Xerox Star

Xerox Star — user centered design

Xerox Star introduced in 1981, bring the concepts that define modern personal computing and user interfaces to the technology world. Since its born, Xerox Star have brought many GUI innovations to the world. Including graphic environment, replace text-based command-line interfaces with icons, windows, and menus; mouse interaction, popularized the use of a mouse for point-and-click navigation; integrated office tool, they were designed as a complete office system, including email, file management. They was presenting a demo show of how they leveraged early object-oriented programming principles to make the software modular and reusable.

Xerox Star demonstrated that computers could be approachable and user-friendly, inspiring the development of GUIs in other systems.

“Xerox Star: The Forgotten Pioneer That Shaped Modern Computing”

The Xerox Star, released in 1981, didn’t sell well, but it changed the future of personal computing in big ways.

The Star was the first system to use a graphical interface with icons, windows, and a mouse. Before this, people used text commands to control computers, which wasn’t easy for non-experts. The GUI made computers much more approachable for everyday users.

It also introduced the idea of a desktop with files and folders represented as icons, similar to a real desk. This made organizing digital files more intuitive.
Even though it wasn’t a commercial success, the Star heavily influenced later systems like Apple’s Macintosh and Microsoft Windows. A lot of what we consider standard today—like drag-and-drop and networked offices—originated from the Xerox Star.

In short, the Xerox Star set the foundation for the personal computers we use now, making them more user-friendly and practical.

Xerox Star — Innovation of the World

As we all noticed, there are so many things that affect history of interaction design, one of it will be the Xerox Star, launched in 1981, marked a turning point in the history of computing by introducing several profound concepts that really redefined how people interact with computers. So, at that period of time, it was the first system to feature a graphical user interface, a complete with windows, icons, and a mouse to point and click, is not it shocking? Making computing far more accessible to people never use or even heard of computer systems. This interface was inspired later systems like Apple’s Macintosh and Microsoft’s Windows, both of which went on to dominate the personal computing world right now.

The design elements of the Xerox Star sets are one screen display but it has own CPU, and one mouse which can do the control, as well as a keyboard, which has most the function control added, those including copy and paste, including sharing and main windows control. All in all, those are the elements we all see in the recent design of computers or laptops, and we take them as granted. Indeed, people are adopted to this interface because so far we did not change a lot, we developed base on it. I barely have any doubt with if the interface are totally different.

The Influence of the Xerox Star

At the time, the developing technologies surrounding Star were unique to the industry. Xerox elected to keep their creations proprietary to maintain a competitive advantage; however, many companies were able to develop alternative approaches to these technologies, which then became industry standards.

Regardless, the Xerox Star influenced the design of modern day computer systems. An example being Star’s object-oriented user interface, which is used in today’s operating systems such as MacOS, Unix, and Linux. The second being the use of a pointing device for quick pointing and selection, which affected usability and accessibility of the device. Lastly, the contribution and value of designers became even greater. Seeing as screen graphics created by programmers did not do well in the market, designers who could make good graphics that translated well with everyone became crucial.

xerox PARC

The Xerox Star, introduced in 1981, marked a turning point in the history of computing, laying the groundwork for how we interact with personal computers today. Although it wasn’t a commercial success, its influence reshaped the direction of computer design and user interfaces, leaving a legacy that would be felt for decades.

In addition to the GUI, the Xerox Star introduced the concept of WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get), this allowed us to see on screens how documents would appear once printed. This innovation laid the foundation for modern word processing and desktop publishing, making tools like Microsoft Word and Adobe PageMaker possible.

PS, without this, we have no Apple or Innovative technology

Xerox Star changed computing in 4 key ways

First, the Star introduced a revolutionary GUI that used icons, menus, and a mouse to interact with the computer. This made it much more intuitive and accessible to non-technical users.

Second, the Star’s GUI also incorporated What You See Is What You Get(WYSIWYG) editing, allowing users to see exactly how their documents would look before printing them. This was a major improvement over previous systems where users had to rely on codes or special commands to format their text.

Third, the Star was one of the first personal computers to be designed for networking, allowing users to share files, printers, and other resources across a network.

Finally, the Star’s inspired other companies.

Xerox Star & Modern Computing

Xerox Star, laid the groundwork for modern computing. Xerox was highly advanced for the technology of its time, being the first computer to incorporate GUI. With this, the development of visual and interaction design emerged as a result, using icons and symbols to convey particular functions. This captivated the attention of tech’s biggest pave makers including, Steve Jobs, founder of Apple. He foresaw Xerox’s ability to become a personal asset, a potential integration to people’s daily lives. This changed the use case of computers. Once where computers were intended for number crunching and scientific research, gradually morphed into a platform to create, design, and complete everyday tasks. Though Xerox Star was financially inaccessible for most people at the time, the foundations of Xerox developed into an everyday necessity for millions through Apple’s direction. Yes, Apple products have also been consistent with its high prices, though it is important to acknowledge that the digital zeitgeist has shifted, the need for computers and technology has become essential. Apple has actually made computers “Affordable” compared to Xerox’s original price of $16,000, a factor of its commercial failure. Though what I found most interesting about Xerox is how a handful of our current tech leaders emerged out of Xerox and have used their knowledge to create the multifaceted tech industry that exists today. Essentially, Xerox built the tech industry and it is important to note that Xerox Star was not only a groundbreaking innovation for computing, it was a life altering invention that has moved us towards a tech reliant society.

Xerox Star change the Direction of Computing

The Xerox Star, introduced in 1981 by Xerox PARC, revolutionised computing with concepts that became the blueprint for modern systems. Although it wasn’t commercially successful, it had a profound impact on personal computing through its introduction of the Graphical User Interface (GUI).

Before the Star, computers relied heavily on text-based commands, making them inaccessible to many users. The Star’s GUI, which included windows, icons, and menus, transformed computing by allowing users to interact with the system visually and intuitively. This innovation directly influenced the development of the GUI in both Apple’s Macintosh and Microsoft Windows, setting a new standard for ease of use.

Another key contribution was the Star’s implementation of WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get). This concept allowed users to see on the screen a close approximation of what would appear in print, making it easier to format documents. This breakthrough laid the foundation for modern word processing and desktop publishing, paving the way for software like Microsoft Word and Adobe InDesign.

The Star also introduced early concepts of networking and collaboration. It was designed to work seamlessly within a networked environment, allowing users to share files, access resources, and print documents remotely. This foresight foreshadowed the rise of interconnected systems and the internet.

Although the Xerox Star’s high cost and limited marketing led to poor sales, its impact on computing was far-reaching. It set the groundwork for user-centric design and usability, shaping how future personal computers would operate. The Star’s true legacy lies not in its sales, but in the way its groundbreaking ideas defined the direction of computing for decades to come.

Reading Response – Xerox Star

Yujie Yin (KY)

IxD History

2024 10 08

Professor Erin

Xerox Star was the first commercial product with an icon user interface, and concepts like the desktop, folders, icons, and mouse that we are familiar with today were first introduced. And many of these icons and concepts can still be seen today. This graphical interface allows users to interact with the computer more intuitively without having to type complex commands. Their design philosophy is very user-oriented, pioneering a user-centered design direction, marking the birth of the field of interactive design.

How did the Xerox Star change the direction of computing?

The Xerox Star was a game changer in the history of computing. It was the first system to use a graphical user interface, with ICONS, Windows, and folders that we now take for granted. It also introduced the WYSIWYG method, allowing users to see what will be printed on the screen. Star makes computing more visual and intuitive, moving from a command line interface to a point-and-click experience. This interface design transforms computing from text-based commands to a more intuitive visual interaction that gives non-expert users access to the computer.

And its design has greatly influenced future systems like the Mac and Windows, shaping the way we interact with computers today. And I think Xerox Star’s emphasis on user-centered design changed the direction of computing by making complex systems available for everyday tasks, influencing the development of user-friendly software and operating systems that dominate today.

Xerox Star

The Xerox Star, introduced in 1981, it revolutionized the way people interacted with computers by popularizing the graphical user interface. Before its release, most computers required users to input complex text commands, which limited accessibility to those with technical expertise. The Xerox Star changed that by introducing icons, windows, and a mouse-driven interface, which allowing users to interact with computers in a much more visual and intuitive way. This shift toward user-friendly design laid the groundwork for later systems like Apple’s Macintosh and Microsoft Windows, which adopted similar interfaces and brought personal computing to the masses.

I think that the Xerox Star tells me that innovation isn’t just about creating new technology but also about making it more accessible to users. By focusing on how people naturally interact with tools and environments, the Xerox Star pioneered a user-centered approach to design that continues to influence technology today. Even though the Star itself wasn’t commercially successful, it highlights the importance of designing with the end user in mind and how that can shape the future of an industry. Xerox Star shows that successful design isn’t only about immediate success but about laying the foundation for long-term change and also again proves that people/users is always the key in design.

How big was the impact of Xerox Star?

The Xerox Star revolutionized computing by introducing key concepts that are the foundation of the modern graphical user interface (GUI).


It was the first commercial system to use a fully developed GUI with icons, windows, and a desktop metaphor, making computers more intuitive, especially for non-technical users.


The desktop metaphor allowed users to visualize files, folders, and documents as physical objects, a concept that continues to shape modern interfaces. It also pioneered WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) editing, enabling users to see on screen exactly what would appear when printed, paving the way for the modern word processor.


The Star’s use of icons, menus, and overlapping windows made multitasking possible, influencing later systems such as Apple’s Macintosh and Microsoft Windows. In addition, it had networking capabilities with Ethernet support, allowing file and printer sharing across networks, which laid the foundation for future networked personal computing.


Although not a commercial success, the design principles of the Xerox Star profoundly influenced the direction of personal computing.

shuoning Liang/10/8

Xerox Star and its impact on computing

In 1981, Xerox launched the Xerox Star, an office computer that changed the course of modern computing.

The graphical user interface (GUI) with windows, menus, and icons was initially introduced by the Star system, which improved computer accessibility and user-friendliness. It eliminated the need for complicated command-line inputs by enabling users to interact with computers using simple point-and-click actions. The desktop metaphor offered by the Star, which allowed users to access files and programs as though they were real things, had a direct impact on later operating systems such as Microsoft Windows and the Apple Macintosh, laying the groundwork for modern personal computing.

The Star was innovative for its day, focusing on resource sharing and networking even before the GUI. The Star introduced a new level of collaborative working by enabling workstations in an office to connect, share files, and access shared resources like printers using Ethernet. It was one of the most influential computers in history, even though it was not a commercial success, due to its advances in GUI, networking, and document-centric design, which set the foundation for later operating systems.

How the Xerox Star Changed the Direction of Computing (With a Minesweeper qwq)

Have you ever stopped to think about how your computer looks and operates when you sit down at it today? That answer goes back to one of the very first personal computers: the Xerox Star. Certainly not a commercial hit, this computer held out visionary concepts with regard to our long term engagement using technology and tools. In the early 1980s, how the Xerox Star showed us where computing could go.

Until the Xerox Star, computers were strictly text based and users were required to type commands. The Xerox Star implemented a graphical interface where users could communicate with icons, windows, and menus (like modern-day operating systems of Apple macOS or Windows).

Meaning that was the first time we all had the desktop metaphor. It similarly allowed users to see their documents for the first time as visuals on a ‘desktop’, crammed with files, folders and trash bins. This design created an accessible interface, which was easier for the everyday user to understand.

Another innovation of the Xerox Star was the WYSIWYG approach. What you saw on the screen closely resembled what would appear in print, transforming the way people created and formatted documents. This idea became the foundation for modern word processors and office software like Microsoft Word.

Although the Xerox Star was not a commercial hit, its ideas greatly influenced future tech giants. The whole way we use computers was changed by the graphical user interface in a way that Apple’s Macintosh and Microsoft Windows built and authorities followed, it became available on every platform.

The user experience received a significant boost through the innovations of the Xerox Star which ultimately opened the door to more enjoyable and interactive computing interactions. It persists even in something as banal as Minesweeper and the point-and-click interface that was introduced via the Xerox Star. So, let’s take a break from the history of computing with a little game I recently played — Minesweeper.  Below is a Minesweeper game I finished developed. Go give it a shot too and see if you can beat my time if you are up for a challenge.

The Xerox Star has left its mark on our world from revolutionary user interface designs, to even shaping the course of modern operating systems. I think we can see even in the Minesweeper, and other simple games, how those initial ideas have been carried down through to this day. So the next time you open a file or layer up your favorite game, perhaps pause for a moment to think how far computing has come — partly driven by Xerox Star.

Here is the game 🙂

Since I don’t know how to add a html&js code here. I paste a p5.js link here which you can access:)

https://editor.p5js.org/RaynorDing/sketches/8z7Skl5C-

Importance of the Xerox Star

The Xerox Star was the first commercial personal computer, and it used technologies that are still prevalent today. It was designed to be intuitive and easy to use for people that were not computer experts. The Xerox Star used icons and folders to make it more intuitive, and this is still done today with modern computers. Everything in the computer system and everything the computer was doing would be shown on the screen. This allowed the user to visualize what they’re doing, making the Xerox Star easier to use. The Xerox Star also used a mouse with two buttons, which we obviously still use nowadays.

The Xerox Star opened the door for user interface design, interaction design, and other roles that hadn’t existed previously. Despite not being commercially successful, the Xerox Star inspired Apple’s later technologies and influenced technology today.

How did the Xerox Star change the direction of computing?

Xerox Star 8010

The Xerox Star, released in 1981, was a groundbreaking system that significantly influenced the direction of personal computing. Developed at Xerox’s Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), it introduced many concepts that are now standard in modern computing.

For interaction design, the most obvious point is that it first showcased a relatively complete Graphical User Interface, Called GUI to the public in the business field. This technology is not unfamiliar to people today, simply put, it is “what you see is what you get”. This means that the screen display matches the printed output, and people can intuitively click and interact with the computer. The use of icons to represent files, programs, and functions simplifies the computing experience and inspires future systems to focus on visual metaphors rather than text-based commands.


At the same time, the mouse has once again been mentioned in computer systems, which is a second and more flexible input device different from the keyboard.


It can be said that this product directly affects the future production of Macintosh by Apple and the Windows operating system by Microsoft. Steve Jobs visited the famous Xerox PARC, where many of Star’s ideas were integrated into the first-generation Macintosh, helping to bring GUI-based computing to the public.

Apple Macintosh

Microsoft Windows 1.0

The Xerox Star: Pioneering User Interfaces and Network Collaboration

The Xerox Star’s network function is critical to the development of modern computer networks! It was an early computer that supported network functions. It introduced the concept of computer network connectivity, enabling resource sharing and collaborative work. It laid the foundation for the concept of a modern computer network office and allowed us to see the powerful potential of multiple computer interconnections. Its network function also inspired later computer manufacturers and developers to continue to explore and improve network technology. At that time, many computers were running independently. The Xerox Star was like a beacon, illuminating the way for the development of computer networks and providing important concepts and technical inspiration for modern efficient, convenient, and interconnected computer network systems.

The Xerox Star changed the direction of computing in two ways

1. User interface innovations:
The Xerox Star uses a cool new interface with windows, icons, menus, and a mouse. This eliminates the need to remember a bunch of complicated commands and allows you to just click on icons and drag windows. This is especially useful for people who don’t understand technology because they no longer have to worry about complicated command lines. This new interface makes computers easier to use, not just for technical people but for everyone. In the past, many people found computers difficult to use, but now with a mouse, everyone can use them.

2. Networking and collaboration:
It was one of the earliest computers that could be connected to the Internet, allowing several people to share files, printers, and other things, making it easier for everyone to work together in the office. With this function, it is like using computers today to work on projects together in different places. The Xerox Star was a good start, making computer networking and teamwork more and more common.