The basic computer mouse is an amazingly clever invention with a relatively simple design that allows us to point at things on the computer and it is very productive.
The
basic
computer
mouse
is
an
amazingly
clever
invention
with
a
relatively
simple
design
that
allows
us
to
point
at
things
on
the
computer
and
it
is
very
productive
.
Think of all the things you can do with a mouse like selecting text for copying and pasting, drawing, and even scrolling on the page with the newer mice with the wheel.
Think
of
all
the
things
you
can
do
with
a
mouse
like
selecting
text
for
copying
and
pasting
,
drawing
,
and
even
scrolling
on
the
page
with
the
newer
mice
with
the
wheel
.
Most of us use the computer mouse daily without stopping to think how it works until it gets dirty and we have to learn how to clean it.
Most
of
us
use
the
computer
mouse
daily
without
stopping
to
think
how
it
works
until
it
gets
dirty
and
we
have
to
learn
how
to
clean
it
.
We learn to point at thing before we learn to speak, so the mouse is a very natural pointing device.
We
learn
to
point
at
thing
before
we
learn
to
speak
,
so
the
mouse
is
a
very
natural
pointing
device
.
Other computer pointing devices include light pens, graphics tablets and touch screen, but the mouse still our workhorse.
Other
computer
pointing
devices
include
light
pens
,
graphics
tablets
and
touch
screen
,
but
the
mouse
still
our
workhorse
.
The computer mouse was invented in 1964 by Douglas Englehart of Stanford University.
The
computer
mouse
was
invented
in
1964
by
Douglas
Englehart
of
Stanford
University
.
As computer screens became popular and arrow keys were used to more around a body of text, it became clear that a pointing device that allowed easier motion through the text and even selection of text would be very useful.
As
computer
screens
became
popular
and
arrow
keys
were
used
to
more
around
a
body
of
text
,
it
became
clear
that
a
pointing
device
that
allowed
easier
motion
through
the
text
and
even
selection
of
text
would
be
very
useful
.
The introduction of the mouse, with the Apple Lisa computer in 1983, really started the computer public on the road to relying on the mouse for routine computer tasks.
The
introduction
of
the
mouse
,
with
the
Apple
Lisa
computer
in
1983
,
really
started
the
computer
public
on
the
road
to
relying
on
the
mouse
for
routine
computer
tasks
.
How does the mouse work?
How
does
the
mouse
work
?
We have to start at the bottom, so think upside down for now.
We
have
to
start
at
the
bottom
,
so
think
upside
down
for
now
.
It all starts with mouse ball.
It
all
starts
with
mouse
ball
.
As the mouse ball in the bottom of the mouse rolls over the mouse pad, it presses against and turns two shafts.
As
the
mouse
ball
in
the
bottom
of
the
mouse
rolls
over
the
mouse
pad
,
it
presses
against
and
turns
two
shafts
.
The shafts are connected to wheels with several small holes in them.
The
shafts
are
connected
to
wheels
with
several
small
holes
in
them
.
The wheels have a pair of small electronic light-emitting devices called light emitting diodes (LED) mounted on either side.
The
wheels
have
a
pair
of
small
electronic
light-emitting
devices
called
light
emitting
diodes
(
LED
)
mounted
on
either
side
.
One LED sends a light beam to the LED on the other side.
One
LED
sends
a
light
beam
to
the
LED
on
the
other
side
.
As the wheels spin and a hole rotates by, the light beam gets through to the LED on the other side.
As
the
wheels
spin
and
a
hole
rotates
by
,
the
light
beam
gets
through
to
the
LED
on
the
other
side
.
But a moment later the light beam is blocked until the next hole is in place.
But
a
moment
later
the
light
beam
is
blocked
until
the
next
hole
is
in
place
.
The LED detects a changing pattern of light, converts the pattern into an electronic signal, and sends the signal to the computer through wires in a cable that goes out the mouse body.
The
LED
detects
a
changing
pattern
of
light
,
converts
the
pattern
into
an
electronic
signal
,
and
sends
the
signal
to
the
computer
through
wires
in
a
cable
that
goes
out
the
mouse
body
.
This cable is the tail that helps give the mouse its name.
This
cable
is
the
tail
that
helps
give
the
mouse
its
name
.
The computer interprets the signal to tell it where to position the cursor on the computer screen.
The
computer
interprets
the
signal
to
tell
it
where
to
position
the
cursor
on
the
computer
screen
.
So far we have only discussed the basic computer mouse that most of you probably have or have used.
So
far
we
have
only
discussed
the
basic
computer
mouse
that
most
of
you
probably
have
or
have
used
.
One problem with this design is that the mouse gets dirty as the ball rolls over the surface and picks up the dirt.
One
problem
with
this
design
is
that
the
mouse
gets
dirty
as
the
ball
rolls
over
the
surface
and
picks
up
the
dirt
.
Eventually you have to clean your mouse.
Eventually
you
have
to
clean
your
mouse
.
The newer optical mice avoid this problem by having no moving parts.
The
newer
optical
mice
avoid
this
problem
by
having
no
moving
parts
.
The basic computer mouse is an amazingly clever invention with a relatively simple design that allows us to point at things on the computer and it is very productive. Think of all the things you can do with a mouse like selecting text for copying and pasting, drawing, and even scrolling on the page with the newer mice with the wheel. Most of us use the computer mouse daily without stopping to think how it works until it gets dirty and we have to learn how to clean it. We learn to point at thing before we learn to speak, so the mouse is a very natural pointing device. Other computer pointing devices include light pens, graphics tablets and touch screen, but the mouse still our workhorse.  The computer mouse was invented in 1964 by Douglas Englehart of Stanford University. As computer screens became popular and arrow keys were used to more around a body of text, it became clear that a pointing device that allowed easier motion through the text and even selection of text would be very useful. The introduction of the mouse, with the Apple Lisa computer in 1983, really started the computer public on the road to relying on the mouse for routine computer tasks.  How does the mouse work? We have to start at the bottom, so think upside down for now. It all starts with mouse ball. As the mouse ball in the bottom of the mouse rolls over the mouse pad, it presses against and turns two shafts. The shafts are connected to wheels with several small holes in them. The wheels have a pair of small electronic light-emitting devices called light emitting diodes (LED) mounted on either side. One LED sends a light beam to the LED on the other side. As the wheels spin and a hole rotates by, the light beam gets through to the LED on the other side. But a moment later the light beam is blocked until the next hole is in place. The LED detects a changing pattern of light, converts the pattern into an electronic signal, and sends the signal to the computer through wires in a cable that goes out the mouse body. This cable is the tail that helps give the mouse its name. The computer interprets the signal to tell it where to position the cursor on the computer screen.  So far we have only discussed the basic computer mouse that most of you probably have or have used. One problem with this design is that the mouse gets dirty as the ball rolls over the surface and picks up the dirt. Eventually you have to clean your mouse. The newer optical mice avoid this problem by having no moving parts.