a project to develop computer tools to augment human capabilities and productivity. In 1963 he wrote an article: "A Conceptual Framework for the Augmentation of Man's Intellect". His proposed system, H-LAM/T, for Human using Language, Artifacts, and Methodology, in which he is Trained, placed the user in a central role. The user and the computer were dynamically changing components in a symbiosis which had the effect of amplifying the native intelligence of the user. Engelbart's research team at SRI (Stanford Research Institute) grew to about 45 people, working on a very broad and ambitious set of productivity tools.

In 1968, Engelbart introduced NLS, the oN Line System, as an experimental tool to store all specifications, plans, designs, programs, documentation, reports, etc. Throughout the years the system grew to over 100.000 information items. The computer terminals were very sophisticated, including video projectors, special keyboards, and mice.

The Augment project was reduced to an office automation service in 1975, and several of Engelbart's researchers moved to Xerox PARC to invent more new concepts human-computer interaction.

Doug Engelbart has started his own Bootstrap Institute, which aims at bootstrapping organizations into the 21st century.