Computer mouse
Hand-held pointing device for computer cursor control.
A computer mouse is a hand-held pointing device that detects two-dimensional motion relative to a surface, typically translating that motion into the movement of a cursor on a display. It enables smooth control of a computer's graphical user interface. The first public demonstration of a mouse controlling a computer system was performed by Douglas Engelbart in 1968 as part of The Mother of All Demos.
- first_public_demonstration
- 1968
- inventor_credited
- Douglas Engelbart
- field
- Human-computer interaction
- known_for
- Pointing device for graphical user interfaces
- original_design
- Two wheels tracking x and y dimensions
- modern_design
- Optical movement detection with no moving parts
Lore & Background
This likely originated from its resemblance to the shape and size of a mouse, with the cord resembling its tail. According to Roger Bates, a hardware designer under English, the term also came about because the cursor on the screen was referred to as 'CAT' and was seen as chasing the new desktop device. The plural for a computer mouse is either 'mice' or 'mouses' according to most dictionaries, with 'mice' being more common. Douglas Engelbart of the Stanford Research Institute has been credited as the inventor of the computer mouse. In 1964, Bill English joined ARC and helped build the first mouse prototype. Engelbart publicly demonstrated the mouse on 9 December 1968. He never received royalties, as his employer SRI held the patent, which expired before the mouse became widely used. A parallel and independent discovery occurred at the German company AEG-Telefunken, which developed a mouse device named Rollkugelsteuerung, shown in a sales brochure on 2 October 1968. This device already had a ball and two mechanical rotational position transducers. It was based on an earlier trackball-like device embedded into radar flight control desks, originally developed by a team led by Rainer Mallebrein. The device was finished in early 1968 and commercially offered as an optional input device later that year.
Reader's Guide
The computer mouse is a foundational input device that revolutionized human-computer interaction by enabling intuitive, precise control of graphical user interfaces. Its development, particularly through Douglas Engelbart's 1968 demonstration, marked a pivotal moment in computing history, showcasing the potential of direct manipulation over command-line interfaces. The mouse's evolution from two-wheeled mechanical designs to ball-based and then optical systems reflects broader trends in miniaturization and reliability. The parallel invention by Telefunken highlights how multiple innovators converged on similar solutions. Despite its ubiquity, the mouse was just one component of Engelbart's larger vision of augmenting human intellect. Its legacy endures in modern variants, including cordless and touch-sensitive devices, though its physical form has adapted to new contexts. The term 'mouse' itself, with its whimsical etymology and debated plural forms, underscores the blend of technical and cultural factors that shape technology adoption.
Did You Know?
- The first public demonstration of a computer mouse was by Douglas Engelbart in 1968 as part of The Mother of All Demos.
- A parallel mouse invention, the Rollkugelsteuerung, was shown by AEG-Telefunken on 2 October 1968, over two months before Engelbart's demo.
- The plural for a computer mouse is either 'mice' or 'mouses', with 'mice' being more common.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is credited with inventing the computer mouse?
Douglas Engelbart is widely credited as the inventor of the computer mouse. He publicly demonstrated the device controlling a computer system in 1968 during what became famously known as The Mother of All Demos.
What exactly is a computer mouse and what does it do?
A computer mouse is a hand-held pointing device that senses two-dimensional motion relative to the surface it rests on. It translates that physical movement into the on-screen motion of a cursor, letting users interact smoothly with a graphical user interface.
What did the original computer mouse design look like?
The earliest mouse design used two wheels to track motion along the x and y axes. This mechanical approach allowed the device to translate hand movement in two dimensions into corresponding cursor movement on a display.
Why is the computer mouse considered important in computing history?
The mouse fundamentally transformed human-computer interaction by giving users an intuitive, physical way to point at and manipulate on-screen elements. It became a cornerstone of graphical user interfaces, making computers far more accessible to everyday users.
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