Computer Mouse

The mouse snap presents information about keyboards and their uses. We start with the most elementary aspect of a mouse and work up to the most technologically advanced. You will also be provided with vendors to choose from.

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Computer Mouse - Info
A mouse is a device that controls the movement of the cursor or pointer on a display screen. A mouse is a small object you can roll along a hard, flat surface. Its name is derived from its shape, which looks a bit like a mouse where one can imagine the connecting wire to be a mouse’s tail. As you move the mouse, the pointer on the display screen moves in the same direction. Mice contain at least one button and sometimes more than three, which have different functions depending on what program is running. Some newer mice also include a scroll wheel for scrolling through long documents.

Window to the Past
Invented by Douglas Engelbart of Stanford Research Center in 1963, and pioneered by Xerox in the 1970s, the mouse is one of the great breakthroughs in computer ergonomics because it frees the user to a large extent from using the keyboard. In particular, the mouse is important for graphical user interfaces because you can simply point to options and objects and click a mouse button.

Evolution of the computer mouse
It is amazing how simple and effective a mouse is. Furthermore, it is remarkable that it took such a short period for the mouse to become a part of everyday life. Given that people naturally point at things -- usually before they speak -- it is surprising that it took so long for a good pointing device to develop. Although originally conceived in the 1960s, a couple of decades passed before mice became conventional. Mice first broke onto the public stage with the introduction of the Apple Macintosh in 1984, and since then they have helped to completely redefine the way we use computers.

The Most Common Mouse
mechanical: Has a rubber or metal ball embedded beneath that can roll in all directions. Mechanical sensors within the mouse detect the direction the ball is rolling and moves the screen pointer accordingly.
optomechanical: Same as a mechanical mouse, but uses optical sensors to detect the motion of the ball.
optical: Uses a laser to detect the mouse's movement. You must move the mouse along a special mat with a grid so that the optical mechanism has a frame of reference. Optical mice have no mechanical moving parts. They respond more quickly and precisely than mechanical and optomechanical mice, however they are also more expensive.

How it works
The pointer moves relative to the movement of the ball that is inside the mouse. If you open the mouse and remove the ball inside, you'll notice 2 bars on the interior. Both bars can rotate freely, and they both control the movement of the pointer: one for the horizontal and one for the vertical movement. If you rotate only the one that controls the horizontal movement, the pointer will move horizontally on the screen, and likewise, if you rotate the one controlling the vertical movement the pointer will move either up or down. If you move both bars, the pointer moves diagonally. As the ball rolls when the mouse is moved, it rotates the 2 bars touching the ball. As a result, the pointer moves in the direction you move the mouse.

Mechanical vs. Optical
Mechanical Mice - Mechanical Mice requires that the mouse to be set on a flat surface. The distance and the speed of the rollers inside the mouse determine how far the mouse cursor moves on the screen depending on the software configuration.
Optical Mice - Optical Mice require a special mouse pad which has a grid pattern. A sensor inside the mouse determines the movement by reading the grid as the mouse passes over it while emitting a light from an LED or sometimes a laser. This type of mouse is much more accurate than the ordinary optical mechanical mouse which relies on the traction between the mouse ball and the rollers. One drawback to an optical mouse is they can have problems in bright lights. New Optical Mice no longer have the disadvantages of earlier mice and are capable of being utilized on any surface.

Mouse Innovations
As with many computer-related devices, mice are being combined with other gadgets and technologies to create improved and multipurpose devices. Examples include multi-media mice, combination mice/remote controls, gaming mice, biometric mice, tilting wheel mice and motion-based mice.

Buying Tips
Like the keyboard, a computer mouse can also have several different options available. Below is a listing of some of the more common extras available with computer mice.
Many mice today have at least two buttons however there are also available mice with 3, 4 or 5 buttons. While this may seem like too much, these buttons can be generally programmed to do commonly done tasks. There are several colors available for mice today. If you are looking for a particular color of mouse insure that it is considered when looking at purchasing a computer mouse.
Nowadays, a mouse wheel is a commonly used and found item on a computer mouse. The mouse wheel allows a user to scroll through pages without having to move the cursor to the scroll bar. This feature is very helpful and convenient and is highly recommended.
Software is another important consideration when looking at a computer mouse. Many mice with additional extras, such as additional buttons or a wheel will come with software. This software allows for the buttons to be programmed differently. An example is the Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer mouse which has the two side buttons where your thumb lays. These buttons by default are used to go forward or backwards in a web browser. However, one can customize the functionality of these two side buttons. Using the software included, the user can program the buttons to execute the ‘page up’ and ‘page down’ commands.

Fixing your Mouse
Mice frequently stop working. Just open them up, and use a pick to remove the impacted lint, and wash the ball and rollers in isopropyl alcohol. Mice usually wear out after a year or two. It pays to get a good quality mouse such as a Logitech or Microsoft. Even optical mice can get clogged with lint.


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