BEFORE EXAMINING GOOGLE Docs’ features, it’s worth acknowledging that all software features are the product of kleptomania, which in this field is rampantly practiced and knowingly forgiven. Google Docs’ edit history feature comes from, of course, Microsoft Word’s “Track Changes” feature, which can find its elementary form in WordPerfect. And

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Over the next few months, Fry and Silver developed a piece of paper that would stick to a page, but could be easily removed and reapplied over and over. Eventually, this little project became one of the best-selling office supplies of all-time: the Post-It Note.

Penicillin was unintentionally birthed when a rogue mold developed during a scientist’s vacation. Coca-Cola was invented by a pharmacist trying to create an effective, opiate-free painkiller. Smoke detectors were originally intended to detect poison gas, not smoke, while Post-it notes were created when a scientist tasked with formulating a strong... See more

It was 1974 and Art Fry was spending his weekend singing for the local church choir. On this particular Sunday, Fry was dealing with a relatively boring problem: he couldn’t keep his bookmarks in place.