On December 9, 1968, Douglas Engelbart of the Stanford Research Institute in Menlo Park, California, gave a presentation known as 'The Mother of All Demos'. During this demo, he introduced the computer mouse, a wooden device with a single button. This was a pivotal moment in the development of modern computing, as the mouse became the primary way to interact with graphical user interfaces.

The computer mouse was essential for the development of the graphical user interface, which made personal computers accessible to writers and poets. It allowed for point-and-click interaction with text, making word processing more intuitive and visual. The mouse enabled the precise manipulation of text and layout on screen, becoming an indispensable tool for poets who embraced digital composition and the visual possibilities of the page.