The mouse (also known as pointing device) is one of the greatest inventions in computer ergonomics. With the help of a mouse the PC user doesn’t have to use his keyboard for all the clicks made on a small device called mouse or in some areas pointing device.

First of it all I would like to explain why they call it mouse and what it is exactly. The name came from its shape, because it looks like your holding Jerry, right? So while Tom was not around in 1963 with Dr. Douglas C. Engelbart (born January 30, 1925), he had time to invent the first mouse prototype at the Stanford Research Institute. But before the mouse, a secret military project invented the trackball with some help from Tom Craston, Fred Longstaff and Kenyon Taylor in 1952. When Dr. Douglas C. Engelbart invented the first mouse he named it x-y position indicator. “One of the members of the team nicknamed the device a mouse and it caught on,” says Dr. Engelbart at the BBC program Go Digital.

The mouse is a pointing device, which can be connected to the computer in several ways:
- Connected directly to an RS-232C serial port
- PS/2 mice
- USB
-Wireless/Blue tooth



I remember my first computer had a PS/2 mouse with a trackball, and sometimes gave me some nerves when the cursor jumped by it self. But after some years I bought a PS/2 optical mouse which uses a laser to detect the mouse's movement. And I was really satisfied with it. But after some more years I bought a USB optical mouse and I’m still using it proudly.

There are several mice for graphics and gaming. For example a few years ago, when Counter Strike was the trendiest game in the world, everybody bought expensive optical mice, because those are more accurate than the old-fashion trackball mice. Those who use programs like Corel Draw or Photoshop use a very expensive optical or even wireless optical mouse because of the accuracy of its pointer.  So here is the list of basic mouse types:



Mechanical: Has a rubber ball on its underside that can roll in all directions. Mechanical sensors detect the movement of the ball.

Opto mechanical: It is same as the mechanical has a rubber ball, but the movement of the ball is picked up by optical sensors, so it is more accurate than the simple mechanical.

Optical: Uses a laser to detect the mouse's movement so it is the most accurate mouse, but also the most expensive.

Dr. Douglas C. Engelbart was born in the U.S. state of Oregon on January 30, 1925 and he is of German, Swedish and Norwegian descent. Unfortunately Engelbart did not receive any awards for his invention, as his patent ran out before it became used in PCs. If I were in his shoes, I would ask for an award or something. He deserves it doesn’t he?

Here you can find some unusual mouse designs.