Under Construction
2026 / SUMMER EXHIBITION
GCFeatured Exhibition

GO Corporation
and the Vision of
Pen-Based Computing

GO Corporation's PenPoint, released in 1991, was the first operating system designed from the ground up for pen input rather than keyboard — pioneering gesture commands, embedded handwriting recognition, and a notebook metaphor that would echo through every stylus and touch system that followed.

GO Corporation and the Vision of Pen-Based Computing
Now on view
Permanent collection
Artifacts
Approx. 30,000
Catalogued
174
Timeline span
1987 — 2007
Recorded events
1956 milestones

Exhibitions
now on view.

One Special Exhibition Drawn directly from the museum's collection of artifacts, magazines, and primary documents.
GC Featured Exhibition
Under Construction GO Corporation and the Vision of Pen-Based Computing

GO Corporation and the Vision of Pen-Based Computing

GO Corporation's PenPoint, released in 1991, was the first operating system designed from the ground up for pen input rather than keyboard — pioneering gesture commands, embedded handwriting recognition, and a notebook metaphor that would echo through every stylus and touch system that followed.

Featured artifacts.

From the collection 18 recently catalogued objects, drawn from 174 in the permanent collection.
View all artifacts
Stylus Publishing 1992
Pen-Based Computing: Volume 2, Number 2 (Cover)

Pen-Based Computing – May, 1992 – Volume 2, Number 2
Stylus Publishing 1992
Pen-Based Computing: Volume 2, Number 1 (Cover)

Pen-Based Computing – February, 1992 – Volume 2, Number 1
aha! software corporation 1994
aha! software corp. - InkWriter 2.0 for Windows Brochure (Front)

aha! software corporation – InkWriter 2.0 for Windows (Brochure)
Communication Intelligence Corp. 1997
Communication Intelligence Corp. - QuickNotes 2.0 Windows CE User's Guide (Cover)

Communication Intelligence Corp. – QuickNotes 2.0 Package Windows CE (Shrinkwrapped)
Communication Intelligence Corp. 1997
Communication Intelligence Corp. - QuickNotes 2.0 Windows CE User's Guide (Cover)

Communication Intelligence Corp. – QuickNotes 2.0 (Windows CE)
AllPen Software, Inc.
AllPen Software Inc. -Company Brochure (Cover)

AllPen Software, Inc. – Company Brochure
Metrowerks, Inc. 1997
Metrowerks, Inc. - Metrowerks to Support Windows CE 2.0 Press Release (Page 1)

Metrowerks, Inc. – Metrowerks to Support Windows CE 2.0 (Press Release)
PenMagic Software Inc. 1993
PenMagic Numero 2.0 Product Fact Sheet (Front)

PenMagic Numero 2.0 (Product Fact Sheet)
Creative Digital, Inc. 1997
Creative Digital - The Handheld Computer Almanac (Cover)

The Handheld Computer Almanac
Software Partners, Inc. 1994
Software Partners, Inc. - FreeStyle Version 1.0 Package (Front)

Software Partners, Inc. – FreeStyle Version 1.0 (Magic Cap)
PenWorld, Incorporated 1994
Personal Electronics News - Issue 16 - March/April 1994 (Cover)

Personal Electronics News, Issue 16, March/April 1994
aha! software corporation 1994
aha! InkWriter for Windows 2.0 Quick Reference (Cover)

aha! InkWriter 2.0 for Windows Quick Reference
Palmtop Publications 1997
Palmtop Journal - Issue 12 (Cover)

Palmtop – Issue 12
GO Corporation 1994
Startup: A Silicon Valley Adventure - Jerry Kaplan (Cover)

Startup: A Silicon Valley Adventure Story
aha! software corporation 1993
aha! InkWriter Handbook - PenPoint (Cover)

aha InkWriter Handbook (PenPoint)
GO Corporation 1992
GO Corporation - Using PenPoint (Cover)

GO Corporation – Using PenPoint
Addison-Wesley Publishing Company 1992
GO Corporation - PenPoint Architectural Reference Volume II (Cover)

GO Corporation – PenPoint Architectural Reference – Volume II
Addison-Wesley Publishing Company 1992
GO Corporation - PenPoint User Interface Design Reference (Cover)

GO Corporation – PenPoint User Interface Design Reference

A chronology.

1987 — 2007 Selected from the museum's 1956 catalogued timeline events.
View full timeline
1987Software
Communication Intelligence Corp. Lists on the Vancouver Stock Exchange
Communication Intelligence Corp. were posted and called for trading on the Vancouver Stock Exchange this morning, at the opening.
1989Hardware
GRiD Introduces PC-Compatible Computer that Recognizes Printed Handwriting
GRiD Systems Corp. introduces GRiDPad, a computer so light it can be held in one hand and used while standing or walking.
1990Software
GRiD Systems Introduces European Character Set Handwriting Recognition Software
GRiD Systems Corp. introduces European character set handwriting recognition software for the GRiDPAD line of pen interface handheld computers.
1998Communications
3COM Reliable XJACK Connectors on World’s Most Popular 10 MBPS LAN & 10/100 CardBus PC Cards
The technology offers reliable performance to mobile users who connect their mobile devices to Ethernet or Fast Ethernet networks.
2000Publication
Mobile Insights Announces Winners of Mobility Awards at Sixth Annual Mobile Insights Conference
Mobile Insights, Inc. (MI) announces the winners of its Mobility Awards at the sixth annual Mobile Insights Conference, held this week at…
2005Hardware
Palm Names Michael R. Farese and Rena Lane as Senior Vice Presidents
Palm, Inc. announces the appointments of Michael R. "Mike" Farese, senior vice president, engineering, and Rena Lane, senior vice president, human resources.
2007Hardware
Apple Reinvents the Phone With iPhone
Apple introduces iPhone, combining three products-a revolutionary mobile phone, a widescreen iPod with touch controls, and a breakthrough Internet communications device with…

The collection.

Browse 174 artifacts Indexed by category from the collection.
    CO

    Coupon

    1 item →
    EI

    Eidetic

    4 items →
    LE

    Lexicus

    4 items →
    WM

    Wireless for the Corporate User Magazine

    2 items →
    BR

    Brochure

    10 items →
    OR

    Oracle

    2 items →
    TA

    Tablet

    2 items →
    DR

    Draft

    1 item →
    FR

    Franklin

    2 items →
    GM

    General Magic

    18 items →
    KE

    Keyboard

    1 item →
    VB

    Visitor's Badge

    1 item →
    SP

    Software Partners

    1 item →
    RO

    Royal

    1 item →

    Pen-Based Computing,
    the newsletter.

    Eight volumes · Sixty five issues The original newsletter — every issue digitized in full (soon).
    Pen-Based Computing – February, 1992 – Volume 2, Number 1

    Volume 2 · Issue 01 Pen-Based Computing – February, 1992 – Volume 2, Number 1

    16 pp
    Pen-Based Computing – November 11, 1991 – Volume 1, Number 6

    Volume 1 · Issue 06 Pen-Based Computing – November 11, 1991 – Volume 1, Number 6

    16 pp
    Pen-Based Computing – May, 1991 – Volume 1, Number 2

    Volume 1 · Issue 02 Pen-Based Computing – May, 1991 – Volume 1, Number 2

    16 pp
    04 · Donate

    Donate an
    artifact.

    The museum collects hardware, software, manuals, photographs, marketing collateral, oral histories, and ephemera related to the early history of stylus-based computing.

    Learn how to donate →
    05 · Subscribe Coming Soon

    PBCHM
    Monthly.

    Learn about new acquisitions, recovered manuals, oral histories, and unearthed discoveries.

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