History of Computer Mouse

Trackballs, light pens, and other clever pointing devices were widespread. Then the mouse
was invented. Twice. (Well, at least twice.)

Doug Engelbart reportedly conceived the mouse during a conference lecture in 1961. His first
design, in 1963, used rolling wheels inspired by mechanical area-measuring devices called
planimeters invented in the 1800s.

Engineers at Germany’s Telefunken also invented a mouse in the mid-1960s. First described
in 1968, their version used a rolling ball—essentially a small, upside-down trackball—which
became the standard for decades.

When asked who named his most famous invention, Doug Engelbart recalled, “No one can
remember. It just looked like a mouse with a tail, and we all called it that.” The wire “tail”
originally came out under the user’s wrist.

The basic idea of the mouse is simple, but there are many variations on the theme. Engineers
have experimented with different shapes, numbers of buttons, internal mechanisms, and
aesthetics -- as well as with the part of the human body that activates it.

Types of Computer Mouse
Type Description Pros Cons
Wired A mouse that is cabled to the  Faster than  Don't travel
mouse computer. Earlier mice were all wireless mouse well
wired via the PS/2 port and  Less expensive  Less
subsequently USB. Although  Don’t need convenient
people like the convenience of batteries
wireless mice, gamers prefer  Not susceptible
wired mice for maximum speed to interference
either via USB or preferably PS/2.
Contrast with wireless mouse.
See PS/2 port and mouse.
Bluetooth A bluetooth mouse is a computer  Compatible  Not User-
mouse mouse that uses radio waves to with many friendly
communicate wirelessly with a different  Insecurity
computer. Bluetooth mice are devices.  More
mobile, have a great range, and  Mobility expensive than
can be used with many different wired mouse
devices.
Trackball A trackball is a pointing  People with  Not as precise
mouse device consisting of a ball held by existing RSI as a mouse for
a socket containing sensors to issues stemming certain tasks
detect a rotation of the ball about from using a  Not suited for
two axes—like an upside- regular mouse fast paced
down mouse with an exposed  Disabled or old gaming
protruding ball. Users roll the ball people who
to position the on-screen pointer, cannot hold a
using their thumb, fingers, or mouse steady
commonly the palm of while clicking
the hand while using the fingertips friendly
to press the mouse buttons.  ergonomic
Optical An optical mouse is an advanced  High cursor  does not work
mouse computer pointing device that uses accuracy well on all the
a light-emitting diode ( LED ), an  energy required surfaces
optical sensor, and digital signal for its use is
processing ( DSP ) in place of the significantly
traditional mouse ball and lower than the
electromechanical transducer. optimal mouse.
Movement is detected by sensing
changes in reflected light, rather
than by interpreting the motion of
a rolling sphere.
Laser A laser mouse is a type of optical  ○ Uses an  ○ Overly
mouse mouse that uses laser light to invisible beam accurate and
detect mouse movement. Like to map out the not ideal for
all optical mice, it has no moving surface some tasks
parts inside. underneath the  ○ More
mouse expensive than
 ○ Processes at a an optical LED
rate of 6000 mouse
DPI
 ○ Superior
accuracy
 ○ Can be used
on any surface

Magic The Magic Mouse is a multi-  Small footprint  Not ergonomic

mouse touch mouse that is manufactured  Free with Mac  Bad charging
and sold by Apple. It was first desktop port placement
sold on October 20, 2009. The  Multi-touch
Magic Mouse is the first consumer surface
mouse to have multi-  Apple aesthetic
touch capabilities. Taking after
the iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, and
multi-touch trackpads, the Magic
Mouse allows the use
of gestures such as swiping and
scrolling across the top surface of
the mouse to interact with desktop
computers. It connects
via Bluetooth and runs on two AA
batteries. Apple includes two non-
rechargeable batteries in the box.
Until 2016, Apple sold a battery
charger which could charge two
AA batteries, suited for the Magic
Mouse. Like its predecessor,
the Mighty Mouse, the Magic
Mouse is capable of control-
clicking without requiring the key
combination
Vertical A vertical mouse is ergonomically  Ergonomic  More expensive
mouse shaped to help the user maintain  Avoid wrist and  Takes a lot to
that handshake design while forearm get used to
operating it. Instead of twisting pronation
your wrist so it's parallel to the
desk to operate a regular mouse,
there is little to no twisting of the
wrist required to grasp a vertical
mouse.

Wired mouse

Bluetooth mouse
Trackball mouse

Optical mouse

Laser mouse
Magic mouse

Vertical mouse

https://www.computerhistory.org/revolution/input-output/14/350#:~:text=Doug%20Engelbart
%20reportedly%20conceived%20the,mouse%20in%20the%20mid%2D1960s

https://www.computerhistory.org/revolution/input-output/14/350#:~:text=Doug%20Engelbart
%20reportedly%20conceived%20the,mouse%20in%20the%20mid%2D1960s

https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/wired-mouse#:~:text=A%20mouse%20that
%20is%20cabled,PS%2F2%20port%20and%20mouse.

https://www.tech-faq.com/bluetooth-mouse.html#:~:text=A%20bluetooth%20mouse%20is
%20a,used%20with%20many%20different%20devices.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trackball

https://www.lifewire.com/wired-or-wireless-mouse-2640091

https://ergonomictrends.com/trackball-vs-regular-ergonomic-mouse/

https://www.tech-faq.com/bluetooth-mouse.html

https://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/optical-mouse
https://www.techwalla.com/articles/advantages-disadvantages-of-an-optical-mouse

https://www.computerhope.com/jargon/l/lasemous.htm

https://thewiredshopper.com/laser-vs-optical-led-mouse/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_Mouse#:~:text=The%20Magic%20Mouse%20is
%20a,manufactured%20and%20sold%20by%20Apple.&text=Taking%20after%20the
%20iPhone%2C%20iPad,to%20interact%20with%20desktop%20computers.