Computer Mouse

Who invented the mouse?

The mouse was, at first, known as the X-Y Position Indicator for a Display System and was invented by Douglas Engelbart in 1963 while working at Xerox PARC. But, due to Alto's lack of success, the first widely used computer program of the mouse was with the Apple Lisa computer. Today, this pointing device is on almost every computer.

What are the uses of a mouse?

Below is a list of all the computer mouse functions and options to give you an idea of all the mouse abilities.

Move the mouse cursor - The first (or most important) function is to move the mouse pointer on the screen.

Point - Once the mouse is moved, you can point something out for another user or point a digital object. For example, in a game you can use the mouse to point a gun in the direction to shoot.

Open or execute a program - Once you've moved the pointer to a symbol/picture, folder, or another object clicking or double-clicking that object opens the document or runs the program. Some programs even support tripple-clicking. 

Select - A mouse also lets you select text or a file or highlight and select many files at once.

How to select or highlight many files and folders.

Drag-and-drop - Once something is selected, it can also be moved using the drag-and-drop method.

(float/stay close) - Moving the mouse cursor over objects with float information helps discover each object's function. For example, (float/stay close) the mouse over the "hover" link to see an example.

Scroll - When working with a long document or viewing a long web page, you may need to (move screen content) up or down. To (move screen content), rotate the mouse wheel, or click-and-drag the (for moving screen content up and down) bar. The mouse wheel can also be used as a button. See the IntelliMouse page for further information and functions of the mouse wheel.

Perform other functions - Many desktop mice also have buttons that can be programmed to (do/complete) any function. For example, many mice have two side buttons on the thumb part of/amount of the mouse. The button closest to the palm can be programmed to go back to the (before that/before now) viewed web page in a browser.

How Mouse Works?

How has the mouse increased computer usability?

When using a computer mouse, you don't have to memorize commands, such as those used in a text-based command line (surrounding conditions) like MS-DOS. For example, in MS-DOS, you would need to know the cd command and dir command and type the commands on the keyboard to open a directory (folder) and view its files. Whereas a Windows user only has to double-click to open a folder and see its contents.

Types of computer mice

Below is a listing of all the types of computer mice and pointing devices used with a computer. Today, for a desktop computer, the most common type of mouse is an optical mouse that connects to the USB port and known as a USB mouse. For laptop computers, the most common type of mouse is the touchpad.

• Air mouse
• Cordless (Wireless)
• Footmouse
• IntelliMouse (Wheel mouse)
• J-Mouse
• Joystick
• Mechanical
• Optical
• Touchpad (Glidepoint)
• Trackball
• TrackPoint 

Computer mouse ports

Today, most computer mice connect to a computer using a USB port. Below is a list of ports and wireless connections a mouse is capable of using.

Bluetooth

Infrared

PS/2 Port

(one after the other) Port

USB 

What are the parts of a computer mouse?

The parts of a computer mouse can change/differ by the type of computer mouse. Below is a general summary of the parts found on most computer mice.

Buttons

Today, almost all computer mice have at least two buttons, a left button and right button for clicking and controlling/moving around/misleading objects and text. In the past, there were mice with only one button. For example, many of the early Apple computer mice only had one button.

Ball, laser, or LED

Bottom of optical-mechanical and optical computer mouse 

A desktop mouse uses a ball and rollers if it's a mechanical mouse or a laser or LED if it's an optical mouse. These parts/pieces track the movement of the mouse on an x-axis and y-axis and move the mouse cursor on the screen. In the picture is an example of the bottom of a mechanical and optical mouse.

Mouse wheel

Today's desktop computer mice also usually include a mouse wheel that lets you (move screen content) up and down on a page.

Circuit board

To transmit (input) all mouse signal information, clicks, and other information, the mouse must also have a circuit board with electronic devicess.

Cable or wireless receiver

For a corded mouse, it includes a cable with a plug that connects to the computer. Today, most corded mice connect to the USB port. If your computer has a wireless mouse, it needs a USB wireless receiver to receive the wireless signal and input it into the computer.

Other parts

If you're using a laptop, some of the above parts/pieces talked about/said earlier are not needed/demanded. For example, a touchpad doe