The Xerox Star was introduced in 1981, it was the first computer that have a graphical user interface (GUI), and it used easier icons, windows, and folders instead of complicated commands. It introduced the concept of direct manipulation, which allow users to click, drag, and drop. The system also used a “What You See Is What You Get” (WYSIWYG) approach, which means documents on the screen looked the same when printed. This made computing more accessible to people who are not programmers and set the foundation for modern technology like macOS and Windows.
Although the Xerox Star was not commercially successful due to its high price, its ideas changed computing forever. It also introduced networking, email, and file sharing, showing the future of digital collaboration. Many of its concepts such as the desktop metaphor and visual interaction,are still used today in smartphones, tablets, and touchscreens. The Star proved that computers should be designed for people, not just for programmers, making technology more intuitive. Its influence is seen in everything from desktop publishing to modern UI/UX design. Even though few people used the Xerox Star, its innovations shaped the digital world we use every day.