There are some objects without which it is literally like being without hands. This device is one of them: a rare computer user can do without it. This refers to a mouse manipulator (this is its official name), the purpose of which is to convert the user’s mechanical movements into the movements of a pointer-cursor on the screen. Of course, you can get by with just a keyboard or touchscreen devices (touchscreen and touchpad), and yet working at a computer without a mouse can be easily compared to riding a bicycle without pedals.
Why the mouse was called a mouse, there are two versions. Some believe that this name was given to it by the inventor of the American engineer Douglas Engelbart, since its wire looked like a tail (another name “beetle”, associated with the shape of the body, did not catch on). Others are sure that the English “mouse” is an abbreviation for Manually Operated User Signal Encoder (“manually operated user signal encoder”). Engelbart himself mentioned in an interview that the idea for such a device came to him in the early 1950s, while studying at the University of Berkeley and working in a radar laboratory belonging to NACA (the future NASA).
However, this idea was realized only in 1964, when Engelbart, while creating the oN-Line System (NLS) computer operating system, considered the concept of a window interface. A convenient manipulator was needed to indicate objects on the screen when working interactively with texts. Engelbart and his colleagues tabulated the characteristics of all manipulators known at the beginning of the 1960s, including leg, knee, etc.
Angelbart's mouse.
D. Engelbart.
None of the existing ones met the scientists' requirements, and then a rather awkward structure was born - a thick-walled wooden box with a tiny red button, an awkward "tail" under the user's wrist and large metal disks that turned when the device was moved. The first mouse was assembled by engineer Bill English, and programs to demonstrate its capabilities were written by Jeff Rulifson.
NASA did not appreciate either the operating system or the manipulator that came with it. They were considered unnecessarily complex, and besides, Angelbart never knew how to present his developments from a favorable perspective, believing that competent people would figure it out anyway. In 1968, he did receive a patent for an “x and y coordinate indicator for a display system.” This model was significantly different from the experimental sample; it already had three buttons, but it was still very far from a modern mouse.
After the failure with the NLS system, Engelbart's laboratory was closed. English moved to the Xerox PARC research center, where many of modern computer technologies were born, and continued to improve the mouse. In 1972, he received a patent for a new model. English replaced two large disks with one bearing, the movements of which were fixed using two rollers. The body design has also become more similar to what we are used to.
B. English.
Three-button mouse. 1970s
The further fate of the mouse is closely connected with Apple. Its executive director, Steve Jobe, commissioned the development of a new model from the small company Hovey-Kelley Design. The task was not easy: it was necessary to reduce the cost of the product by at least ten times, make the mouse more reliable and easier to use. As a result, the steel bearing in the complex mechanical suspension was replaced by a rubber ball that rolled freely in the housing. The expensive system of coding disks and unreliable electrical contacts was replaced by simple optoelectronic converters and slotted wheels. In addition, a molded plastic case was proposed, in which all the parts were fastened in place. Such a mouse was simply assembled on an assembly line. As a result, Apple received a reliable and inexpensive device, which became one of the reasons for the stunning success of the Macintosh computers, which entered the market in 1984.
The mouse, created by order of Jobs, turned out to be so successful that its use continued for almost two decades. Only in the second half of the 1990s, a new type of optical mouse was created at the Agilent Technologies research laboratory, which at that time belonged to Hewlett-Packard.
Mouse with ball drive.
The first generation of optical mice was based on the use of various optocoupler sensor circuits with indirect optical coupling. All these sensors had a common drawback: the working surface (mat) had to have a special hatching of lines intersecting at a certain angle. For some models, shading was done with paints invisible in normal light. Inconveniences in operation were obvious: the mouse had to be held in a strict orientation relative to the mat, and the mats themselves quickly became dirty and became unusable. Replacing them was not easy: the shading patterns of different manufacturers did not match, and the mouse pads were not produced separately from the mice. Due to this, the model never received wide distribution.
In 1999, the production of second-generation optical mice began, based on a microcircuit containing a photosensor and an image processor. The reduction in cost and miniaturization of computer equipment has made it possible to fit all this into one element. The photosensor periodically scanned the area of the working surface under the mouse. When the pattern changed, the processor determined in which direction and at what distance the mouse had moved. The scanned area was illuminated by an LED (usually red).
Mouse mats provide a huge scope for designers' imagination: different shapes, colors, patterns...
In 2004, Logitech introduced the MX 1000 mouse, which uses an infrared laser to illuminate the surface rather than an LED. The advantage of this technology is the high contrast of the surface image obtained on the sensor, which ensures better recognition. The downside is the need to disperse the laser beam in order to increase the captured surface area. This is achieved by installing additional lenses, and as a result, the cost increases.
Recently, many new models of manipulators have appeared on the market, including wireless mice, which are in great demand. Communication between the mouse and a receiving device connected to the computer port can be carried out in two ways. Contact using infrared radiation has a significant drawback: any obstacle between the mouse and the sensor interferes with operation.
Logitech wireless mouse.
More convenient is radio communication using a Bluetooth connection, which allows you to abandon the need for a receiving device, since most modern computers are equipped with Bluetooth adapters.
Induction manipulators became a kind of offshoot from the first generation of optical mice. They come complete with a special mat, which, powered by the computer, creates a small electromagnetic field that induces an induction current in the manipulator coil. A special processor can track the movement of the manipulator in this magnetic field, transmitting a signal back to the computer. Such designs, however, are quite expensive, and hybrid mice are more often used, in which a conventional optical system is powered by induction current.
The functionality of mice of different modifications can vary significantly. Engelbart once planned to equip the mouse with five buttons for all fingers, but for a long time mice were either three-button or one-button, like Apple. At the same time, the middle button was used very rarely and was eventually replaced by a scroll wheel (scrolling text). However, some manufacturers equip their mice with additional wheels and buttons. The design can include mini-joysticks and trackballs with rotating balls that provide scrolling in any direction.
In 2009, Apple introduced the Magic Mouse, the world's first multi-touch mouse. Instead of controls, it uses a touch-sensitive touchpad, which allows you to use various gestures to press, scroll in any direction, make various transitions and other actions. There are also gyroscopic mice that recognize movement not only on the surface, but also in space, and mice that can be used as a remote control (for example, MediaPlay from Logitech).
Apple mouse, Pro Mouse model.
Standard office mice have extravagant relatives designed for computer game lovers. These more responsive devices feature additional customizable buttons and a non-slip exterior. And Logitech made an attempt to introduce interactive mice of the iFeel line, which notified the owner about various events on the screen with a slight vibration, but the new product did not inspire users.
Not just mice
Designing unusual mice has turned into a kind of competition for designers. Thus, designers from South Korea have developed an inflatable JellyClick mouse, the electronic filling of which fits on a small flexible plate. When deflated, the mouse can be folded to the size of this plate, and the wire with the USB connector can be passed through a special holder. And the round gel Jelfin mouse can be used as a stress ball, crushed and pressed, relieving stress from hard work.
One of the most unusual mouse models is the NoHands Mouse from Hunter Digital, controlled... by your feet. The device consists of two pedals, one of which controls the movement of the pointer across the screen, and the second controls the pressing of the button. The developer claims that his device is not only more comfortable than conventional mouse models, but also allows you to get rid of carpal tunnel syndrome, which 70% of people who spend a lot of time at the computer have. It is also noted that when using NoHands Mous, both hands are free to work on the keyboard.
At one time it seemed that the progressive touch interface would take away the mouse's status as the primary coordinating input device. However, it turned out that during long-term work it becomes more tiring, since the arms have to be held suspended. That's why the mouse isn't going away, even though it's been blamed for causing painful carpal tunnel syndrome. After all, new ergonomic models and rational operating modes allow you to use the mouse with greater performance and comfort.
Let’s face it, it’s not easy to immediately define a computer mouse. Perhaps, if we express ourselves in understandable, “human” and not “computer” language, we will get something like this: a computer mouse is a device with which you can select any objects on the computer screen and control them. At the same time, it cannot be said that working on a computer without a mouse is impossible, but it is unlikely that there will be a person who is ready to simply give it up. The mouse greatly simplifies our communication with the computer and makes it more convenient. The process of managing it can be mastered in no time; it does not require any special skills. And a modern computer “rodent” doesn’t cost that much money. The same cannot be said, for example, about the first computer mouse.
On December 9, 1968, American inventor Douglas Engelbart from the Stanford Research Institute demonstrated the world's first computer mouse (an indicator of x and y coordinates for a display system) at a conference on computing in San Francisco. This invention was a wooden cube on wheels with one button.
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It is believed that the computer mouse owes its name to the wire - it resembled the tail of a real mouse. However, the inventor himself says: “I don’t know why we called it a mouse. This name stuck right away and we did not change it.”
The first computer mouse appeared as one of the by-products of Douglas Engelbart's development of the oN-Line System (NLS) operating system. During the work on NLS, the concept of a “windowed” interface appeared, and the mouse was created as one of the possible manipulators for working with windows. Actually, the idea of such a manipulator appeared in 1963, and in 1964 the first working prototype was made. In an interview, Engelbart said that his first thoughts about creating such a device appeared back in 1951!
The mouse was a handmade wooden box with one button, moving around the table on two metal disks: one turned when the device was moved forward, the second was responsible for moving the mouse to the right and left, and counting their turns and turns. This information was then entered into the computer and controlled the movement of the cursor on the screen.
Douglas Engelbart did not work alone on the creation of the manipulator: he is the author of the idea and the developer of the concept, but he did not make the device itself. The first mouse was made by graduate student Bill English, and Jeff Rulifson, who joined later, significantly improved the design of the mouse and developed drivers for it. The archives of Stanford University contain an educational film from 1968, which demonstrates the first computer mouse and its amazing capabilities for that time. By the way, Douglas Engelbart received only about $10,000 for developing the mouse.
Later, Xerox became interested in Engelbart's idea. Its researchers changed the design of the mouse, and it became similar to the modern one. In 1981, Xerox first introduced the mouse as part of the Xerox 8010 Star Information System personal computer. It had three buttons, a ball and rollers instead of disks, and cost $400, which corresponds to almost $1,000 in 2012 prices, taking into account inflation!
In 1983, Apple released its own model of a one-button mouse for the Lisa computer, the cost of which was reduced to $25. The mouse gained wide popularity thanks to its use in Apple Macintosh computers and later in Windows OS for IBM PC.
There are rumors that mice were invented in the USSR... however, maybe this is a fake...
Today there are two types of computer mice: mechanical and optical. The latter are devoid of mechanical elements, and optical sensors are used to track the movement of the manipulator relative to the surface.
Mice with infrared transmitters were developed back in 1984, however, for them to work, the mouse had to be constantly in the line of sight of the IR receiver. In 1991, Logitech released the first wireless mouse using a radio signal rather than IR: the Cordless MouseMan.
In the late 1990s, Sun Microsystems introduced the first laser mouse. It features higher operating accuracy and lower power consumption.
Mass production of laser mice began in 2004. Once again, Logitech led the way with the first consumer mouse with a laser sensor, the MX1000. Until then, predominantly optical mice were used, in which an LED illuminated the surface under the optical sensor, which monitored the movements of the manipulator. Using a laser gave the mice additional positional accuracy, responsiveness, and the ability to be used on a variety of different surfaces.
The latest innovation in technology is wireless mice. Initially, each manufacturer developed its own signal transmission method for them. However, subsequently, Bluetooth connection became increasingly used for communication, which made it possible to get rid of the receiving device, since a number of computers (for example, laptops) are already equipped with a Bluetooth adapter.
But the design of modern mice is simply amazing - from traditional shapes to mice in the shape of a car or a gold bar, a woman’s body or a heart, a favorite animal or fruit, with rhinestones or graffiti. For every taste! I wonder what designers will surprise us with in the future...
Just a mouse
Greenpeace will definitely not cut this model. After all, it is made from the fur of a real mouse!!! The designers assure: a realistic body is the result of good imagination, and not cruelty to animals. And then other rodents will find it much more pleasant to lie on such a mouse than on cold plastic.
Bamboo mouse
And Greenpeace will most likely shave this mouse. Go eco-friendly with an eco-friendly wireless bamboo mouse. Practical for everyone, elegant for a leader.
Hands-legs? The main thing is the tail!
We are used to clicking and clicking with our fingers. But manufacturers of computer rodents suggest developing legs. One pedal is for moving the mouse, the other is for clicking. There is an option for one leg - the mouse needs to be held between the thumb and index toe. A kind of Vietnamese slipper. Such inventions are not very popular yet, but they are in demand among people with disabilities.
Alternative mouse
The unusual design of this paddle uses an upward motion instead of a downward button press. This was done with the aim of diversifying physical activity during long-term work at the computer, using unused muscle groups, and reducing the likelihood of developing the so-called “tunnel syndrome”.
Recoil mouse.
The mouse was originally designed for coordinate input only, but it can also provide feedback. Imagine moving your cursor over controls and feeling the edges and surfaces of those windows, buttons, and sliders. To provide recoil, Novint Falcon uses motors that control three “handles” that hold the “cursor”.
Heated mouse
In the cold Russian winter, a heated mouse will help you stay warm. The mini-heater maintains a stable temperature (45 degrees) and weighs only 100 g. Manufacturers assure that the additional function will not in any way affect the main purpose of the miracle mouse. There are also mice that not only heat, but also cool - they have a built-in heater and fan.
Talkative rodent
In its normal, folded state, the mouse is no different from its relatives. But once you open its body, and... with a slight movement of the hand, the mouse turns into a handset for talking on Skype with a microphone, speaker and volume control.
Mouse from iPhone
This “mouse” in its normal state is an iPhone 4, 4S or 5. However, with the help of a special attachment developed by Spicebox and connected to the dock connector, the iPhone turns into a portable mouse. In addition to standard functionality and a virtual scroll wheel, Mauz has a Kinect-like mode for controlling gestures.
Transformable mouse- the brainchild of Canon,
which combines the functionality of a regular mouse and a monochrome calculator.
Another transformer - Keyboard mouse
Adesso AKP-170 is a combination mouse and mini keyboard. It functions both as an optical mouse and as a numeric keyboard. The mini-keyboard is located under a transparent cover, which can be easily removed. For easier web navigation, the mouse has an additional wheel. This hybrid is designed for mobile professionals.
Joystick mouse Chameleon X-1
This hybrid from Shogun Bros, presented at CES 2012, is distinguished by its unique style, as well as the ability to simultaneously be both a mouse and a joystick. The gamepad is located on the underside of the Chameleon X-1 mouse and has 16 buttons. The invention of Chameleon X-1 is also wireless. The mouse buttons are decorated with leather, which gives the input/output device even more originality.
Combimouse - keyboard and mouse in one
This hybrid is another attempt to make life easier for users who often work at a computer. But is it easier? Judge for yourself. This patented technology combines both a keyboard and a mouse - but not the usual one everyone is familiar with, but the mouse as part of the keyboard itself. A standard QWERTY keyboard consists of two parts. Its left part is intended for left-handed operation and is a regular keyboard, while the right half is both a keyboard and a mouse. It has the same weight and center of gravity as regular mice, is in keyboard mode by default, but can easily switch to mouse mode and certain keys will be equivalent to clicking the left and right mouse buttons. Only scroll for some reason is on the left half of the keyboard. The only question is, is it worth complicating your life?
Lumiquitous - virtual keyboard + mouse
The idea of typing without a keyboard is proposed by designer Sung-Hyeon Yoo in his new concept, which presents two wireless mice designed not only to control the cursor on the computer screen, but also for typing. The devices have two interactive laser projectors built into them, which present an image of the layout on the table. Each mouse includes a three-dimensional motion sensor, a laser projector and an optical sensor that controls the movement of the beam and detects finger touches of letters reflected on the surface of the table. In addition, you no longer need to constantly move your hand from the keyboard to the mouse, which saves a lot of time.
With one finger...
The index finger mouse tracks hand movements. To click, just make a “press” in the air. This gadget is convenient to use in transport, lying on the couch, working on a netbook... You can click and type with ten fingers at the same time!
Another one mini mouse
Swiftpoint mice do not require a flat surface to use. The user holds the mouse between the thumb and index fingers. Despite its small size, the mouse is easy to use. In addition, the mouse is wireless.
Cup mouse
Do you like to drink tea, coffee or something else while working at the computer? The developers of the cup mouse were sympathetic to this habit. Now you can scroll the page and “click” without letting go of your coffee mug.
Powder mouse.
A mouse with space under the body for a powder compact may appeal to many women.
Sexappeal mice
A mouse designed exclusively for ladies may attract too much attention, distracting you from your work
With the Pat-Says-Now Body optical mouse, women lovers can touch and move arousing female bodies dressed in fancy lingerie across the mat all day long.
Japanese designers have created an unusual computer mouse, the buttons of which are made in the shape of a woman's breast. By the way, in addition to the mouse, you can purchase a rug of the same theme. Although I would have made this particular mouse differently, I would have turned everything around. The chest is at the base of the palm, then the scroller would symbolize something. But due to the trashy panties (by the way, there are different colors for lovers of “aesthetics”), this model is still awesome.
Designers, Mostafa Tohidifar & David Abbasi, present the iTit optical wireless mouse. With nipple-joystick. In general, that's all that can be said about her.
The “Point G” concept by designer Andy Kurovets can plunge any person into a stupor (or delight - depending on upbringing or worldview). The design of the front panel, without any hints in plain text, resembles the female genitals, and the placement of the scroll wheel and customizable (good word, applied to the situation, isn’t it?) keys leave no doubt about the intentions of the creator of this mouse to shock the public, gain fame, or just have fun (Underline whatever applicable).
However, a standard mouse can also look tempting.
And there are also computer mats. By the way, they say that such rugs protect against carpal tunnel syndrome...
But what about love, you may ask. Here you go, feel the love in every click of the mouse Pat-Says-Now Red Heart!
The healthiest mice
Designers not only try to surprise with new models, they also care about our health. For example, the IOGEAR antimicrobial laser mouse is coated with a composition that prevents viruses, bacteria and microbes from living on its surface. This device is great for use in medical institutions, as well as in other public institutions.
And waterproof " Belkin»
very convenient because it can be cleaned of germs under running water. Scientists say that mice have many times more germs than door handles and toilet rims. Now this problem is easy to deal with.
Another healthy mouse - AOpen
– releases negatively charged ions. This computer air ionizer improves the user's blood circulation, metabolism, and also strengthens the immune system!
ASUS Vito W1– a mouse that will not let you worry by reporting an increase in your heart rate.
Mouse masseur
Of course, the mouse itself will not give you a massage, but there are models with special attachments that are powered from a computer via USB. The mouse has buttons that control the power of the pulses. If such a massage turns out to be ineffective, just start doing exercises.
Mouse with magnification
This device will be useful for people with low vision. It connects to your computer display or TV and allows you to read the small print you move across.
Inflatable mouse
Korean designers have made an inflatable Jelly Click mouse from soft plastic. It can be carried in your pocket and between the halves of the laptop! At the same time, you will train your lungs.
Bat computer mouse - for Batman
The device of Russian designer Vadim Kibardin, who lives in Prague, is truly something futuristic. This manipulator levitates above the table, without any supports or stands, which is why it got the name Bat. As a matter of fact, two magnetic coils are responsible for levitation, one in the mouse itself, the other in the receiver platform. In a free-floating state, the mouse hangs four centimeters above the platform. Under the weight of the hand, it drops to a centimeter. The only disappointing thing about this manipulator is that it is a prototype. The timing of the sale is vague, as is the estimated cost. The inventor has already begun cooperation with companies in China and the Netherlands. It is expected that it will take about a year to study the market and refine the prototype.
Gzhel and Khokhloma paintings, mice that look like ladybugs, penguins, fish, cars and airplanes.
Mouse cursor
The white and black cursor were created in Artemy Lebedev's studio. The cursors, made of matte plastic, feel like thick suede to the touch. Two buttons are located on the tip. And, although the design is unusual, the developers claim that the cursor is very easy to use.
Scream or rather squeak - mouse for horror movie lovers
American artist Chris Lomaka came up with an unusual computer mouse. The unique design of the mouse is made in the form of body parts, and it looks very realistic. This mega-unusual computer mouse is designed for people with a developed imagination. And it’s unlikely that anyone would want to leave their child alone with such a monster!
Girls' best friends
Today, not only ordinary women’s accessories, but also computer accessories are decorated with diamonds, rhinestones, precious and not so precious stones.
If you are on a diet, it is better not to buy this mouse. Computer hamburger does not leave crumbs, but can remind you of hunger.
And if you suddenly want something sweet, then a wireless computer mouse in the shape of a chocolate bar... will only enhance this feeling))). One can only guess about the ease of use of the mouse.
Computer mice for car enthusiasts
This is a wired mouse, but there are similar wireless ones:
The resolution of Road Wireless Mice is 800 dpi - this improves their accuracy. To help your battery last longer, you can turn your headlights on or off. When purchasing such a mouse, you will receive, as when purchasing a real machine, a personal registration number.
Wireless computer mouse in the form of a fighter jet with LED indicators.
World of Warcraft Mouse
This mouse will not leave true fans of this popular game indifferent! The mouse's striking cyborg-like appearance is adorned with 15 programmable buttons, each of which was developed specifically for Warcraft fans in collaboration with Blizzard. The developers stuffed this poor mouse with all possible gaming gadgets. Players can simply spend a lot of time choosing the most suitable backlight for themselves, since the mouse has over 16 million lighting options with 3 levels of pulsation and intensity.
Two-button optical computer mouse in the shape of a ladybug.
Despite its funny appearance, the mouse is ergonomic and fits almost any hand.
Touch computer mouse with a futuristic design.
And a few more mice:(to feel all their diversity)
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Who invented the first computer mouse?
Many of us use a computer every day, but we rarely think about how computer technology was created and developed. Crazy leaps in technology development have made it possible to create a computer that anyone can use today. However, such apparent ease of working on a computer is very difficult to imagine without a small device known as " mouse". It plays a very important and often unnoticed role for people when they use it to navigate their desktop.
Mouse is an electronic device, slightly smaller than the palm of your hand, with one or more buttons. This simple device makes working with a computer easy and convenient. Simply put, a mouse is used to move the cursor on a computer monitor and perform various actions on desktop elements. The computer mouse is constantly being improved technologically, its ergonomics and design are improving.
The computer mouse was created by an American inventor Douglas Engelbart in 1964. He is not only the inventor of the computer mouse, but also of many other devices, services and software elements too. Among them: a prototype window interface (multiple windows when opening programs), email and the "@" sign, video and teleconferencing on a computer, hypermedia, etc. Since there was no procedure for issuing software patents at the time, Engelbart never received a patent for his version of Windows. However, he has acquired over 45 patents to his name.
But among his most famous innovations and inventions is still the computer mouse, which today is used all over the world by every PC user.
In 1964, a full-scale working model of a computer mouse was developed using a graphical user interface ( GUI). It was a handcrafted polished wooden case with two metal wheels inside and one red button on top.
In 1970, Douglas Engelbart applied for and received a patent for this invention. In the patent application, the device is referred to as " positional X-Y indicator on the system monitor"The device was called a “mouse” because of the wire attached to the back, similar to the tail of a mouse. The name quickly stuck and to this day in computer language this manipulator is known as a “mouse”.
Unfortunately, Douglas Engelbart did not know how to profitably sell his own brilliant ideas. For his “mouse” he received a small sum of $10,000, which immediately went towards paying the down payment for a small country house near Silicon Valley.
In 1984 Steve Jobs, co-founder of the company Apple, updated the design of the computer mouse for his computers Macintosh.
Magazine PC Magazine awarded Douglas a lifetime award in 1987 For achievements along the path of life».
In 1997, Douglas Engelbart received the Inventor's Prize Lemelson-MIT amounting to $500 thousand, which is the highest monetary prize in any field of invention to date.
Finally, in 1998, his name was included in National Inventors Hall of Fame(National Inventors' Hall of Fame).
The invention of the computer mouse turned out to be extremely useful for working on a computer. Many convenient functions have appeared, and a huge number of changes have been made to increase the versatility of the mouse. This miniature device has come a long way since its creation by Douglas Engelbart, but if not for his invention, navigating a computer would now be far from an easy task.
« Even the GUI still limits our capabilities. It reminds me of Chinese English in some ways. We must continue the evolution of computing technology» - Douglas Engelbart.
Part of artificial intelligence
The inventor of the computer mouse was Douglas Carl Engelbart (born January 30, 1925), a researcher at the Stanford Institute. This happened in 1964, although, by his own admission, he had been thinking about such a device since the early 50s. The mouse, being a companion product of the oN-Line System (NLS) operating system, turned out to be one of the components of a grandiose project. It was about the development of artificial human intelligence.
Mouse Inspiration
According to Douglas, he was led to the creation of the mouse by analyzing all other devices intended for input. When compiling a grid of already known developments, the desired characteristics of the device, which at that time did not yet exist, were determined. The same thing happened as with the Periodic Table of the Elements. A system defined by groups of rows and columns itself leads to the discovery of previously unknown elements.
Without her it’s like having no hands!
A whole laboratory was working on creating a manipulator. Engelbart was the inventor of the mouse, and Bill English, based on his sketches, brought this idea to life. The first mouse had a wire in the front, but to get it out of the way, I had to throw it back. The device resembled a mouse with a tail, and all employees began to call it that.
This name has become firmly established in computer slang. Phrase: “It’s done in two mouse clicks!” today is clear to everyone. If the mouse is working properly, we don't even notice its presence. But if problems happen to it, we are left without hands, or rather, without a mouse!
The tool is not for users
The very first computer mouse was a handmade mahogany box (!). A button and two perpendicular wheels are such a simple device. When moving the mouse, the wheels rolled along the plane, which made it possible to determine the magnitude and direction of the change in position. At the same time, the data was reflected by moving the cursor on the screen.
However, the mouse, having become a recognized peripheral device, still remains only a tool for developers of new technologies. It is not at all intended for ordinary users! But progress does not stand still: step by step the mouse is being improved and its design is changing. By 1981, the first computer mouse appeared, used for PC navigation. The laurels of its creators remained with the Xerox 8010 Star Information System.
Inventor's Award
For more than 40 years, millions of different computer mice have been produced annually. However, D.K. Engelbart did not become a millionaire. Being an extremely modest person, he simply went into the shadows. The invention was patented by the Stanford Institute, but at that time no one really understood its true value. In 1968, it became known that the license was transferred to Apple for only $40,000.
Engelbart himself received only a check for $10 thousand for his invention. He paid the fee as the first payment for a small country house... Later, the inventor was awarded one of the highest US awards for scientists - The National Medal of Technology. The event became a recognition of all his inventions in the IT field, including the computer mouse. This happened on December 1, 2000. And on December 9, 2008, the fortieth anniversary of the first demonstration of the invention was celebrated.
In the modern world, there are objects without which, in the literal sense of the word, it’s like being without hands. A computer mouse is one of those devices that a user practically cannot do without. Its main purpose is to transform the mechanical movements of a computer user into the movement of a cursor on the screen. Of course, we can get by with just one keyboard, touchscreen or touchpad, but we can still compare working at a computer without a mouse to riding a bicycle without pedals. Let's find out in what year the mouse was invented and who its creator is.
Why was the mouse called a mouse?
There are two versions why this device was called a mouse. Some people believe that an American engineer gave it this name because its drive looked like a tail. Others note that the name comes from the English word mouse, which is similar to the abbreviation for Manually Operated User Signal Encoder (“user signal encoder that is manually controlled”).
“What year was the computer mouse invented?” - you ask. As Engelbart himself said in an interview, the idea of his brainchild appeared in the 50s, while studying in the laboratory. There, as a scientist, he worked on radar installations that belong to NASA.
The history of the creation of the first mouse
Telling what year and what she looked like, one cannot help but recall the significant day of December 9, 1968. On this day, Engelbart first introduced others to his new invention, which had the official name “computer manipulator.” The first mouse was not wildly popular among people, because it was very bulky and uncomfortable. But when the creator showed real-time graphical control, it was like a bolt from the blue.
Douglas is one of the founders of human-machine interface research. He also became the creator of a text editor and online group conferencing. He has written more than 25 works, has 20 patents for technological inventions and has received numerous awards.
Having dealt with the question of what year the computer mouse was invented, we can smoothly move on to using it. In 1986, the computer mouse, like Engelbart’s other creations, remained unclaimed and did not bring the creator the expected income. But still, this is an amazing device, and no computer process can do without it now.
It was not developed by chance. Conventional manipulators (joystick, keyboard) simply slowed down the work of the windowed environment, and Douglas quickly came up with an addition that could make existing processes easier. This device turned out to be a truly ingenious find that had never existed in the world.
In what year was the mouse invented and what did it look like?
Engelbart, together with his colleagues, created a table with the characteristics of all known manipulators at that time, including leg, knee and others. After some time, a very awkward structure appears in the form of a thick wooden box with a small red button and an uncomfortable “tail” under the user’s hand. Inside there were two metal disks that made the mouse move back and forth, right and left. The first working prototype was presented by Engelbart's colleague, Bill English, and the illustration programs were written by Jeff Rulifson.
NASA did not appreciate the created manipulator; moreover, Engelbart did not know how to competently present his developments from a commercial point of view, naively believing that smart people would figure everything out themselves. In 1986, he received a patent for an “x and y indicator coordinator for a display system,” necessary for the creation of a new mouse. This model was very different from the first sample - it already had three buttons, but it was still very far from the modern version.
The first computer set that included a mouse was the Xerox 8010 minicomputer, which was introduced in 1981. The mouse from this company consisted of three buttons and cost $400. In 1983, the famous company Apple created its unique mouse with one button for the Lisa computer; its price dropped to $25.
Awards
We found out in what year the computer mouse was invented. It was in 1968 that Engelbart received a reward for his invention in the amount of 10 thousand dollars. But already in 1997, the engineer’s work was rated much higher - he was awarded the Lemelson Prize (in the amount of 500 thousand dollars), and a little later he was awarded the prestigious Turing award.
In 2000, on December 1, he was awarded the National Medal of Technology for his inventions, including the computer mouse. This is one of the highest US awards for achievements in the IT field. Engelbart was not rich and successful, he led a modest lifestyle, and few people remembered him. And in 2013, at the age of 88, he left this mortal coil.
About future
Now we have found out in what year the computer mouse was invented and who did it. Then the question remains open - what awaits her in the future? No one knows for sure, but the fact that it will remain an attribute of interaction with a computer in the coming decades is difficult to dispute. Another thing is in what form this will happen - sensory, virtual or biomechanical. Time, of course, will put everything in its place, and we just need to wait for progress to move further.
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