Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1963
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
SKETCHPAD, created by Ivan Sutherland, is widely regarded as the first interactive computer-aided design system. It introduced innovations such as constraint-based drawing, object hierarchies, and direct manipulation with a light pen, laying the foundations for modern CAD, GUIs, and human–computer interaction.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
Historical accounts credit MIT’s Lincoln Laboratory and the TX-2 platform with enabling real-time interaction, which in 1963 was revolutionary. Sutherland’s demonstration showcased geometric constraints, replication of components, and interactive editing—capabilities that prefigured later CAD systems and graphical user interfaces.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Verification / Alternative check:
Standard computing history sources and Sutherland’s thesis confirm MIT, 1963, as the correct pairing; the other locations and years do not match the historical record.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Common Pitfalls:
Confusing later CAD milestones (e.g., commercial packages in the 1970s–80s) with SKETCHPAD’s original academic demonstration.
Final Answer:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1963.
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