Your first computer friend was probably your mouse. After the keyboard, the mouse is the input device most commonly used with computers today. It seems to take only a short time before your mouse fits comfortably in your hand as you partner up with it to control the on-screen cursor. Sometimes it’s a challenge controlling that blinking line or arrow that shows you where your next on-screen entry will be. But the mouse does its job and tracks the cursor’s position on the screen as you move your rolling rodent around the mouse pad or your desk. 

Your mouse gives you the ability to point to, select, and move items on the computer screen. Not only does your mouse tell you where you are on the screen, but it also tells you what's happening. Look closely at the cursor on the screen while you're moving the mouse around; it's not always an arrow. It often changes shape and size to indicate what you may do when the cursor is in that location.

Why Call It a Mouse

Many people seem to be curious how the mouse got its name. In the early 1960’s, Douglas Engelbart was fascinated with a theory he called “human augmentation technology,” an idea that the computer should be used to enhance human performance. Up to that time, computers were useful only to military and scientific communities. In 1968, Engelbart made an input device to help people interact with the computer. The original mouse was a small rectangular wooden box with a cable running to the computer. Since the cord looked like a tail and mice are known for scurrying along a surface, this new device quickly became known as a mouse. The mouse turned out to be one of Englebart’s most ingenious ideas. Yet, Englebart’s original ideas were rejected, only to be resurrected later by others who took both the credit and the financial reward. The mouse that we use today has changed little since 1968. Because it frees the user from having to exclusively use the keyboard, the mouse is recognized as one of the great breakthroughs in computing.

Varieties of Mice

Typically, your mouse friend will be a flat-bottomed device with a button (or two or three) on the top and a rollerball on the bottom. Mice come in three basic types:  mechanical, optomechanical, and optical. The basic design is the mechanical mouse with a rubber or plastic ball on its underside that rolls in all directions. The cursor on the screen is moved as the mechanical sensors within the mouse detect the rolling ball’s direction. The optomechanical mouse uses optical sensors to detect the motion of the ball. The fully optical mouse uses lasers to detect the mouse's movement. In optical mice, the optical positioning mechanism that is used instead of the ball has a red glow, which gives the mouse a subtle high tech look. From the user’s point of view, optical mice work just like a standard mouse with a track ball on the bottom. However, optical mice are more precise. In addition, they do not need cleaning and can be used without a mouse pad. The only drawback to optical mice is that they will not work on an extremely shiny surface, like glass or mirrors.

Another design breakthrough in mice is the cordless mouse, which no longer has to be physically connected to the computer. Wireless mice have become quite popular. Two different technologies are used. Some mice operate by an infrared-port, where the mouse must have a clear line of sight to the computer, much like a television remote control. Other mice use radio frequencies for their wireless technology, which allow the mice to roam farther from the computer. Radio frequency mice can transmit to the computer in spite of the pile of papers found on a cluttered desktop. Both optical and cordless mice are more expensive than other mice, but many find them a worthy investment.

Extra Mice Features

Mice contain at least one button and sometimes as many as three, which can be programmed for different functions. A popular type of mouse has a wheel between two of the buttons that takes the effort out of scrolling through long documents. This wheel makes general computing and Web browsing much easier. The wheel can be used to scroll up and down a page without using the on-screen scroll bars. The wheel can also be used in conjunction with the CTRL key to instantly increase or decrease the size of the text.  

Besides wheel mice, other mice have special features. Just like the wheel, additional buttons on the side of the mouse can be used for faster navigation in certain programs. These extras are not needed for ordinary mouse movements. You may, however, want to investigate these features after you master the mouse basics because they can be valuable conveniences. The additional buttons are usually programmable, so you can decide what function they will fulfill. The most popular use for these extra buttons is to make them work like the Back and Forward buttons on the toolbar of a Web browsing program.

Customization

Most mice, even simple two-button mice, can be customized. Just double-click the Mouse icon in the Control Panel (Click Start, then choose Control Panel or choose Settings, then Control Panel). When the mouse window appears, you will find that you can change the tracking and double-click speed; you can even turn your mouse into a “lefty.” These customizations might seem minor, but they can add enormous functionality and comfort as well as enhance productivity for just about any computer user.

Let Me Hold Your Hand

There seems to be a real feeling of comfort when someone takes you by the hand. This feeling is especially strong in the computing world. The tactile contact you have with your mouse is comforting as the mouse draws you into the computing process. “Let Me Hold Your Hand” is a theme song Douglas Engelbart might have picked himself. Without a doubt, this little mouse invention has achieved his goal of human augmentation technology. Yes, Mr. Mouse stands ready to hold your hand as you interact with the computing world.