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
224
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 224 in the permanent collection.
View all artifacts
Palm, Inc. 2000

Palm Portable Keyboard (V Series)
Stylus Publishing 1992
Pen-Based Computing: Volume 2, Number 3 (Cover)

Pen-Based Computing – August, 1992 – Volume 2, Number 3
GO Corporation 1992

GO Corporation Correspondence – Quick Start Program (April 2, 1992)
GO Corporation 1992

GO Corporation PenPointers October 1992 (Newsletter)
Stylus Publishing 1993
Pen-Based Computing: Volume 3, Number 5 (Cover)

Pen-Based Computing – October/November, 1993 – Volume 3, Number 5
Metrowerks, Inc. 1997

Metrowerks CodeWarrior for PalmPilot Release 3 (Package)
Pen Computing Magazine 1997
Pen Computing Magazine – December 1997 (Cover)

Pen Computing Magazine – December 1997
GO Corporation 1992

GO Corporation PenPointers December 1992 (Newsletter)
Volksware, Inc. 1995
Pen-Based Computing: Volume 5, Number 6 (Cover)

Pen-Based Computing – June, 1995 – Volume 5, Number 6
Creative Digital, Inc. 1995

Pen Computing Magazine – June/July 1995
GeoWorks Corporation 1992
GeoWorks, Inc. - GEOS Software Development Kit Swat, Release 0.8 (Cover)

GeoWorks, Inc. – GEOS Software Development Kit Swat, Release 0.8 (Documentation)
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)
Stylus Publishing 1991
Pen-Based Computing: Volume 1, Number 4 (Cover)

Pen-Based Computing – August, 1991 – Volume 1, Number 4
Volksware, Inc. 1994
Pen-Based Computing: Volume 4, Number 3 (Cover)

Pen-Based Computing – April, 1994 – Volume 4, Number 3
Pen Computing Magazine 2000
Pen Computing Magazine – November 2000 (Cover)

Pen Computing Magazine – November 2000
Volksware, Inc. 1994
Pen-Based Computing: Volume 4, Number 9 (Cover)

Pen-Based Computing – November, 1994 – Volume 4, Number 9
Palmtop Publications 2000
Palmtop Journal – Issue 30 (Cover)

Palmtop – Issue 30
Avail Technology, Inc. 1994
Avail Technology – Free TapWorks Software Coupon (Front)

Avail Technology Free TapWorks Software (Coupon)

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.
1990Software
Slate Developing Set of Applications for GO Operating Environment
Slate Corp., the first company founded expressly to develop software for pen-based computers, announces that it will publish a set of applications…
1992Hardware
SUNDISK Introduces Industry’s First Standardized Credit-Card Sized Mass Storage Card
SUNDISK Corp. introduces the industry's first credit-card-sized mass storage device -- a 3 x 2-inch card that uses flash-memory technology that can…
1998Hardware
Iomega’s Clik! Drive to Extend the Capacity of Digital Cameras and Mobile Computers
Iomega Corporation announces two new retail bundles expected to give digital camera enthusiasts and handheld computer owners an easier way to transfer…
2002Hardware
Security Biometrics Inc., Signs Agreement With Datadesk Technologies, Inc.
Datadesk's first product for handheld devices is the MiniKeyboard, a miniature keyboard that provides for easier and more efficient data entry in…
2003Organization
wOz Introduces Management Team; Steve Wozniak’s New Venture Adds Top Executives From Wireless, Handheld, Software and Services Industries
Frank Canova joins wOz. Canova was previously vice president of worldwide product engineering at Palm, Inc., where he led hardware engineering for…
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 224 artifacts Indexed by category from the collection.
    NB

    Nicholas Baran

    37 items →
    HA

    Handspring

    2 items →
    JE

    Jonathan Erickson

    17 items →
    VB

    Visitor's Badge

    1 item →
    WC

    Windows for Pen Computing

    5 items →
    FU

    Fujtisu

    5 items →
    RO

    Royal

    1 item →
    PI

    Pilot

    1 item →
    MC

    Mobile Computing

    1 item →
    SP

    Stylus Publishing

    19 items →
    EM

    Ex Machina

    2 items →
    GS

    GRiD Systems

    1 item →
    CO

    3Com

    4 items →
    KE

    Keyboard

    1 item →

    Pen-Based Computing,
    the newsletter.

    Eight volumes · Sixty five issues The original newsletter — every issue digitized in full (soon).
    Pen-Based Computing – November, 1991 – Volume 1, Number 5

    Volume 1 · Issue 05 Pen-Based Computing – November, 1991 – Volume 1, Number 5

    16 pp
    Pen-Based Computing – March, 1995 – Volume 5, Number 3

    Volume 5 · Issue 03 Pen-Based Computing – March, 1995 – Volume 5, Number 3

    16 pp
    Pen-Based Computing – October/November, 1993 – Volume 3, Number 5

    Volume 3 · Issue 05 Pen-Based Computing – October/November, 1993 – Volume 3, Number 5

    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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