In closing, many thanks to all who posted these warm, wonderful, heartfelt, fun birthday tributes!

In the spirit of Doug's vision for technology offering multiple views of the same information, you can browse a table of contents view of these posts, categorized into family, peers, etc., at the Celebrating Doug's 85th Birthday page on the Doug Engelbart Institute website.

Posts were accepted on or before Feb 1, 2010.

Special thanks to our friends at the New Media Consortium for making all this possible!

Dear Doug,

From snowy & cold Switzerland, let me wish you a very Happy 85th Birthday!

Doug let me also take this opportunity to deeply Thank You for all what have brought to Logitech!

Indeed that little mouse of yours has been and still is the basis for our enduring Vision of

the "Interface between People & Technology", first around the PC and now expanding

into the Digital Home!

While working from Logitech's Fremont, you had the little sketch below posted on the door of your office!

An interesting way to look at things :-), reminding us also the Humility with which you have always approached

Research, while making such a unique contribution to our world!

Warmest Regards,
bobo, Logitech's co-founder

Kind regards,

When you came into this world 85 years ago, did your parents have any inkling that their son Doug would change this world forever, as well as the lives of the countless men and women who have been inspired by your brilliance, your heroic persistence, and your dreams of how the world could be? I think there must have been something very special in your eyes from the moment you opened them on the world around you. How proud your parents would be to see the son they raised! And how proud we all are to know you and celebrate your life with you this day. Your birthday is a special day for all of us.

You have changed my life, Doug. Every time I hear you speak or read your words, you touch my heart and give me hope and courage. My blog post today is a gift for you: http://www.gardnercampbell.net/blog1/?p=1201. I still can't put into words how much your life and work continue to mean to me, but I won't stop trying.

Happy, happy birthday, Doug, and many happy returns of the day!

Ever your student,
Gardner Campbell
Baylor University

Happy Birthday Doug! Thank you so much for all you've done for the
world. Truly inspiring.

Here's a little gift I made for you:

Sincerely,

Lee Thompson

I've printed up a copy of AHI62 to reread today.

Your work has augmented the thinking of myself and many others. Let
2010 be the year it converges!

Sandra Prow
London, UK

Doug did none of that. He spoke about collective intelligence and
bootstrapping and improvement communities. He used language I didn't
understand, and it was all about the future, not the past.

I didn't understand what he was saying, but I kept coming back. There
was something in what he said and how he said it that I found
compelling and important, and it made me want to understand. I started
reading his papers and attending all his talks.

Then I enrolled in a course Doug taught at Stanford in 2000, almost
exactly ten years ago. That was a life-changing moment for me on two
levels. First, I started to understand Doug's language, and it
completely changed how I viewed the world. Second, I started to get to
know Doug as a person, whose gentleness and warmth made his message
that much more compelling and meaningful. Doug cares about people.
That's why he's so passionate about what he does, and that's why he's
still doing it at 85 years young.

Doug, you have a been a great friend and a great model. I treasure our
friendship, and I wish you the best. Happy Birthday!

Doug,

Greetings on your 85th birthday. I felt so fortunate to be able to share daily conversations with you while you had your office near mine at Logitech. You have made so many lives richer with your vision and insights and stories. I miss our visits!

Nancy Morrison