I recently learned that German company Telefunken arguably invented the computer mouse. They offered a “Rollkugelsteuerung” (“rolling ball control”) for one of their mainframes in 1968, months before Douglas Engelbart’s “mother of all demos”. Telefunken’s mouse was also more advanced than Engelbart’s mouse as it used a ball instead of two wheels. (Photo credit:
Marcin Wichary, CC-BY 2.0, https://www.flickr.com/photos/8399025@N07/2322838281 and https://www.flickr.com/photos/mwichary/2322836557/)
Unique mouse from Telefunken, pt. 2

Flickr
@ole @nblr i just learned Telefunken once builded Mainframes
@irgendwienet @ole @nblr the Telefunken mainframes are part of the lost legacy of German computer development, since it didn't really leave a legacy. The German Museum in Munich had one on display, but their computer science exhibition is being renovated right now.
And a sad assembly of TR440 parts still exists in the FAU Erlangen
@mxk @ole @nblr I have to revisit Munich. Last time I was only one day in the museum. Remember other computer but no Telefunken.
@irgendwienet @ole @nblr as said, this exhibition is closed and will be completely redone. Till then, rather visit the Technik Museum Berlin for German computer history.
@mxk @ole @nblr I know that very well since I'm living in Berlin 😀