Bathroom Breaks That Changed History

Bathroom Breaks That Changed History

Shannon Quinn - November 19, 2022

Bathroom Breaks That Changed History
Douglas Engelbart invented the first computer mouse. Credit: Wikimedia Commons

A Bathroom Break Helped Invent Modern Computing

Douglas Engelbart was an engineer and inventor who was an early pioneer of the internet. He was the head of the Augmented Human Intellect Research Center at the Stanford Research Institute. Like many engineers in the field, Douglas decided to experiment with LSD. One day, when he was high, he invented something called the “tinkle toy”. This was a miniature water wheel that could be installed on the side of a toilet to help encourage young children who were potty training. During another LSD trip, he conceived of what would be the modern-day computer, even though he didn’t invent it. But he actually did invent the computer mouse.

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