The Xerox's Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) officially opened its doors on July 1, 1970.
1971-1973 - World's first laser printer
1972 - first version of Smalltalk is deployed, the first object-oriented programming language with an integrated user interface, overlapping windows, integrated documents, and cut & paste editor
1973 - patent memo describing a new networking system uses the term "Ethernet" which will become a global standard for interconnecting computers on local-area networks
1973 - Alto personal computer becomes operational. As it evolves, the Alto will feature the world's first What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get (WYSIWYG) editor, a commercial mouse for input, a graphical user interface (GUI), and bit-mapped display, and will offer menus and icons, link to a local area network and store files simultaneously.

The executives at Xerox did not understand the gold mine they were sitting on! In 1980 Steve Jobs paid US$1 million to visit PARC. He is shown Ethernet, Smalltalk, and the Alto. As a result Apple releases the Lisa in 1983 and the Macintosh in 1984!