Computer Dreamer Who Invented the Mouse
Douglas C. Engelbart was 25, just engaged to (be MARRied) and
thinking about his future when he had a dream in 1950 that
(would change/has CHANGEd) the world.
He had a good job working at a government aerospace
laboratory in California, but he wanted to do something
(more) with his life, something of value that might last,
even outlive him. Then it came to him. In a single stroke
he (HAd) what might be safely called a complete
vision of the information age.
The angel in his dream spoke to him of technology’s
potential (EXPANDing) human intelligence, and from it he
made out a career that indeed had lasting impact. It led to a
host of inventions that became the basis for the Internet
and the modern personal computer.
In (LATEr) years, one of those inventions was given a
warmhearted name, reminding of a small, furry creature
given to scurrying across flat surfaces: the computer
mouse.
Computing was in its infancy when Dr. Engelbart entered
the field. Computers were ungainly room-size calculating
machines that could (be USEd) by only one person at a
time. Someone would feed them information in stacks of
punched cards and then wait hours for a printout of
answers. Interactive computing was a thing of the future,
or in science fiction. But it was growing in (DR. ENGELBART's)
restless mind.
In his dream, he saw himself (SITting) in front of a large
computer screen full of different symbols. The screen, he
thought, would serve as a display for a workstation that
would organize all the information and communications
for a given project.
Helping hands
I think nobody likes it when his house is in a mess. Doing household chores and keeping the house clean and cozy are necessary in every flat.
My parents work hard and they get rather tired after work. So it goes without saying that they don’t have to manage all the housework and I have to help them. Everyone in our family has some household chores. But frankly speaking I must admit that my mother does the majority of the housework. Some things must be done every day, others need to be done once or twice a week (like watering the plants).
My daily chores are making my bed, washing up, tidying my room in the evening, cleaning my shoes and taking out the rubbish. This is my usual routine. I also pick up my little sister from the kindergarten. Fortunately I don’t have to cook any food because my mum and granny do that and they really enjoy cooking. I just sometimes help them and serve the table. Once or twice a week my mother asks me to go shopping to the nearest food supermarket. I usually buy some bread, milk, fruits and vegetables.
Once a week, on Sundays my parents give the flat a big cleaning. There is a lot of work to do: dusting the furniture, ironing the clothes, mopping the floor, clearing out the bathroom and the kitchen. I am busy with vacuum-cleaning the carpets in our bedrooms and cleaning the mirrors.
I don’t consider my household chores difficult and I can cope with them easily, but sometimes I feel a bit lazy or I may be too busy with my school homework.
