Hypercard 1.0 as it was first sold in August 1987.
Creative Commons LicenseJeremy Norman Collection of Images - Creative Commons
Hypercard 1.0 as it was first sold in August 1987.
The first page opening of the original Hypercard brochure. The brochure emphasized the association of ideas with repeated reference to Vannevar Bush and the Memex, mentioning that Bush develo
The first page opening of the original Hypercard brochure. The brochure emphasized the association of ideas with repeated reference to Vannevar Bush and the Memex, mentioning that Bush developed the Memex in 1945.
In the second page opening of the original Hypercard brochure Apple continued the reference to Vannevar Bush and association of ideas as presented in the Memex.
In the second page opening of the original Hypercard brochure Apple continued the reference to Vannevar Bush and association of ideas as presented in the Memex.
n the third page opening references to Vannevar Bush and the Memex continue
In the third page opening references to Vannevar Bush and the Memex continue
The fourth page opening in the first Apple Hypercard brochure.
The fourth page opening in the first Apple Hypercard brochure.
Final page of the first Hypercard brochure.  The date 8/87 is visible in the lower left corner.
Final page of the first Hypercard brochure.  The date 8/87 is visible in the lower left corner.
Hypercard Buttons

Buttons given away with HyperCard. The motto, alluding to the power of hypertext, was "Freedom to Associate". Thanks to Bob Stein for this image.

Bill Atkinson
Image Source: twitter.com

Bill Atkinson

Detail map of Cupertino, California, United States Overview map of Cupertino, California, United States

A: Cupertino, California, United States

Apple Introduces Bill Atkinson's HyperCard, Referencing Vannevar Bush and the Memex in the Marketing

8/1987
First page of the original brochure published by Apple to market Hypercard. The brochure is dated August 1987
First page of the original brochure published by Apple to market Hypercard. The brochure is dated August 1987.

Following an LSD trip, in 1985 American computer engineer Bill Atkinson began developing a program initially called WildCard. It was released in August 1987 for the Mac as HyperCard. Atkinson developed the program independently, and gave it Apple with the understanding that the company would release it for free on all Macs. The program was credited with "putting the power of computer programming and database design into the hands of nonprogrammers." The program became one of the earliest vehicles for electronic publishing. Interactive databases developed using HyperCard may be considered some of the first "electronic books".

Apple started charging for Hypercard 2.0 in 1990, and when Steve Jobs returned to Apple in 1997, he discontinued Hypercard. This was resented by many loyal users who loved the product, especially its great ease of use.

An introduction to Apple's Hypercard. Guests include Apple Fellow and Hypercard creator Bill Atkinson, Hypercard senior engineer Dan Winkler, author of "The Complete Hypercard Handbook" Danny Goodman, and Robert Stein, Publisher of Voyager Company. Demonstrations include Hypercard 1.0, Complete Car Cost Guide, Focal Point, Laserstacks, and National Galllery of Art. Originally broadcast in 1987. Copyright 1987 Stewart Cheifet Productions.

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