Happy birthday computer mouse
Today, December 9th, is the birthday of a computer mouse. Formally, this is just an input device, but we know how to connect with the mouse, express our rage, erase the case cover in gaming raids and pick out the very ball. Appearing in 1968, the mouse has not lost its relevance - moreover, it has not even changed its appearance - it remains a device with a mouse-like body. True, during the evolution of some species the tail disappeared. Therefore, we want to dedicate our first ever Sabbath post to computer mice - old and modern.
The inventor of the mouse is Douglas Engelbart - a scientist who sought not only to invent, but also to make his inventions simple and accessible. The first prototype was developed in 1964, and the device itself in the patent application was designated as "Position Indicator XY for a system with a display." Agree, it is difficult to come up with a more accurate and capacious definition. Engelbart's mouse was made of wood, had a size convenient for the human hand, and generally looked like a steampunk before the steampunk itself appeared. Under the wooden “back” there was a diagram and two metal wheels, and on the back there was not a very convenient button. The second inconvenience was the cord, which did not go forward, but interfered under the user's entire arm. The mouse could draw lines and move the cursor around the screen. By the way, in the same 1967, the mouse was deprived of its vintage appearance and attached a plastic case to it.
Naturally, as is always the case in science, Mr. Engelbart was not the discoverer of the input device in principle. Back in 1952, the Canadian Navy used secret development (invented by Tom Cranston and Fred Longstaff) - a trackball that was ... a five-pin bowling ball tricky connected to a hardware-software complex that "removes" and simulates ball movements on the screen. Agree, not the most convenient thing. At the time of the invention of the mouse, the scientist already knew about this "technology", but found it unsuitable for general use and inconvenient (well, you must do the same!).
No, steampunk, he's here - this is how the first classified trackball looked
By the way, Douglas Engelbart did not receive a penny for his patent. The patent expired just before the device became widely used on all computers in the world. But this does not mean that the scientist was leading himself into poverty - for his other inventions (including developments related to hypertext), he received more than half a million dollars. And the mouse remained its pride and contribution to the development of not only computer technology, but also of all mankind (just think what we would be deprived of without a mouse).
In 1973, Bill English, an employee of Xerox PARC, developed a design called the Ball Mouse. Surely there are no such readers on Hiktimes who have not worked with such a mouse with a heavy ball inside at least once. The wheels on the mouse were replaced with a tracking ball, and three buttons appeared on the case. The mouse came with a PC costing $ 16,695.
Of course, Apple did not pass by the mice either. Steve Jobs and his partners did what they always did: they noted other people's good ideas and make them better. Their mouse has become a model of the industry. As a result, the computer Apple Lisa 1983 came with a mouse, but it still cost me insanely expensive for the role of a home PC - as much as $ 9,995.
Microsoft in 1983 pressed Apple, releasing an IBM PC mouse with two buttons for $ 195 each.
In 1998, Apple radically abandoned the square design - so radically that it created a circular mouse with a USB port specifically for the iMac. I must say, the mouse was not the most convenient solution in the hands of users.
In 1980, the ball began to gradually get rid of, because it quickly got dirty, collecting dirt, hair, crumbs and dust, and interfered with the functioning of the mouse. The world confidently went to the optical mouse, and the author of this post, together with his classmates and even classmates, confidently cleaned the balls right up to 2005-2006.
But such a long period of transition to the optical version was not a feature of the Russian educational system. The fact is that the optical mouse developed in the 1980s went to its popularity and to commercial success for 20 years. And for that there were economic and technical grounds.
In 1995, Mouse Systems released the mouse Genius Easy Scroll, invented by Eric Michelman. It was the first mouse with a scroll wheel, most similar to those known to us today.
After that, mice began to evolve and evolve mouse-likely quickly: there were giant Razer Boomslang buttons in 2000, a no less giant Microsoft Wireless Laser Mouse 6000 in 2007. By the way, about laser mice. This optical device subtype was first released in 2004 by Logitech.
Razer Boomslang with huge buttons - not everyone liked
About Logitech, of course, must be said separately - in 1980, she was able to contend with powerful computer corporations. The company tried not to repeat the experience of others, but to do something different. After the first release of the 3-button mouse in 1982, Logitech introduced MouseMan Left, MouseMan Right and MouseMan Large in 1990. She then released the first Logitech Cordless MouseMan wireless mouse. The wireless mouse used radio frequencies to communicate with the computer.
Logitech Cordless MouseMan, the first wireless mouse with a radio module, 1991
By the way, when in 1999 all manufacturers began to actively release versions of optical mice, it was Logitech that developed the hit and already legendary Logitech MX-1000 laser mouse.
Logitech laser 3D mouse for $ 24,180. This is so, unpretentious, the company had options with sapphires, black diamonds - and about $ 35,000 each.
By the way, if we talk about the exotic, the mouse manufacturers have repeatedly tried to make a revolution and cross the grass and the hedgehog. It turned out pretty funny hybrids. For example, a VoIP (Skype) mouse with a form factor slider.
We spoke above about the first mouse in the world of steampunk, but there are also modern copper-wooden variants. Here, of course, we are no longer talking about ergonomics - art for the sake of art:
Someone says that the era of mice is coming to an end: despite the active development of the industry of peripheral devices, sensors, multitouch, motion sensors, etc., are replacing mice. The popularity of new devices is growing and it is obvious that their age will come not in 20 years, but much earlier.
But we at Gearbest know that this is not quite so, and the new revolution of input devices is still far away, because hundreds of thousands of mice come to us with a lot of buttons, cords and without, soft-touch or even Wi-Fi. We specially knocked down the statistics and identified the most top and most popular devices from around the world. Backlit Game Mice turned out to be the most for only $ 4.49.
Another sales hit among the mouse kingdom is the Original Xiaomi Portable Mouse , an elegant, silver-white, ergonomic and simply amazingly comfortable Xiaomi mouse. It costs $ 15.99 and supports Bluetooth 4.0, has a resolution of 1200 DPI and weighs only 78 grams.
We have chosen mice and accessories for you that you can safely give to your colleagues for the new year, drag them to the office for the new year, buy them for yourself or for children - in general, for every taste and with a very reasonable budget. In general, no reason not to celebrate the birthday of the mouse!
Yes, yes, and this is also a mouse - a new generation , with excellent management capabilities for a bunch of home and office gadgets. This is a wireless mouse that can remotely work with Android, Windows, Linux, Mac devices. The range of the mouse is impressive - 10 meters. Especially it is good for business presentations, speeches and other stories when you need to beautifully and effectively manage something from afar.
Well, apart from this mouse, we have a few more useful and unexpected pieces for little money. Now is the off-season and the Christmas sale is just gaining momentum, so you can still order new things quietly, without any fuss or tension. This is what we chose from the very, very popular (not only mice, but other important and necessary devices at the end of 2017).
Next year, the computer mouse will be half a century old, and it is very much alive. Mice are generally very faithful to people: there are versions for people with disabilities, with disabilities, mice for games and serious work, but they are always popular and help their masters. And what was your first mouse? And which one is the favorite? And there are those who have never changed the mouse? Share stories and photos, it's very interesting!
Difficult evolution of a simple mouse
The inventor of the mouse is Douglas Engelbart - a scientist who sought not only to invent, but also to make his inventions simple and accessible. The first prototype was developed in 1964, and the device itself in the patent application was designated as "Position Indicator XY for a system with a display." Agree, it is difficult to come up with a more accurate and capacious definition. Engelbart's mouse was made of wood, had a size convenient for the human hand, and generally looked like a steampunk before the steampunk itself appeared. Under the wooden “back” there was a diagram and two metal wheels, and on the back there was not a very convenient button. The second inconvenience was the cord, which did not go forward, but interfered under the user's entire arm. The mouse could draw lines and move the cursor around the screen. By the way, in the same 1967, the mouse was deprived of its vintage appearance and attached a plastic case to it.
Naturally, as is always the case in science, Mr. Engelbart was not the discoverer of the input device in principle. Back in 1952, the Canadian Navy used secret development (invented by Tom Cranston and Fred Longstaff) - a trackball that was ... a five-pin bowling ball tricky connected to a hardware-software complex that "removes" and simulates ball movements on the screen. Agree, not the most convenient thing. At the time of the invention of the mouse, the scientist already knew about this "technology", but found it unsuitable for general use and inconvenient (well, you must do the same!).
No, steampunk, he's here - this is how the first classified trackball looked
By the way, Douglas Engelbart did not receive a penny for his patent. The patent expired just before the device became widely used on all computers in the world. But this does not mean that the scientist was leading himself into poverty - for his other inventions (including developments related to hypertext), he received more than half a million dollars. And the mouse remained its pride and contribution to the development of not only computer technology, but also of all mankind (just think what we would be deprived of without a mouse).
In 1973, Bill English, an employee of Xerox PARC, developed a design called the Ball Mouse. Surely there are no such readers on Hiktimes who have not worked with such a mouse with a heavy ball inside at least once. The wheels on the mouse were replaced with a tracking ball, and three buttons appeared on the case. The mouse came with a PC costing $ 16,695.
Of course, Apple did not pass by the mice either. Steve Jobs and his partners did what they always did: they noted other people's good ideas and make them better. Their mouse has become a model of the industry. As a result, the computer Apple Lisa 1983 came with a mouse, but it still cost me insanely expensive for the role of a home PC - as much as $ 9,995.
Microsoft in 1983 pressed Apple, releasing an IBM PC mouse with two buttons for $ 195 each.
In 1998, Apple radically abandoned the square design - so radically that it created a circular mouse with a USB port specifically for the iMac. I must say, the mouse was not the most convenient solution in the hands of users.
In 1980, the ball began to gradually get rid of, because it quickly got dirty, collecting dirt, hair, crumbs and dust, and interfered with the functioning of the mouse. The world confidently went to the optical mouse, and the author of this post, together with his classmates and even classmates, confidently cleaned the balls right up to 2005-2006.
But such a long period of transition to the optical version was not a feature of the Russian educational system. The fact is that the optical mouse developed in the 1980s went to its popularity and to commercial success for 20 years. And for that there were economic and technical grounds.
In 1995, Mouse Systems released the mouse Genius Easy Scroll, invented by Eric Michelman. It was the first mouse with a scroll wheel, most similar to those known to us today.
After that, mice began to evolve and evolve mouse-likely quickly: there were giant Razer Boomslang buttons in 2000, a no less giant Microsoft Wireless Laser Mouse 6000 in 2007. By the way, about laser mice. This optical device subtype was first released in 2004 by Logitech.
Razer Boomslang with huge buttons - not everyone liked
About Logitech, of course, must be said separately - in 1980, she was able to contend with powerful computer corporations. The company tried not to repeat the experience of others, but to do something different. After the first release of the 3-button mouse in 1982, Logitech introduced MouseMan Left, MouseMan Right and MouseMan Large in 1990. She then released the first Logitech Cordless MouseMan wireless mouse. The wireless mouse used radio frequencies to communicate with the computer.
Logitech Cordless MouseMan, the first wireless mouse with a radio module, 1991
By the way, when in 1999 all manufacturers began to actively release versions of optical mice, it was Logitech that developed the hit and already legendary Logitech MX-1000 laser mouse.
Logitech laser 3D mouse for $ 24,180. This is so, unpretentious, the company had options with sapphires, black diamonds - and about $ 35,000 each.
By the way, if we talk about the exotic, the mouse manufacturers have repeatedly tried to make a revolution and cross the grass and the hedgehog. It turned out pretty funny hybrids. For example, a VoIP (Skype) mouse with a form factor slider.
We spoke above about the first mouse in the world of steampunk, but there are also modern copper-wooden variants. Here, of course, we are no longer talking about ergonomics - art for the sake of art:
Some interesting facts about a computer mouse.
- Pull and click the mouse when the computer was hanging? Worn it on the mat, when it did not load any site? This phenomenon has its own name and description - the rage of a computer mouse. In such situations, the person aggressively controls the device, which, in turn, can in no way affect the correction of the situation.
- In 1984, computer observer John K. Dvorak wrote: "There is no evidence that people want to use these things [computer mice]."
- Earlier versions of mice were named after another animal, the turtle. But the mouse got accustomed, and the turtle did not. All because, “Legs, wings. The main thing is the tail! ”The tail (wire) and determined the name.
- The device name “mouse” is understandable in most countries - people will understand what you are talking about. This device is named with the same word in English, Spanish, Italian, German, French, Russian, as well as in several other languages.
The story continues
Someone says that the era of mice is coming to an end: despite the active development of the industry of peripheral devices, sensors, multitouch, motion sensors, etc., are replacing mice. The popularity of new devices is growing and it is obvious that their age will come not in 20 years, but much earlier.
But we at Gearbest know that this is not quite so, and the new revolution of input devices is still far away, because hundreds of thousands of mice come to us with a lot of buttons, cords and without, soft-touch or even Wi-Fi. We specially knocked down the statistics and identified the most top and most popular devices from around the world. Backlit Game Mice turned out to be the most for only $ 4.49.
Another sales hit among the mouse kingdom is the Original Xiaomi Portable Mouse , an elegant, silver-white, ergonomic and simply amazingly comfortable Xiaomi mouse. It costs $ 15.99 and supports Bluetooth 4.0, has a resolution of 1200 DPI and weighs only 78 grams.
We have chosen mice and accessories for you that you can safely give to your colleagues for the new year, drag them to the office for the new year, buy them for yourself or for children - in general, for every taste and with a very reasonable budget. In general, no reason not to celebrate the birthday of the mouse!
- Excellent classic mouse pad with comfortable silicone pad - $ 0.89
- Gaming Mouse Pad with Good Coverage - $ 2.49
- Gaming Optical Mouse 2400 DPI - $ 4.40
- Slim Elegant Office Mouse 1600 DPI - $ 3.29
- Simple and Reliable Office Mouse 1000 DPI - $ 6.37
- Powerful Motospeed Gaming 3500 DPI - $ 15.99
- Simple DPI Variable Gaming Mouse - $ 4.87
Yes, yes, and this is also a mouse - a new generation , with excellent management capabilities for a bunch of home and office gadgets. This is a wireless mouse that can remotely work with Android, Windows, Linux, Mac devices. The range of the mouse is impressive - 10 meters. Especially it is good for business presentations, speeches and other stories when you need to beautifully and effectively manage something from afar.
Well, apart from this mouse, we have a few more useful and unexpected pieces for little money. Now is the off-season and the Christmas sale is just gaining momentum, so you can still order new things quietly, without any fuss or tension. This is what we chose from the very, very popular (not only mice, but other important and necessary devices at the end of 2017).
- Digital Drawing Tablet for Kids - $ 9.39
- Wireless Mouse + Keyboard - $ 9.74
- Wireless functional mini-keyboard (with Russian layout!) - $ 11.93
- Motospeed Gaming Keyboard (with Russian layout!) - $ 44.99
- Video card Colorful iGame 1050Ti Gaming Video Graphics Card - $ 185.99
- More powerful Yeston RX580 GPU 4G 256bit DDR5 Graphics Card - $ 305.99
Next year, the computer mouse will be half a century old, and it is very much alive. Mice are generally very faithful to people: there are versions for people with disabilities, with disabilities, mice for games and serious work, but they are always popular and help their masters. And what was your first mouse? And which one is the favorite? And there are those who have never changed the mouse? Share stories and photos, it's very interesting!
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