With the advancement of technology, humans have achieved beautiful things over the past century, from flying planes to mobile roulette and wireless headphones; the list goes on. Thanks to technology, our lives are now made easier because of its magnificent tools and resources. But unfortunately, the pace of technological innovation is so rapid that many cannot keep up with it.
Although the stories behind these technical marvels are as stunning as they seem today, there are even greater mysteries. You may be surprised by these lesser-known facts about technology that we surround ourselves with nearly every day.
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1. Apple had a Clothing Line
With everything they do, Apple has established itself as a world leader. Just think of Mac OS, Macbooks, iPods, or iPhones. A company’s goal has always been to create an isolated ecosystem, and they have been successful in maintaining it at that level.
But did you know Apple also had a clothing line back in 1986? Apple once had a clothing line called the ‘Apple Collection.’ Nowadays, it is unimaginable that Apple produced anything other than fantastic tech, but their catalog became available one year after Steve Jobs left.
2. The First Computer Mouse
During the 1960s, Stanford Research Institute invented the world’s first-ever computer mouse. It was known as the “X-Y position indicator for displays.”
Several inventors have claimed to have created the mouse, including Douglas Engelbart and Bill English. However, the story that Xerox APAC was the creator of the mouse is a myth. Using the Xerox Alto computer, Engelbart demonstrated the mouse in 1968 for the first time. He referred to the demonstration as “The Mother of All Demos.” Engelbart named the instrument Mouse because the cable protruding from it resembled the tail of a rodent.
3. Amazon has had Several Different Business Names
Startup businesses don’t just happen overnight, although this is widely believed by many. The case is just the same for Jeff Bezos and Amazon. The company had several names before Amazon was finally decided. The first registered name for the business was Cadabra Inc, although this was changed after feedback claiming that the name was a little too obscure.
Bezos had many registered names until finally landing and sticking with the worldwide brand we know and recognize today. The majority of the early domains that Bezos used aren’t used anymore, but relentless.com is still working, although it directs you straight to amazon.com.
4. The Qwerty Keyboard
The speed at which people type or type on a keyboard is a familiar boast. Typing skills that are faster and more accurate may even give you a competitive edge in some businesses, but did you know that the qwerty keyboard that we are familiar with today was designed to slow down the typing speed of users.
The initial design of the original typewriter in the 1870s had a few bugs to contend with, one being the metal arms becoming stuck if users were too fast when typing or if simultaneous keys were pressed at a single moment.
To avoid this jamming problem to promote an overall better typing experience, many designs were made by Christopher Latham Sholes showing alternative keyboard layouts. The design that we all know and use today was finally designed by E. Remington and Sons and solved the problem that the first typewriters were facing.
5. Google was available to buy in 1999
The owner of Google, Larry Page, tried to trade Google in 1999. The sale was looking at roughly $750,000 for a 1% stake in Excite but ultimately fell through, and nothing more was done. Lucky for Page as Google now boasts a market cap of over $700 billion.
A few different versions of why the deal didn’t go ahead are known, but it is widely thought that Larry Page urged Excite to change all of their search technologies with those used in Google. Some statements have been released explaining that George Bell, the owner of Excite, wasn’t completely happy with the performance of the algorithms used by Google. Fast-forward to the present day, and there aren’t many internet users that trust anything other than the Google search engine, even the phrase ‘Google it’ is being used as a replacement to search for something.
Also read: Why CPS Click Testing Technology is Helpful for Computer Gamers and Users
