In the history of computer graphics, SKETCHPAD—the pioneering interactive CAD system—was publicly demonstrated where and when?

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:

• We seek the correct venue and year of the original demonstration.
• SKETCHPAD was a graduate research project (Sutherland’s 1963 PhD thesis).
• The system ran on the TX-2 computer.

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.