This Month in PH History

It's not commonly known, but PH is responsible for many of the advanced user interface innovations we take for granted today. In this undated photograph, Dr. Corvalis G. Hitchens is shown with the very first trackball mouse. It was to be used in the first laptop Hollerith Machine, installed on British Naval Frigates to greatly simplify the control of depth charge launching mortars. Unfortunately the mouse and it's mounting crane (not shown here) proved unsuitable for naval applications, their weight causing the HMS Lancelot to roll over during maneuvers with the loss of the ship's parrot.