I was a participant at a mathematics summer school at the local atomic research centre in Sydney in 1980. The focus was on mathematical modelling and using comp

I was a participant at a mathematics summer school at the local atomic research centre in Sydney in 1980. The focus was on mathematical modelling and using computers to realise those models. (The theme was looking at predicting fuel demand especially oil). It was great fun learning to program FORTRAN on a mainframe, BASIC on a minicomputer and see other computers including an analog computer in actual use. One really striking display was them showing a light-pen input with a vector graphic display. I distinctly recall how out-of-the-future it seemed when the demonstrator used the rubber banding effect of drawing shapes by stretching their dimensions, and then selecting tools from a palette on the edge with the pen and manipulating the diagram he was building. It certainly seemed mind-blowing to this 17 year old at the time.