#graphics user interface

Introduced by Apple in 1984, the original Macintosh created a revolution in computing. 

Instead of being developed as the typical utilitarian box whose interface relied on a relatively deep knowledge of computer hardware and programming commands, the Macintosh team instead decided to focus on the user, and through that created an interactive experience that embraced how people actually work in the real world. By changing the interface paradigm to one that used the analogy of a real-world office represented by interactive iconography, the user was free to use and explore the computer in a way that was much more natural and understandable to them. And even more importantly, that lower entry point allowed users to focus on the projects they wanted to accomplish and without the need of complex and intimidating software commands.

The ease of use of the Macintosh brought a democratizing spirit to computing, giving people who would not otherwise think they had the ability to use a computer a simple to use tool by which they could actualize their ideas.

It’s difficult to understate the importance the Macintosh had on changing the course of computing. After its release, most computing moved to the user oriented, ease of use model of the Macintosh. Even today, the interaction we have on our computing devices still relies on the concepts the Macintosh pioneered.