Everything you need to kow about a computer mouse Essay

Everything you need to kow about a computer mouse - Essay Example Dr. Douglas Carl Engelbart of Stanford Research Institute (SRI) invented the mouse in early 1960s. He worked with Bill English, the man behind the hardware design of the first mouse. Engelbart's innovative ideas changed the way working with computers, from a more complicated to a user-friendly machine. The results of analyzing different characteristics of pointing input devices (such as speed and accuracy) led to the invention of the first prototype computer mouse. Engelbart first called this device as "X-Y Position Indicator for a Display System," wherein it received its patent number 3,541,541 on November 17, 1970. According to an interview, Douglas Engelbart said, "SRI patented it, but they really had no idea of its value. Some years later I learned that they had licensed it to Apple for something like $40,000." So, how did this device get its popular name At first, it had its cord in front, so it was termed "mouse" and that's were it got its smart name. However, they later on changed the cord's position as the present mouse is. In early 1970s, Bill English invented the so-called "ball mouse" while he was working for Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC). In 1981, Xerox Corporation introduced Star, officially known as the 8010 Star Information System, which features various technologies including mouse. Inspired by Xerox Star, Apple Computer released Apple Macintosh in 1984, which made mouse popular and indispensable for computer use. II. TYPES There are three basic types of mouse: mechanical, optomechanical, and optical mouse. Mechanical mouse has a rubber or metal ball at the base that moves against two rollers as it passed across a flat surface. As the ball rolls on a certain direction, circuits in the mouse translate its movement into signals the computer understands. Mechanical mouse must be place on a mouse pad - a rectangular rubber that provides better traction than the top of the desk. Optomechanical mouse works on the same principal as the mechanical mouse but uses optical sensors to detect the motion of the ball. Optical mouse on the contrary, has no moving mechanical parts inside. Instead, it uses light-emitting diodes (LED) to detect the mouse's movement. It is more efficient than mechanical and optomechanical mice but is also more expensive. III. CONNECTIONS A mouse can connect to your computer in several ways. Serial mouse connects directly to RS-232C serial port. Bus mouse connects directly on a small round connector (female mini-DIN-9), but this is pretty well obsolete because this mouse is difficult to install. PS/2 connects to a PS/2 connector (female mini-DIN-6); it's installed as simple as any serial mouse. Cordless mouse uses is a battery-powered device that transmits data using infrared technology of radio waves to communicate with the computer. Some users prefer to use cordless mouse because it frees him from the hassles of cords and provides much desk space. USB mouse is the easiest mouse you can connect in your computer, even when your computer is running. IV. SPEED Mouse speed is expressed in DPI (dots per inch), which is the number of pixels the mouse cursor will move when the mouse is moved one inch. V. INNOVATIONS AND ALTERNATIVE DEVICES a. Trackball is an input device with a ball mounted in its surface, which rotates to control the position of the cursor. b. Touchpad is an input device