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
246
Timeline span
1987 — 2007
Recorded events
2001 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 objects selected at random, drawn from 246 in the permanent collection.
View all artifacts
Creative Digital, Inc. 1996

PDA Developers – Volume 4.2 – March/April 1996
Volksware, Inc. 1997
Pen-Based Computing: Volume 7 Number 2 (Cover)

Pen-Based Computing – February, 1997 – Volume 7, Number 2
GeoWorks Corporation 1992
GeoWorks, Inc. - GEOS Software Development Kit Concepts - Volume 2, Release 0.8 (Cover)

GeoWorks, Inc. – GEOS Software Development Kit Concepts, Volume 2, Release 0.8 (Documentation)
Apple Computer, Inc. 1994
Apple eWorld (Stickers)

Apple eWorld (Stickers)
GO Corporation 1992

GO Corporation PenPointers January 1992 (Newsletter)
Volksware, Inc. 1996
Pen-Based Computing: Volume 6, Number 7 (Cover)

Pen-Based Computing – July, 1996 – Volume 6, Number 7
General Magic, Inc. 1996
General Magic Visitor's Badge (John Jerney, 10/25/96)

General Magic Visitor’s Badge (John Jerney, 10/25/1996)
Volksware, Inc. 1995
Pen-Based Computing: Volume 5, Number 4 (Cover)

Pen-Based Computing – April, 1995 – Volume 5, Number 4
Metrowerks, Inc. 1997
Metrowerks, Inc. - Metrowerks to Support Windows CE 2.0 Press Release (Side 1)

Metrowerks, Inc. – Metrowerks to Support Windows CE 2.0 (Press Release)
Creative Digital, Inc. 1996

PDA Developers – Volume 4.3 – May/June 1996
Watcom International Corporation 1991

WATCOM C/386 User’s Guide for PenPoint
aha! software corporation 1995

aha! InkWriter for Tablets (Promotional Card)
GO Corporation 1992

GO Corporation PenPointers June/July 1992 (Newsletter)
3Com Corporation 1997

3Com PalmPilot Modem
Stylus Publishing 1991
Pen-Based Computing: Volume 1, Number 3 (Cover)

Pen-Based Computing – June 20, 1991 – Volume 1, Number 3
Pen Computing Magazine 2000
Pen Computing Magazine – November 2000 (Cover)

Pen Computing Magazine – November 2000
GO Corporation 1992

GO Corporation Correspondence – Quick Start Program (April 2, 1992)
aha! software corporation 1994
aha! software corp. - InkWriter 2.0 for Windows Application Example (Page 1)

aha! software corp. – InkWriter 2.0 for Windows Application Examples

A chronology.

1987 — 2007 Selected from the museum's 2001 catalogued timeline events.
View full timeline
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.
1991Hardware
GRiD Demonstrates Industry’s First Pen Computer with Wireless Communication
GRiD Systems Corp. unveils the GRiDPADRF, the industry's first pen computer with integrated wireless communications capability.
1995Software
PenUltimate Announces Completion of $ 600,000 Private Placement; Release of new Software in Early 1996
Locomotion is a suite of integrated business applications for Personal Digital Assistants using Apple Computer's Newton 2.0 operating system.
2000Software
Palm Computing is First Wireless Platform for AlphaServ.com’s Network Query Language
Programmers using the language will be able to create and deploy intelligent agent-based applications from a Palm VII mobile computing device.
2002Software
Metrowerks Makes Transition to Palm OS 5 Platform Easy for Developers
New CodeWarrior toolset for Palm OS platform with ARM Core Compiler enables faster creation of Palm OS 5 ARMlet application.
2003Organization
AMD and Metrowerks Announce First Demonstration of OpenPDA Platform at LinuxWorld New York 2003
Software platform for developing PDAs and smart phones will enable feature-rich handheld computing products based on AMD Alchemy Solutions Au1100 processor.
2004Organization
Survey: Psychiatrists Using Handheld Computers to Improve Quality of Patient Care
Skyscape survey finds key psychiatric reference use on PDAs helps reduce medical errors.

The collection.

Browse 246 artifacts Indexed by category from the collection.
    ML

    Magic Link

    1 item →
    SP

    Stylus Publishing

    19 items →
    AS

    Ashton-Tate

    2 items →
    BR

    Brochure

    12 items →
    TC

    Thaddeus Computing

    2 items →
    WP

    Word Processor

    11 items →
    KE

    Keyboard

    1 item →
    HR

    Handwriting Recognition

    7 items →
    VB

    Visitor's Badge

    1 item →
    RO

    Royal

    1 item →
    ZO

    Zoomer

    2 items →
    PN

    Personal Electronics News

    15 items →
    JJ

    John Jerney

    61 items →
    CD

    Creative Digital

    22 items →

    Pen-Based Computing,
    the newsletter.

    Eight volumes · Sixty five issues The original newsletter — every issue digitized in full (soon).
    View all issues
    Pen-Based Computing – February, 1993 – Volume 3, Number 1

    Volume 3 · Issue 01 Pen-Based Computing – February, 1993 – Volume 3, Number 1

    16 pp
    Pen-Based Computing – December, 1993 – Volume 3, Number 6

    Volume 3 · Issue 06 Pen-Based Computing – December, 1993 – Volume 3, Number 6

    16 pp
    Pen-Based Computing – June 20, 1991 – Volume 1, Number 3

    Volume 1 · Issue 03 Pen-Based Computing – June 20, 1991 – Volume 1, Number 3

    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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