A computer mouse is a portable pointing tool that tracks motion in two dimensions in relation to a surface. This motion is often translated into the movement of a pointer on a screen, enabling fluid control of a computer’s graphical user interface.
What is Mouse?
A mouse slides across a smooth surface to move the graphical cursor. In the traditional roller-ball mouse, two tiny shafts that are positioned at right angles to one another come into contact with the ball to produce the action. These shafts rotate in response to the movement of the ball, and sensors included in the mouse track this revolution. The computer receives the distance and direction data from the sensors and uses it to move the graphic pointer on the screen in accordance with the mouse’s motions.
History of Mouse
Douglas Engelbart of SRI International started creating the mouse in the early 1960s while researching how people and computers interact. In 1964, Bill English, who was SRI’s top engineer at the time, created the first computer mouse prototype. Soon designs with many buttons appeared.
In 1968, the first computer mouse prototype revolutionized how people interacted with computers.
The motion of the mouse was converted into the movement of the cursor on the screen using a single wheel or a pair of wheels. The initial patent for what was then known as the “X-Y Position Indicator for a Display System” listed Engelbart as the inventor. It was applied for in 1967, and it was granted in 1970.
The mother of all inventions
The 1968 occasion has been referred to as “the mother of all demos” because of its influence on computing and the world.
Engelbart saw the mouse as a small piece of a much bigger technology system designed to promote global online cooperation and organizational learning. Engelbart began to see how various types of information may be shown on cathode ray tube screens when he was a graduate student in electrical engineering. He also thought of “flying” between various information spaces.
Types of Computer Mouse
- Wired Mouse
- Wireless Mouse
- Bluetooth Mouse
- Trackball Mouse
- Laser Mouse
- Magic Mouse
- USB Mouse
- Optical Mouse
- Mini Mouse
- Vertical Mouse
- Gaming Mouse
Uses of Mouse in computer
The following list of the mouse’s numerous computer system usage is provided.
- Drag-and-drop
- Point Select
- Hover
- Scroll
- Open & Close Program
- Pointer
1. Drag and Drop
You may effortlessly drag and drop items using a computer mouse, such as files and folders, documents, and other items. Additionally, you may drag and drop any picture, movie, etc.
To drag and drop a file is to move it from one location to another.
2. Point Select
You may perform a great deal of tasks on your computer with just a pointer. Cursor is another name for a pointer.
Gamers may do more with the pointer, for example, you can aim your gun in the direction you want to shoot in while playing the game.
3. Select
You can select anything very easily with a computer mouse. Selecting a text file, selecting a file or folder, etc. are some examples.
4. Hover
A computer mouse can be used to hover over a link. Hovering refers to when a link or piece of text begins to move as soon as your mouse cursor passes over it.
5. Scroll
Any soft page can be simply scrolled across using a computer mouse. We utilize the scroll to read a long text through in its entirety, or we scroll a web page to read all of the information on it.
A document page or web page can be scrolled using the wheel of a computer mouse. In all variations of the computer mouse, this wheel is present.
6. Open & Close Programs
You can quickly open or close any computer software by using a mouse. Open any program on your computer, such as MS Word, editing software, etc.
When you are finished with your job, you close the software after it has opened.
Functions of Computer Mouse
Moving the pointer around, opening icons, closing or opening applications, selecting folders and text files, and drag-and-dropping are all crucial computer mouse functions. Using a computer mouse, all of this job is completed.
We sincerely hope that you have a thorough understanding of the numerous keyboard and mouse functions; but, if you do not, kindly leave a comment.
How to use a computer mouse?
If you want to make the mouse functional then follow the steps given below:
- Place the mouse on a spot that is clear and flat, ideally a mouse pad.
- Hold the mouse lightly with your hand.
- Connect the mouse’s USB connector to a computer.
- If required, connect the mouse via Bluetooth.
- Make sure the mouse is working.
- Get comfortable using the mouse to click.
- Practice using the mouse to scroll and drag objects.
- Adjust the mouse as necessary.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
Ans. In 1961, Doug Engelbart purportedly had the idea for the mouse while delivering a conference talk. His initial concept, created in 1963, was based on mechanical area-measuring instruments called planimeters, which were initially developed in the 1800s. In the middle of the 1960s, engineers at Telefunken in Germany also created the mouse.
Ans. A computer mouse is a tiny, movable object that you can use to operate a variety of things. Most mouse types have two buttons, while some may also have a wheel positioned in the middle of the buttons. The majority of mouse models utilise the computer’s power and a cable connection to connect to it.
Ans. Doug Engelbart stated that when asked who gave the name to his most well-known creation, “No one can remember. We all referred to it as a “mouse with a tail” because of how it seemed. Initially, the wire “tail” emerged from the user’s wrist.
Ans. Douglas Engelbart of SRI, who would later work on the DARPA-sponsored ARPANET project, the forerunner to the Internet, devised the computer mouse as part of an ARPA-funded effort to investigate better ways for computer users to interface with computers. The original mouse was made of wood and just had one button.
Ans. The mouse was initially created by Engelbart as a means of navigating his online System (NLS), a forerunner to the Internet that permitted users of computers to share information stored on their devices.
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