The Xerox Star was a groundbreaking technology that played a huge role changing the direction of computing. It introduced the graphical user interface which had windows, icons, and a mouse to interact with the computer. The Xerox Star pushed the boundaries of user experience and interaction design, changing how people could use and interact with computers. It was one of the first systems where users could drag and drop files, open folders, and arrange tabs and windows like a desk. This really made the idea of “desktop” tangible and real in later years. I found this really interesting because this specific mechanism is so important and characterized in pcs and desktops. We could not imagine a different interface for these devices. It also heavily inspired Apple’s Macintosh Computer and Microsoft’s Windows and can widely be seen even now as the values and features are still applied today.
It was also a big deal because it showed different and more user friendly ways that information could be organized and interacted with. Looking at it now it looks very vintage and basic, like a clunky old computer. But it is so important in it being one of the first computers to incorporate all the things we take for granted in computers today.
Sources
Baker, Chris. “The Xerox Star: A Revolutionary, Forgotten Computer.” Gizmodo, 26 Mar. 2019, www.gizmodo.com/2019/03/26/the-xerox-star-a-revolutionary-forgotten-computer/.
Johnson, Jeff, et al. “The Xerox Star: A Retrospective.” Computer, vol. 22, no. 9, 1989, pp. 11-26, 28-29. IEEE, https://doi.org/10.1109/2.35211.
Pow, Whitney (Whit). “How the Computer Taught Us to See.” Camera Obscura, vol. 39, no. 2 (116), 2024, pp. 1–39. Duke University Press, https://doi.org/10.1215/02705346-11207789.