Computer mouse

A computer mouse helps you use a computer.

You move it on a desk. This moves a dot on the screen. The dot is called a cursor.

You can click buttons to pick things. Some mice have a wheel to scroll. Early mice had a ball inside. Most new mice use light to move. Many mice do not have a cord. They use radio waves to work.

It is named after the small animal. The cord looks like a tail.

A computer mouse is a tool you hold in your hand.

It tracks motion on a flat surface. This motion moves a pointer on your screen. We call this pointer a cursor.

You can click buttons to pick items on the screen. Many mice also have a scroll wheel. This helps you move up and down a page.

Early mice were very different from today. Douglas Engelbart showed the first mouse in 1968.

That first mouse used two wheels to track movement. Later, mice used a ball that rolled on the surface. Most mice today use optical detection. This means they use light to see movement. These mice have no moving parts inside.

Some mice use a cord to connect to the computer. Other mice are cordless. They use radio waves to talk to the computer. The name comes from the small animal. The cord looked like a tail. Some people say the cursor was called a "CAT." This made the device look like a mouse being chased.

A computer mouse is a small tool you hold in your hand.

It is a pointing device that tracks motion across a surface. This movement is turned into the motion of a pointer on your screen. We call this pointer a cursor. The mouse helps you control the screen with ease. You can use buttons to select items on a menu.

Many mice also have a scroll wheel to help you move up and down pages.

How the mouse works has changed over many years.

The very first mice used two separate wheels to track movement. One wheel tracked side-to-side and one tracked up and down. Later, the design changed to use a rolling ball inside the mouse. This ball moved internal rollers to detect where you moved the device. Most mice used today use optical movement detection. This means they use light to see motion instead of moving parts.

Douglas Engelbart is credited with inventing the computer mouse.

He worked at the Stanford Research Institute. In 1963, he wrote about a new idea in his notebook. He called it a "bug" at first. He thought it would be easier and more natural than a stylus.

In 1968, he gave a famous public demonstration called the Mother of All Demos. This showed the world how a mouse could control a computer system.

There are many interesting facts about the history of the mouse.

The name "mouse" likely came from the shape of the device. Early models had a cord that looked like a tail. A designer named Roger Bates said the cursor was once called "CAT." This made it seem like the mouse was being chased.

The Xerox Alto was one of the first computers to use a modern mouse in 1973. This helped make the mouse a common tool for everyone.

Today, you can find many different kinds of mice.

Some mice are connected to the computer with a cable. Other mice are cordless and use short-range radio communication. You might see gaming mice with many extra buttons for special tasks.

You might also see mice with touch surfaces for more control. Whether wired or wireless, they all help us talk to our computers.

A computer mouse is a hand-held pointing device. It detects two-dimensional motion relative to a surface.

This motion is translated into the movement of a pointer on a display. We call this pointer a cursor. The mouse allows for smooth control of a computer's graphical user interface. Most mice feature one or more buttons to perform operations. These buttons allow users to select menu items or other objects.

Many models also include scroll wheels or touch surfaces for additional input.

The mechanism for detecting motion has evolved significantly over time. Early mice used two separate wheels to track movement. These wheels were perpendicular to each other to track X and Y dimensions. Later, the standard design used a ball rolling on a surface. This ball was connected to internal rollers that detected movement.

Most modern mice use optical movement detection. This method uses light and has no moving parts. Some mice are wired using a USB cable for a constant connection. Other mice are cordless and rely on short-range radio communication.

Wireless mice may use a USB-A plug or rechargeable batteries.

There are several distinct types of pointing devices in history. The trackball is a related device that was invented in 1946.

Ralph Benjamin invented a version for a radar plotting system. This device used a roller ball to provide input for analog computers. Another early trackball was built in 1952 for the DATAR system. This version used four disks to pick up motion in two directions. It used a standard Canadian five-pin bowling ball. These early devices were often kept as military secrets.

Douglas Engelbart is credited with inventing the computer mouse. He worked at the Stanford Research Institute (SRI). In 1963, he recorded thoughts about a device he called a "bug."

He wanted a tool that was more natural than a stylus. Bill English helped Engelbart build the first prototype in 1964. Engelbart famously demonstrated the device in 1968. This event is known as the "Mother of All Demos."

Although Engelbart invented it, SRI held the patent. The patent expired before the mouse became common in personal computers.

The name "mouse" likely comes from the device's physical appearance. Early models had a cord that resembled a rodent's tail.

A designer named Roger Bates suggested another reason for the name. The cursor on the screen was sometimes called "CAT." This made it seem as if the device was being chased. The term "mouse" was first used in a 1965 publication by Bill English. While the rodent is always called "mice," computer mice can be called "mice" or "mouses." Most dictionaries say "mice" is the more common plural.

In Germany, a company called AEG-Telefunken developed a different mouse.

This device was called the Rollkugel. It used a 40 mm ball and two mechanical transducers. This model was shown in a sales brochure in October 1968. It was an optional input for the SIG 100 vector graphics terminal. This mouse was developed independently from Engelbart's work. It was based on an earlier trackball used for air traffic control. Only 46 systems were sold or leased in that specific deal.

The mouse became a staple of personal computing through several key machines. The Xerox Alto was one of the first to use a modern mouse in 1973.

Alan Kay designed the 16-by-16 cursor icon for this system. Later, the HP-HIL mouse was marketed in 1984.

Modern mice continue to specialize for different tasks. Gaming mice often feature many extra buttons for complex controls.

Whether wired or wireless, these devices remain essential for human-computer interaction.