Fire in the Mind focuses on one decade - the 1970s, and the computer revolution set forth by the thousands involved in that industry whose ideas seeded everything done with computers today. The book provides a history of calculating devices that eventually led to the creation of electromechanical computers in the early 20th century, and then on to defining how computers were seen in the 1950's - all leading up to the amazing decade of computer ideas spawned by the microprocessor. Over 250 companies from around the world were thoroughly researched for their contributions to the computers we use today. Before these companies (and extremely talented individuals) that may one day soon disappear completely from history, this book offers a description of their genesis, the ideas and products they developed, and how others built on their foundations. How did the ubiquitous mouse get developed and by whom? Who developed the first portable computer? In addition to the United States, what roles did Japan, Canada, Russia, England, France, and Italy play in the computer revolution? Each company was researched with interviews (where possible), combing through old ads and magazines, travelling to museums around the world, and pouring through literature. The outcome is a book that provides an insight into an incredible decade of ideas that lit technology fires around the world.