
Rare Computer Mouse That Inspired Steve Jobs Auctioned Off For Rs 1.48 Crore
NDTV
The rare three-button mouse and coding keyset was created by computing icon Douglas Engelbart.
A computer mouse that served as of Steve Jobs' major inspirations has been sold for a whopping 147,000 Pounds (Rs 1,48,89,174), Metro reported. The rare three-button mouse and coding keyset created by computing icon Douglas Engelbart was sold for around 12 times its estimate of £12,000 in a sale by Boston-based RR Auction.
Notably, Mr. Engelbart's invention was the inspiration for the late Apple CEO's first rollerball-controlled mouse.
''The rare, early three-button computer mouse designed by Engelbart, measuring approximately 4″ x 2.75″ x 2.5″, utilizes two metal discs (corresponding to the X-axis and Y-axis) on the bottom to locate the position of the cursor, rather than a ball or optical light that came to be used later,'' a description of the product on the auction page reads.
The coding keyset, features five keys, permitting 31 key-press combinations, for typing and entering commands. This hardware configuration allowed a user to point and click using the mouse in the right hand while entering commands using the keyset on the left.