Aside from the occasional trackball, almost every desktop computer has a mouse connected to it. However, the mouse has not always been the most common pointing device, and it has gone through many changes during its nearly thirty-year history. Keep reading to learn more about the history of computer mice...
In the 1960's, a relatively unknown inventor Douglas Englebart, wanted to create a way for people to interact with a computer screen.
With the help of Bill English, a pioneer of human-computer interaction, he came up with all sorts of ideas, including a giant metal track ball and a knee operated device- which looked more like a medieval torture device than a computer peripheral, but these devices lacked speed and accuracy unlike his personal favorite-a mouse which was nothing more than a carved block of wood with some electronics inside.
In September 1972, Englebart's project partner-English-built the roller ball mouse, it could navigate a pointer around the screen with ease, and it was so successful that despite advances in technology, you can still buy a basic no frills roller ball mouse today.
In the early 1980s computer mice were not so popular because many computers didn’t have an additional expansion board to use them that’s why uch pointing devices like trackballs, joysticks and light pens were more widespread. But in 1981 the company made history by introducing the first computer with a mouse and a graphical user interface, but it took years for other brands to begin doing the same. Many mice were beige or white, but Tandy offered a black mouse with an orange button for their TRS-80 Color Computer series.
In the late 1980s a greater variety of IBM-compatible computers began to be sold with a serial port built-in, and Apple Macintosh systems were among the first to be sold with a mouse included. At that time Most mice had either one or two buttons.
Some IBM-compatible computer systems were sold with mice included during the early 1990s, especially in the years after 1991. One-button mice had become relatively inexpensive, but the 1990 Radio Shack catalog still listed two-button units for $49.95, and a Logitech three-button mouse cost just under $100.
In the middle of 1995 and more computers were being sold with mice, and one-button units were largely abandoned except for Macintosh systems. Windows 95 (and later versions) added a useful feature which enables keyboard-only users to control the mouse pointer and buttons with their numeric keypads.
In the recent history the roller ball mouse has gradually been phased out over the past ten years, replaced by the optical mouse, and more recently the laser mouse, both these types beat the roller ball mouse hands down, you don't require a rubber mat for them, with the laser mouse if you had the inclination, you could surf the internet on your laptop whilst doing a bungee jump, brushing your hair and singing the national anthem at the same time it is so accurate.
These days there are mice that are specifically designed for games, allowing you to tailor their feel depending on the game you are playing.
Logitech released a mouse recently that uses gyroscopic technology so that you can make changes to applications in Windows Vista by moving your arms about, despite the advances of the mouse, the humble roller mouse will be missed by many, it's hover like skills that saved you from having to dust your desktop.
The mouse will be around for some time to come, although computer interaction technology is continually changing. For example, the pen and tablet combo offers the added benefit of allowing you to draw and write by moving your fingers on the screen, and maybe in the near or remote future by moving your eye. This would be a fun development for someone watching an office full of people wiggling their fingers or winking at their computer screens.
Quite a history for a humble gray computer mouse)
The final Curious © phrase:
“The mouse lordships where a cat is not”
(English saying)
