One of the main accessories for a stationary computer, and a laptop too, is a computer mouse. With its help, all functions and capabilities of the device are controlled, so it is quite difficult to do without it. And although laptops differ in that they have a touch control panel, not everyone thinks it is convenient.
That is why most users prefer to purchase a computer mouse so that the operation of the device is as comfortable and understandable as possible. But do you know about in which year the very first mice were invented and who invented them? Why did such a design seem to manufacturers to be the most convenient and acceptable for managing computers? You can learn about all this in this article. In addition, it is very curious to trace the evolution of this device - the way the mice changed over time is really amazing.
Who is the inventor of the computer mouse
It is necessary to understand when exactly these devices appeared and who became their creator.
The first such manipulator was introduced on December 9, 1968. Its inventor was Douglas Engelbert, who received a patent only in 1970. The mouse was shown at an interactive device exhibition in California, where it immediately attracted the attention of most visitors.
Who is Douglas Engelbert? Among his inventions is not only a familiar mouse for everyone, but also other things that we are used to using in the modern world. For example, a text editor, hypertext, graphical user interface.
This American scientist has a huge number of patents for a variety of inventions. He made a huge contribution to the development of computers, thanks to which modern models are equipped with an intuitive interface and many functions and applications. Douglas Engelbert also has awards for his developments in the field of technology. The scientist lived up to 88 years and died recently, in 2013.
All these discoveries were made at a time when the general public did not use computers. Nobody had them, and they were present exclusively at any production facilities or factories. The first mouse consisted of a wooden case and had two metal wheels.
The name, which is so common now and has firmly established itself behind the device, is explained by the fact that the wire, which was its obligatory attribute, very much resembles a mouse tail. And although nowadays more and more wireless mice, headphones and other accessories are used, nobody is going to change their name.
History of the creation and development of a computer mouse
Now consider the fate of the device. It gained popularity immediately, back in the seventies of the last century, because it was convenient and compact, and the management of any devices for which it was intended was greatly simplified.
The computer to which the mouse was added was Alto. Despite the fact that practicality and ease of use were recognized by a huge number of people immediately, the mouse had to undergo some changes. Firstly, this is what the case began to be made of plastic - it is cheaper and the device is more lightweight. Currently, almost all models are made of this material.
The wire, which so strongly influenced the name of the manipulator, has moved to the fore. That is why it is now more difficult for us to unravel the nature of such a nickname - now the device is not so much like a real mouse as the original version.
Buttons, which are one of the main elements, have become more convenient to use. And the roller discs used before that gave way to the balls that are still common.
Then came the optical mouse. Her work is done using an optical sensor. But wireless models did not appear as recently as it seems - back in 1991. But then they did not get much distribution - signal transmission not by wire, but with the help of infrared waves too slowed down the device. Therefore, the vast majority of computers were equipped with ordinary mice with a “tail” from a familiar cable.
By the way, the inventor himself did not participate too much in improving the gadget he invented - all the developments were made mainly by other inventors. Douglas at that time had health problems, which made him distract from work in this area. He also received a not too big fee. This indicates that inventions were his calling and were not created for the sake of money or profit.
Now you cannot imagine a single stationary computer without a mouse, although they are very different from what was shown at an exhibition in California in 1968. Let's look at the primary option and determine what else it differs from the mouse that you may now be holding in your hands.
What did the first computer mouse look like?
After the first mouse was introduced, most scientists realized that all the previously existing control methods were not as effective as previously seemed.
This device had practically nothing but a control dial, a protruding wire and a very bulky case. The mouse movement sensor, which has changed most of all over time and has become almost unrecognizable in our time, was presented in this invention in the form of two perpendicular wheels, they protruded from behind the body. When moving, they spun in their dimension, which made it possible to control a computer.
There were a lot of drawbacks to such a model, so this part of the mouse was one of the first ones changed to suit the comfort of using the device.
A very long time after that a ball drive was used, but even such a design was far from ideal. There was a constant contamination of the mouse element, which led to its seizing and required regular cleaning of the device.
After that, there were many more different ways to move the mouse so that it was convenient and the design did not affect the functionality and performance of the accessory too much.
The most modern development, which has not yet received wide distribution due to its high cost, is a mouse that can be used regardless of the presence of the surface where it can be put. This means that you can control it even in the air - a great option for those who refuse to use a full-fledged mouse in favor of a sensory mouse, working in bed or another place not too designed for this.
Such devices are incredibly small and weigh no more than 13 grams, which makes them a very attractive manipulator for controlling their device. But this invention will not reach the broad masses soon - now the technology is at the development stage and is used exclusively for professional purposes.
Of great importance is the number of buttons on the mouse. Initially, a variety of manufacturers produced either two button models, or three button models, which made it impossible to connect one mouse to a computer of another company. But with the advent of the well-known wheel, which now plays the role of the very third button, this problem was solved.
Conclusion
Thus, the invention of the computer mouse, which dates back to around 1968, when the mouse was introduced to the circle of scientists, was an important moment in the development of computers. And although then they still did not have such a huge impact on the life of society, which they have now and were not so widespread, the mouse made controlling the device as simple and straightforward as possible. Now, any user can buy a computer home and operate it for their own purposes, and he does not have to study the huge control instructions, as it would be the case with the keyboard.
The first device, which became the prototype of all currently existing mice, significantly differed from modern ones not only in appearance, but also in functionality and ease of use. The mouse has gone a long way of development, thanks to which it is now an integral part of the configuration of any PC on the market.
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