Description of the basic properties of a computer mouse. What types of computer mice are there? Rating of the best computer mice

The mouse perceives its movement in the working plane (usually on a section of the table surface) and transmits this information to the computer. A program running on a computer, in response to mouse movement, produces an action on the screen that corresponds to the direction and distance of this movement. In different interfaces (for example, in windowed ones), the user uses the mouse to control a special cursor - pointer - manipulator of interface elements. Sometimes entering commands with the mouse is used without the participation of visible elements of the program interface: by analyzing mouse movements. This method is called "mouse gestures" (eng. mouse gestures).

In addition to the motion sensor, the mouse has one or more buttons, as well as additional control parts (scroll wheels, potentiometers, joysticks, trackballs, keys, etc.), the action of which is usually associated with the current position of the cursor (or components of a specific interface) .

The mouse control components are in many ways the embodiment of the intentions of a chord keyboard (that is, a keyboard for touch operation). The mouse, originally created as a complement to the chord keyboard, actually replaced it.

Some mice have built-in additional independent devices - watches, calculators, phones.

Story

The first computer to include a mouse was the Xerox 8010 Star Information System minicomputer ( English), introduced in 1981. The Xerox mouse had three buttons and cost $400, which corresponds to approximately $930 in 2009 prices adjusted for inflation. In 1983, Apple released its own one-button mouse for the Lisa computer, the cost of which was reduced to $25. The mouse became widely known thanks to its use in Apple Macintosh computers and later in the Windows OS for IBM PC compatible computers.

Motion sensors

During the “evolution” of the computer mouse, the motion sensors have undergone the greatest changes.

Direct drive

The first computer mouse

The original design of the mouse motion sensor, invented by Douglas Engelbart at the Stanford Research Institute in 1963, consisted of two perpendicular wheels protruding from the body of the device. When moving, the mouse wheels rotated, each in its own dimension.

This design had many drawbacks and was soon replaced by a ball-drive mouse.

Ball drive

In a ball drive, the movement of the mouse is transmitted to a rubberized steel ball protruding from the body (its weight and rubber coating provide good grip on the working surface). Two rollers pressed against the ball record its movements along each of the measurements and transmit them to sensors that convert these movements into electrical signals.

The main disadvantage of the ball drive is the contamination of the ball and the removal rollers, which leads to the mouse jamming and the need for periodic cleaning (this problem was partly mitigated by metallization of the rollers). Despite its shortcomings, the ball drive has long dominated, successfully competing with alternative sensor designs. Currently, ball mice have been almost completely replaced by second-generation optical mice.

There were two sensor options for the ball drive.

Contact sensors

The contact sensor is a textolite disk with radial metal tracks and three contacts pressed to it. The ball mouse inherited such a sensor from the direct drive.

The main disadvantages of contact sensors are oxidation of contacts, rapid wear and low accuracy. Therefore, over time, all mice switched to non-contact optocoupler sensors.

Optocoupler sensor

Mechanical computer mouse device

The optocoupler sensor consists of a double optocouplers- an LED and two photodiodes (usually infrared) and a disk with holes or ray-shaped slits that block the light flux as it rotates. When you move the mouse, the disk rotates, and a signal is taken from the photodiodes at a frequency corresponding to the speed of the mouse movement.

The second photodiode, shifted by a certain angle or having an offset system of holes/slits on the sensor disk, is used to determine the direction of rotation of the disk (light appears/disappears on it earlier or later than on the first one, depending on the direction of rotation).

First generation optical mice

Optical sensors are designed to directly monitor the movement of the working surface relative to the mouse. The elimination of the mechanical component ensured higher reliability and made it possible to increase the resolution of the detector.

The first generation of optical sensors was represented by various schemes of optocoupler sensors with indirect optical coupling - light-emitting and perceiving reflection from the working surface of photosensitive diodes. Such sensors had one common property - they required special shading (perpendicular or diamond-shaped lines) on the working surface (mouse pad). On some rugs, these shadings were done with paints that were invisible in normal light (such rugs could even have a pattern).

The disadvantages of such sensors are usually called:

• the need to use a special mat and the impossibility of replacing it with another. Among other things, the pads of different optical mice were often not interchangeable and were not produced separately;
• the need for a certain orientation of the mouse relative to the pad, otherwise the mouse would not work correctly;
• sensitivity of the mouse to dirt on the mat (after all, it comes into contact with the user’s hand) - the sensor was uncertain about shading on dirty areas of the mat;
• high cost of the device.

In the USSR, first-generation optical mice, as a rule, were found only in foreign specialized computing systems.

Optical LED Mice

Optical mouse

Second generation optical sensor chip

The second generation of optical mice has a more complex design. A special LED is installed at the bottom of the mouse, which illuminates the surface on which the mouse moves. A miniature camera “photographs” the surface more than a thousand times per second, transmitting this data to the processor, which draws conclusions about changes in coordinates. Second-generation optical mice have a huge advantage over the first: they do not require a special mouse pad and work on almost any surface except mirror or transparent ones; even on fluoroplastic (including black). They also do not require cleaning.

It was assumed that such mice would work on any surface, but it soon became clear that many sold models (especially the first widely sold devices) were not so indifferent to the patterns on the mouse pad. In some areas of the picture, the graphics processor can make significant errors, which leads to chaotic pointer movements that do not correspond to real movement. For mice prone to such failures, it is necessary to choose a rug with a different pattern or even with a single-color coating.

Some models are also prone to detecting small movements when the mouse is at rest, which is manifested by the pointer on the screen shaking, sometimes with a tendency to slide in one direction or another.

Dual sensor mouse

Second-generation sensors are gradually improving, and crash-prone mice are much less common these days. In addition to improving sensors, some models are equipped with two displacement sensors at once, which allows, by analyzing changes in two areas of the surface at once, to eliminate possible errors. These mice are sometimes able to work on glass, plexiglass and mirror surfaces (which other mice do not work on).

There are also mouse pads specifically targeted at optical mice. For example, a rug that has a silicone film on the surface with a suspension of glitter (it is assumed that the optical sensor detects movements on such a surface much more clearly).

The disadvantage of this mouse is the difficulty of its simultaneous operation with graphics tablets; the latter, due to their hardware features, sometimes lose the true direction of the signal when moving the pen and begin to distort the trajectory of the tool when drawing. No such deviations were observed when using mice with a ball drive. To eliminate this problem, it is recommended to use laser manipulators. Also, some people consider the disadvantages of optical mice to be that such mice glow even when the computer is turned off. Since most inexpensive optical mice have a translucent body, it allows red LED light to pass through, which can make it difficult to sleep if the computer is in the bedroom. This happens if the voltage to the PS/2 and USB ports is supplied from the standby voltage line; Most motherboards allow you to change this with a +5V jumper<->+5VSB, but in this case it will not be possible to turn on the computer from the keyboard.

Optical laser mice

Laser sensor

In recent years, a new, more advanced type of optical sensor has been developed that uses a semiconductor laser for illumination.

Little is known about the disadvantages of such sensors, but their advantages are known:

• higher reliability and resolution
• absence of noticeable glow (the sensor only needs weak laser illumination in the visible or, possibly, infrared range)
• low power consumption

Induction mice

Graphics tablet with induction mouse

Induction mice use a special mouse pad that works like a graphics tablet or are actually included with the graphics tablet. Some tablets include a manipulator similar to a mouse with a glass crosshair, working on the same principle, but with a slightly different implementation, which makes it possible to achieve increased positioning accuracy by increasing the diameter of the sensitive coil and moving it out of the device into the user’s line of sight.

Induction mice have good accuracy and do not need to be oriented correctly. An induction mouse can be “wireless” (the tablet on which it operates is connected to the computer), and have induction power, therefore, do not require batteries, like regular wireless mice.

The mouse included with the graphics tablet will save some space on the table (provided that the tablet is always on it).

Induction mice are rare, expensive and not always comfortable. It is almost impossible to change a mouse for a graphics tablet to another one (for example, one that better suits your hand, etc.).

Gyroscopic mice

In addition to vertical and horizontal scrolling, mouse joysticks can be used for alternative pointer movement or adjustments, similar to wheels.

Trackballs

Induction mice

Induction mice most often have induction power from a working platform (“mat”) or graphics tablet. But such mice are only partly wireless - the tablet or pad is still connected with a cable. Thus, the cable does not interfere with moving the mouse, but also does not allow you to work at a distance from the computer, as with a regular wireless mouse.

Additional functions

Some mouse manufacturers add functions to alert the mouse about any events occurring on the computer. In particular, Genius and Logitech produce models that notify you of the presence of unread emails in your mailbox by lighting an LED or playing music through the speaker built into the mouse.

There are known cases of placing a fan inside the mouse case to cool the user's hand while the user's hand is working with air flow through special holes. Some mouse models designed for computer gamers have small eccentrics built into the mouse body, which provide a vibration sensation when shooting in computer games. Examples of such models are the Logitech iFeel Mouse line of mice.

In addition, there are mini mice designed for laptop owners that are small in size and weight.

Some wireless mice have the ability to work as a remote control (for example, Logitech MediaPlay). They have a slightly modified shape to work not only on the table, but also when held in the hand.

Advantages and disadvantages

The mouse has become the main point-and-point input device due to the following features:

• Very low price (compared to other devices like touch screens).
• The mouse is suitable for long-term use. In the early days of multimedia, filmmakers liked to show the computers of the “future” with a touch interface, but in reality this method of input is quite tedious, since you have to hold your hands in the air.
• High accuracy of cursor positioning. With the mouse (with the exception of some “unsuccessful” models) it is easy to hit the desired pixel on the screen.
• The mouse allows many different manipulations - double and triple clicks, dragging, gestures, pressing one button while dragging another, etc. Therefore, you can concentrate a large number of controls in one hand - multi-button mice allow you to control, for example, a browser without using the keyboard at all .

The disadvantages of the mouse are:

• Danger of carpal tunnel syndrome (not supported by clinical studies).
• For work, a flat, smooth surface of sufficient size is required (with the possible exception of gyroscopic mice).
• Instability to vibrations. For this reason, the mouse is practically not used in military devices. The trackball requires less space to operate and does not require moving your hand, cannot get lost, has greater resistance to external influences, and is more reliable.

Ways to grip a mouse

Players recognize three main ways to grip the mouse.

• With your fingers. The fingers lie flat on the buttons, the top of the palm rests on the “heel” of the mouse. The lower part of the palm is on the table. The advantage is precise mouse movements.
• Claw-shaped. The fingers are bent and only the tips touch the buttons. The “heel” of the mouse is in the center of the palm. The advantage is the convenience of clicks.
• Palm. The entire palm rests on the mouse, the “heel” of the mouse, as in a claw grip, rests against the center of the palm. The grip is more suitable for the sweeping movements of shooters.

Office mice (with the exception of small laptop mice) are usually equally suitable for all grip styles. Gaming mice, as a rule, are optimized for one grip or another - therefore, when buying an expensive mouse, it is recommended to find out your grip method.

Software support

A distinctive feature of mice as a class of devices is the good standardization of hardware

Today I want to tell you, my dear readers, how I chose a computer mouse for my beloved wife. I hope my train of thought will be interesting to you, and everything that I learned about these “rodents” during my research is useful.

So, computer mouse- what they are, how they differ and which one is better to choose. As always - in detail and in human language...

I'll start with the interface, or more simply put, the way to connect the mouse to the computer...

Wired or wireless mouse?

Here it is very important to decide for what purpose the mouse is chosen and how it will be used. If you like to play computer games (drive cars, shoot, run in the jungle...) and will do this every day, buy a wired mouse.

During dynamic scenes in a wireless controller, the cursor may slow down (radio signal reflections, various interferences...), which will make you very nervous. And in games you need to work the mouse very intensively, which will greatly affect the energy consumption of batteries or accumulators - you will get tired of changing (buying) or charging them.

If you are not interested in games and prefer quiet surfing on the Internet or just working in office applications, then your choice is definitely a wireless computer mouse! This interface is much more convenient, mobile and comfortable than a wired one. The very feeling of “non-attachment” is worth it. You can also use it as a remote control when watching a movie or photos (lying on the sofa). Say no to unnecessary wires in the workplace.

Let's summarize the first result. A wired mouse is faster and more trouble-free in games, and also does not require maintenance (replacing batteries or charging batteries) and further investments (buying batteries or accumulators). A wireless mouse is convenient for its portability and practicality.

In terms of price, these two interfaces are practically the same today - you can find a wireless or wired mouse for $10, or even for $200.

In turn, wireless mice are divided by connection type - radio frequency, infrared, induction, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. The most optimal in terms of price, practicality and quality is radio frequency.

My wife doesn’t play Crisis or Stalker, we have an excellent charger and two sets of batteries at home, so I chose a wireless interface for her future mouse.

Optical or laser?

These two technologies are very often confused or even combined, but in vain. An optical mouse is a manipulator equipped with a very small video camera that takes approximately a thousand photographs per second, they are processed by the processor and sent to the computer. This mouse uses a light diode that produces a beam of light in the visible range. These mice are also called LED mice.

Optical mice work worse on glossy or mirrored surfaces, and they are also less sensitive to movement, but more on that below. The optical sensor technology is older and less expensive.

A laser mouse is designed similarly, the only difference being the use of a semiconductor laser instead of a diode. When working with a laser mouse, there is no visible glow from the sensor, it has no visible backlight...

Laser mice have a higher sensor resolution and, accordingly, more accurate cursor movement (players, this is your choice). In the case of using a wireless mouse, laser mice are more energy efficient (they work noticeably longer without replacing batteries).

Computer mouse resolution

The higher the resolution, the more sensitive the mouse is to movement. Less movement on the table means more movement on the screen. The maximum resolution of an optical mouse today is 1800 dpi, and for a laser mouse the maximum resolution is 5700 dpi.

Why do you need high mouse resolution? For computer games. High DPI makes it possible to aim with high accuracy, turn faster and make precise jumps. Draw your conclusions, gamers.

At the same time, in order for a computer mouse not to cause delays and difficulties in control, 800 dpi is enough (this is exactly the indicator for ball mice). In most modern mice, this parameter can be switched.

Mouse resolution is often confused with the mouse sensitivity setting in the operating system toolbar. In the mouse settings through the control panel, you artificially change the scale of the surface under the sensor, and the mouse resolution is a real, physical value.

Mouse shape and design

Once upon a time I read about the special shape and coating of the handles of weapons, which are given upon request to bandits who have taken hostages. So, they are made uncomfortable, causing inconvenience, due to which the reaction of criminals slows down to two seconds!

What I mean is that you should not neglect the design of the mouse, the build quality and the materials used to cover it. It is very advisable to touch the mouse before purchasing - you will immediately feel your mouse, I assure you.

Additional criteria for choosing a computer mouse

Often, high-quality, branded mice can be adjusted in weight by selecting weights inside the case - some people like light mice, while others like heavy ones. I personally like the latter.

More recently, a new type of computer mouse has appeared - touch...

Their working surface is touch-sensitive and completely smooth (no wheel or buttons). Such mice understand certain gestures with which you can scroll through photos in the graphics viewer or surf in the browser (back and forth across pages). You can also assign an action in the system or program to a specific gesture.

Story
Initially, a computer mouse (or in the language of a scientific report, an “X and Y position indicator”) appeared in 1962 with partial funding from NASA (in the interests of the space program) in a wooden case.

was compiled under the direction of Douglas Engelbart by his collaborator and colleague Bill English, and programs to demonstrate the capabilities were written by Jeff Rulifson. Inside the device were two metal disks: one rotated when the device was moved forward, the second was responsible for moving the mouse to the right and left. NASA did not appreciate the invention, since its operation required gravity, which does not exist in space. The development of the mouse was continued by Bill English under the wing of Xerox PARC. The company's researchers changed the design of the mouse, and it was at the Xerox research center that the computer mouse became similar to modern devices. The two discs were replaced with a small ball and rollers.

The first computer to include a mouse was the Xerox 8010 Star Information System minicomputer, introduced in 1981. The Xerox mouse had three buttons and cost $400, which corresponds to approximately $930 in 2009 prices, with taking into account inflation.

The mouse gained wide popularity due to its use in Apple Macintosh computers, which in 1983 released its own model of a one-button mouse for the Lisa computer, the cost of which was reduced to $25. Subsequently, such devices became widely used in Windows OS for IBM PC compatible computers.

The first optical mouse was released by Microsoft in 1999. This type of mouse was invented in the research laboratories of Hewlett-Packard Corporation. In the second half of the 90s, a new type of mouse appeared in the Agilent Technologies research laboratory, then owned by Hewlett-Packard, - an optical one.

In the same 1999, Microsoft released the first commercial mouse, the operating principle of which is based on a second generation optical sensor

In 2001, a series of Logitech iFeel mice (and a number of models from other manufacturers) were released. The mice were equipped with a tactile feedback mechanism. It was assumed that this was supposed to provide the user with additional assistance: the iFeel family mouse is capable of vibrating the body to inform about crossing the boundaries of windows or buttons. The idea is truly innovative, but, as it turned out, not very practical: less than two years later, the iFeel series manipulators were discontinued.

The first prototypes of manipulators with a laser sensor, created by specialists from Agilent Technologies, were demonstrated in early 2004. In September of the same year, Logitech began producing the MX-1000 mouse, the world's first mass-produced pointing device equipped with a laser sensor. The light source in this mouse was an IR semiconductor laser (wavelength 842 nm).

In mid-2005, Agilent Technologies began shipping ready-made motion sensor modules based on LaserStream sensors to all interested manufacturers, and soon

appeared in the assortment of many companies. LaserStream sensors ensured accuracy of movement registration up to 2000 cpi at movement speeds up to 45 inches/s (1.14 m/s) and acceleration up to 20d. Some manufacturers (in particular, Microsoft) have gone their own way, independently developing laser sensors for their manipulators.

In the fall of 2008, Microsoft introduced the first mass-produced products with BlueTrack sensors - Explorer and Explorer Mini wireless mice. According to the manufacturer, these models work reliably on granite and marble countertops, carpeting, wooden tables and park benches.

One of the most interesting developments in this area in recent times can be considered the invention of specialists from the Canadian company Deanmark. They managed to create a computer mouse that should be worn on your hand like a glove.

, the device, aptly named AirMouse, fits over your index and middle fingers and wrist. Thus, it turns out to be a kind of glove for working in virtual reality, demonstrated in science fiction films. To track movements, the AirMouse manipulator uses a laser sensor, and interacts with the computer via a wireless interface. At the same time, the device can work without recharging for a week, and its activation occurs when the hand is in a certain position. Additionally, AirMouse actually allows the user to type on the keyboard and use the mouse at the same time

Operating principle
The mouse perceives its movement in the working plane (usually on a section of the table surface) and transmits this information to the computer. A program running on a computer, in response to mouse movement, produces an action on the screen that corresponds to the direction and distance of this movement. In addition to the motion detector, the mouse has from one to three or more buttons, as well as additional controls (scroll wheels, potentiometers, joysticks, keys, etc.), the action of which is usually associated with the current position of the cursor (or components of a specific interface ).

Advantages and disadvantages
The mouse has become the main point-and-point input device due to the following features:

Very low price (compared to other devices like touch screens).

It is generally impossible to imagine a modern computer without this gadget, which greatly simplifies the process of managing a PC. But only a few users know in what year the computer mouse was invented and who its creator is. Let's remember how this gadget appeared, and what it was like from the very beginning.

In what year was the computer mouse invented?

December 9, 1968 - it was on this day that the world saw the prototype of all modern computer mice. Of course, this was just a prototype. However, before this time, there were special computerized radars and manipulators, which became the basis for the creation of a modern mouse.

The very first prototype appeared in the early 50s. Then, according to the Cossacks of the Canadian Navy, computerized radars with the first graphical interface were created. They required a special cursor positioning system, which used a simple device based on a smooth ball. It was called a trackball, and it was the first step towards creating a modern computer mouse.

A little later, in 1951, Douglas Engelbart (the creator) was already thinking about developing a manipulator, and in 1955 he took part in the manufacture of radar systems. In particular, he developed information display systems within the NASA computer program. According to Douglas himself, he and his team created a table with the parameters and capabilities of all modern manipulators at that time, determined their functions and required parameters, which did not yet exist. During research in 1963, the idea was formed to create a display pointer that would move in an X-Y coordinate system.

First prototype

In 1964, based on a design by Douglas Engelbart, Stanford Research Institute graduate student Billy English assembled the first prototype of a computer mouse. At the same time, a program was written to demonstrate its capabilities.

It was a large, square, brown wooden box with a large red button at the very top. The cord was located in the front, but over time it was moved back. So he practically did not interfere. Inside there was a plane displacement sensor, which consisted of two metal disks. They were located perpendicular to each other: one rotated when the device moved to the side, and the other was responsible for moving forward or backward. Given this design, the mouse could not be moved diagonally, it could move forward or backward.

Speaking about the year in which the computer mouse was invented, it is worth clarifying that some people rightly believe that this invention was “born” in 1946. After all, it was in this year that the prototype device for all modern computer gadgets appeared.

First presentation of the mouse

A little later, on December 9, 1968, Douglas Engelbart presented a more advanced modification of this device to a group of engineers. It worked as an oN-Line System OS manipulator. The mouse had three buttons, although Douglas Engelbart himself claimed that he wanted to make 5 buttons (for each finger). And although at first they planned to call the device a “bug,” later the name “mouse” stuck - because of the thick connecting cable, reminiscent of rodent tails.

So, if it is logical to calculate in what year the computer mouse was invented, then we can talk about two dates: 1964 and 1968. In 1970, the inventor received a patent, which recorded the authorship of a manipulator based on the use of two perpendicularly located wheels. However, the principle of the manipulator itself was not patented.

In 1972, this research was actively pursued by Xerox PARC, which significantly improved a similar gadget. In particular, then the disks were replaced with a small ball or rollers. This is how new types of computer mice appeared.

In 1979, Xerox created the Xerox Alto computer, which was a research prototype and was not included in the series. But it was equipped with a computer mouse and had a graphical interface in the form of a desktop. Several thousand of these computers were created.

The appearance of a rubber ball inside the case

In 1979, the Stanford Research Institute (where Engelbart's team worked) sold the mouse project to Apple for $40,000. Having received a license for such an invention, Apple commissioned Hovey-Kelley Design to improve the mouse. As a result, instead of a steel bearing, it received a comfortable rubber ball that rolled freely in the body. The introduction of this innovation made it possible to get rid of the complex system of coding wheels and electrical contacts. Instead, simple optoelectronic converters and wheels with slotted slots were implemented.

Further development

In 1983, a dozen companies were already producing and selling different types of computer mice. That same year, Apple released the Lisa one-button mouse. It was developed for Apple in downtown Palo Alto. Engineers were able to create a cheap modification of this device, making it compact and collapsible. It was possible to remove the ball from the inside and clean it of dust. This mouse was included with the Apple Macintosh home computer.

In 1987, Douglas Engelbart's patent expired and only in 1998 the merits of this inventor were officially recognized. Engelbart himself received the Lemelson-MIT Prize in the amount of $500,000.

Since 1999, optical mice have begun to appear that work on any surface. Many models released after 2000 have survived to this day. Moreover, some of them are successfully used.

Finally

The history of the creation of a computer mouse is short. In about 30 years, it was possible to create a high-tech gadget from a primitive and very expensive device, which is cheap today. As for modern models, they are radically different from the first computer mouse. All that remained from it was the idea of ​​​​positioning the cursor on the graphical interface.

Now you know who invented the computer mouse. In this regard, no one has any doubts. But as for the date of creation, there are 2 opinions:

1. In 1964, a graduate student at the Stanford Research Institute created a prototype of this gadget (based on Engelbart's design).
2. In 1968, Engelbart himself presented a working, improved version of the mouse.

Here, everyone decides for themselves when the first computer mouse appeared. However, it is generally accepted that she first saw the world on December 9, 1968.

In an era when computers occupied entire rooms, many developers and scientists tried to make them as understandable as possible for the common user and to facilitate user interaction with the machine. One of them is Douglas Engelbart.

He was one of the pioneers in the field of attempts to make the computer as easy to use as possible. In addition to the computer mouse that is familiar to everyone today, Douglas Engelbart took part in the development of the first electronic messaging services, which today have become widely used email.

But perhaps his most famous invention is the input device, patented in 1970. Initially, this miracle of technology was planned to be called a “beetle,” but later the name “mouse” stuck, to which the word “computer” was attached. So as not to be confused.

The first implementation of the mouse was not plastic, but wooden. On top of it there were two metal wheels that correlated the movements of the cursor on the screen with the X and Y coordinate axes.

The presentation of the new device took place in December back in 1968. The new input device looked bulky and was far from ergonomic. The first computer mouse was not brought to the market right away. This joyful event for many users took place only in 1984. The mouse was included with one of the first Apple-Macintosh home computers, and this “miniature” pleasure cost almost $400.

In fairness, it should be noted that since then more than one billion computer mice have been sold worldwide.

Ball mouse

Like any necessary and useful technology, the computer mouse has evolved at incredible speed. The first bulky units were soon replaced by more compact ball mice.

They looked something like this: a fairly large body with the usual right and left buttons, sometimes even with a wheel between them, and at the bottom there was a rubberized ball, slightly protruding from the base of the device and rolling when moving the mouse.

Rotating, this ball transmitted a signal of a certain direction of movement to two rollers inside the device. The rollers, in turn, transmitted it to special sensors, which “transformed” the movement of the mouse into the movement of the cursor on the monitor.

This mechanism worked quite regularly and quite well, but, like everything else, it had its pros and cons. In particular, the ball on mice of this type sooner or later became dirty, and the mouse, as a result, began to jam. There was only one way to deal with this: remove the ball from the mouse, clean it and then put it back in place.

Despite its simplicity, this procedure took some time and not everyone knew how or wanted to do it. For this very reason (and maybe there were others), pretty soon ball mice evolved to mice with an optical “drive”.

Optical mouse

The optical computer mouse, unlike its predecessor, did not contain any rotating elements in its design. Essentially, a small camera is built into the body of an optical mouse that takes up to a thousand pictures per second.

When you move the mouse, the camera photographs the work surface, illuminating it. The processor processes these “snapshots” and sends a signal to the computer - the cursor moves. This mouse can work on almost any surface, except mirrored, and does not need to be cleaned.

Despite all their advantages, some of the optical mice turned out to be extremely “picky” about the working surface. They can easily be found in homes and offices today, but the further you go, the more users prefer laser and even wireless mice.

Laser and wireless mouse

A laser computer mouse is an improved version of an optical mouse. The principle of their operation is largely similar. The only difference is that not an LED, but a laser is used to illuminate the surface. This modification made the device almost ideal: the device works on any surface. It is more reliable and consumes relatively little energy, and the cursor movements closely correspond to the real movement of the mouse. In addition, laser mice have very weak backlighting.

In turn, laser computer mice come in tailed and tailless types, that is, wired and wireless. The latter do not have a cable and, unlike wired ones, do not require connection to a computer: they transmit a signal via radio waves or via Bluetooth.

Conventional radio mice can operate at a distance of up to 5 meters from the computer, Bluetooth mice - up to 10-15 meters. These mice are most convenient for computer game lovers. But they also have a drawback: radio mice can interfere with nearby devices. In addition, the absence of a cable equals the absence of stationary power.

Wireless mice require a separate power source - from a battery or rechargeable batteries, which is not always convenient. In addition, wireless devices may fail due to an unstable connection.

What kind of mouse do you have and what do you like about it? Share with us and our readers your story about a computer mouse.

• Official website Lenta.ru. Section "Science and Technology". Material "Mouse Day.
• The computer mouse turns 40 years old"
• Official website of the magazine "Home PC"
• Free electronic encyclopedia Wikipedia, section "Computer mouse"
• The article "Why didn't the inventor of the computer mouse become a billionaire?"