• What are mice for? Classification of types of computer mice

    The mouse perceives its movement in the working plane (usually on a section of the table surface) and transmits this information to the computer. A program running on a computer, in response to mouse movement, performs an action on the screen that corresponds to the direction and distance of this movement. In different interfaces (for example, in windowed ones), with the mouse, the user controls a special cursor - a pointer - a manipulator of interface elements. Sometimes it is used to enter commands with the mouse without the participation of visible elements of the program interface: by analyzing mouse movements. This method is called "mouse gestures" (eng. mouse gestures).

    In addition to the motion sensor, the mouse has one or more buttons, as well as additional control details (scroll wheels, potentiometers, joysticks, trackballs, keys, etc.), the action of which is usually associated with the current position of the cursor (or components of a specific interface) .

    The mouse control components are very much the intent of the chord keyboard (i.e., the touch keyboard). The mouse, originally created as an addition to the chord keyboard, actually replaced it.

    Additional independent devices are built into some mice - watches, calculators, phones.

    Story

    The first computer to include a mouse was the Xerox 8010 Star Information System minicomputer ( English), introduced in 1981. The Xerox mouse had three buttons and cost $400, which equates to about $930 in 2009 inflation-adjusted prices. In 1983, Apple released its own one-button mouse for the Lisa computer, which was reduced to $25. The mouse gained wide popularity due to its use in Apple Macintosh computers and later in Windows for IBM PC compatible computers.

    Displacement sensors

    In the process of "evolution" of the computer mouse biggest changes undergone displacement sensors.

    direct drive

    First computer mouse

    The original design of the mouse movement sensor, invented by Douglas Engelbart at the Stanford Research Institute in 1963, consisted of two perpendicular wheels protruding from the body of the device. When moving the mouse wheel, each one rotated in its own dimension.

    This design had many drawbacks and was soon replaced by a mouse with a ball drive.

    ball drive

    In the ball drive, the movement of the mouse is transmitted to a rubberized steel ball protruding from the body (its weight and rubber coating provide good grip on the work surface). Two rollers pressed against the ball record its movements in each of the measurements and transmit them to sensors that convert these movements into electrical signals.

    The main drawback of the ball drive is the contamination of the ball and the removing rollers, leading to the mouse jamming and the need for periodic cleaning (this problem was partly smoothed out by metallizing the rollers). Despite the shortcomings, the ball drive for a long time dominated, successfully competing with alternative sensor circuits. At present, ball mice have been almost completely replaced by second-generation optical mice.

    There were two options for sensors for the ball drive.

    Contact sensors

    The contact sensor is a textolite disk with radial metal tracks and three contacts pressed against it. Such a sensor went to the ball mouse "inherited" from a direct drive.

    The main disadvantages of contact sensors are contact oxidation, rapid wear and low accuracy. Therefore, over time, all mice switched to non-contact optocoupler sensors.

    optocoupler sensor

    Mechanical computer mouse device

    The optocoupler consists of a double optocouplers- an LED and two photodiodes (usually infrared) and a disk with holes or radial slots that blocks the light flux as it rotates. When the mouse is moved, the disk rotates, and a signal is taken from the photodiodes with a frequency corresponding to the speed of the mouse movement.

    The second photodiode, displaced at some angle or having a displaced system of holes/slots on the sensor disk, serves to determine the direction of rotation of the disk (the light on it appears/disappears earlier or later than on the first, depending on the direction of rotation).

    First generation optical mice

    Optical sensors are designed to directly track the movement of the working surface relative to the mouse. The exclusion of the mechanical component provided higher reliability and made it possible to increase the resolution of the detector.

    The first generation of optical sensors was introduced various schemes optocoupler sensors with indirect optical communication- light-emitting and perceiving reflection from the working surface of light-sensitive diodes. These sensors have one common property- they required the presence on the working surface (mouse pad) of special hatching (perpendicular or diamond-shaped lines). On some rugs, these hatchings were made with paints that were invisible in ordinary light (such rugs could even have a pattern).

    The disadvantages of such sensors are usually called:

    • the need to use a special mat and the impossibility of replacing it with another. Among other things, rugs of different optical mice often were not interchangeable and were not produced separately;
    • the need for a certain orientation of the mouse relative to the mat, otherwise the mouse did not work correctly;
    • mouse sensitivity to mat contamination (after all, it is in contact with the user's hand) - the sensor did not perceive shading on dirty areas of the mat;
    • high cost of the device.

    In the USSR, optical mice of the first generation, as a rule, were found only in foreign specialized computer systems.

    Optical LED mice

    Mouse with optical sensor

    Second generation optical sensor chip

    The second generation of optical mice has a more complex device. A special LED is installed at the bottom of the mouse, which illuminates the surface on which the mouse moves. A miniature camera "photographs" the surface more than a thousand times per second, transmitting this data to the processor, which draws conclusions about the change in coordinates. Optical mice of the second generation have a huge advantage over the first: they do not require a special mat and work on almost any surface except mirror or transparent; even on PTFE (including black). They also don't need to be cleaned.

    It was assumed that such mice would work on an arbitrary surface, but it soon became clear that many models sold (especially the first widely sold devices) were not so indifferent to the patterns on the rug. In some parts of the drawing GPU can make a lot of mistakes, which leads to chaotic movements of the pointer that do not correspond to real movement. For mice prone to such failures, it is necessary to choose a rug with a different pattern or even with a plain coating.

    Some models are also prone to detecting small movements when the mouse is at rest, which is manifested by the shaking of the pointer on the screen, sometimes with a tendency to slide in one direction or another.

    Dual sensor mouse

    Second-generation sensors are gradually improving, and these days, mice that are prone to failures are much less common. In addition to improving the sensors, some models are equipped with two displacement sensors at once, which makes it possible, by analyzing changes in two areas of the surface at once, to exclude possible mistakes. Such mice are sometimes able to work on glass, plexiglass and mirror surfaces (which other mice do not work on).

    There are also mouse pads specifically designed for optical mice. For example, a rug that has a silicone film on the surface with a suspension of sequins (it is assumed that optical sensor defines movements on such a surface much more clearly).

    The disadvantage of this mouse is the complexity of its simultaneous work with graphic tablets, the latter, due to their hardware features, sometimes lose the true direction of the signal when the pen moves and begin to distort the trajectory of the tool when drawing. When using mice with a ball drive, such deviations are not observed. To eliminate this problem, it is recommended to use laser manipulators. Also, some people refer to the disadvantages of optical mice as the glow of such mice even when the computer is turned off. Since most inexpensive optical mice have a translucent body, they let through the red light of the LEDs, which makes it difficult to fall asleep if the computer is in the bedroom. This happens if the PS / 2 and USB ports are powered from the standby voltage line; most motherboards allow you to change this with a +5V jumper<->+5VSB, but in this case it will not be possible to turn on the computer from the keyboard.

    Optical laser mice

    Laser sensor

    In recent years, a new, more advanced type of optical sensor has been developed that uses a semiconductor laser for illumination.

    Little is known about the shortcomings of such sensors, but their advantages are known:

    • higher reliability and resolution
    • the absence of a noticeable glow (the sensor is sufficiently weakly illuminated by a laser in the visible or, possibly, infrared range)
    • low power consumption

    induction mice

    Graphics tablet with induction mouse

    Induction mice use a special pad that works like a graphics tablet or are included in the kit itself graphics tablet. Some tablets include a mouse-like pointing device with a glass crosshair that works on the same principle, but with a slightly different implementation, allowing you to achieve increased accuracy positioning by increasing the diameter of the sensitive coil and moving it out of the device into the user's field of view.

    Induction mice have good accuracy and do not need to be properly oriented. An induction mouse can be “wireless” (a tablet is connected to the computer on which it works), and have induction power, therefore, do not require batteries, as usual wireless mice.

    The mouse included with the graphics tablet will save some space on the table (provided that the tablet is constantly on it).

    Induction mice are rare, expensive, and not always convenient. It is almost impossible to change a mouse for a graphic tablet to another one (for example, more suitable for the hand, etc.).

    Gyro mice

    In addition to vertical and horizontal scrolling, mouse joysticks can be used to alternate pointer movement or adjustments, similar to wheels.

    trackballs

    induction mice

    Induction mice are most often powered by an induction pad or graphics tablet. But such mice are only partly wireless - a tablet or pad is still connected with a cable. Thus, the cable does not interfere with moving the mouse, but it also does not allow you to work at a distance from the computer, as with a conventional wireless mouse.

    Additional functions

    Some mouse manufacturers add notification functions to the mouse about any events occurring on the computer. In particular, Genius and Logitech are releasing models that notify you of the presence of unread emails V mailbox glowing LED or playing music through the mouse's built-in speaker.

    There are known cases of placing a fan inside the mouse case to cool the user's hand with air flow through special holes during operation. Some gaming mice have small eccentrics built into the body of the mouse that provide a sense of vibration when shooting at computer games. An example of such models is the Logitech iFeel Mouse line of mice.

    In addition, there are mini mice designed for laptop owners, which have small dimensions and weight.

    Some wireless mice have the ability to work as a remote control (for example, Logitech MediaPlay). They have a slightly modified shape to work not only on the table, but also when held in the hand.

    Advantages and disadvantages

    The mouse has become the main coordinate input device due to the following features:

    • Very low price (compared to other devices like touch screens).
    • The mouse is suitable for long work. In the early years of multimedia, filmmakers liked to showcase computers of the "future" with touch interfaces, but in reality this way of input is quite tedious, since you have to keep your hands on weight.
    • High accuracy of cursor positioning. With the mouse (with the exception of some "unsuccessful" models) it is easy to hit the desired screen pixel.
    • The mouse allows many different manipulations - double and triple clicks, drags, gestures, pressing one button while dragging another, etc. Therefore, in one hand, you can concentrate a large number of controls - multi-button mice allow you to control, for example, the browser without using the keyboard at all.

    The disadvantages of a mouse are:

    • Danger of carpal tunnel syndrome (not confirmed by clinical studies).
    • To work, a flat, smooth surface of sufficient size is required (with the exception of perhaps gyroscopic mice).
    • Vibration resistance. For this reason, the mouse is practically not used in military devices. The trackball requires less space to operate and does not require moving the hand, cannot be lost, has greater resistance to external influences, and is more reliable.

    Mouse Grip Methods

    According to Home PC magazine.

    Players distinguish between three main ways of grabbing the mouse.

    • Fingers. Fingers lie flat on the buttons top part palm rests on the "heel" of the mouse. The lower part of the palm is on the table. The advantage is precise mouse movements.
    • Claw-shaped. The fingers are bent and rest against the buttons only with their tips. "Heel" of the mouse in the center of the palm. The advantage is the convenience of clicks.
    • Palm. The whole palm rests on the mouse, the "heel" of the mouse, as in the claw-like grip, rests against the center of the palm. The grip is more adapted to the sweeping movements of shooters.

    Office mice (with the exception of small laptop mice) are usually equally suitable for all types of grip. Gaming mice, on the other hand, are usually optimized for one grip or another - so when buying an expensive mouse, it is recommended to find out your grip method.

    Software support

    A distinctive feature of mice as a class of devices is the good standardization of hardware

    Almost all users desktop computers In everyday work, a mouse is used to perform any operations. Notebook owners also often turn to this device, considering the touchpad somewhat inconvenient. But let's see what a mouse is in a general sense and what types of such devices were originally developed and are on the market today. And to begin with, let's turn to respected information sources that provide a description using technical terms, and then move on to a simpler consideration of the issue.

    What is a mouse

    Based on the official information provided by many computer publications, the mouse is a universal pointing type manipulator, which is designed to control the graphical interface of the operating system and perform almost all known operations based on binding the device to the cursor on the screen computer monitor.

    The principle of control is to move on a mouse pad, on a table or on any other surface (devices that do not require a mouse pad can do this). Offset information or current location transmitted operating system or program that causes a response to perform some action (for example, displaying additional expandable menus or lists). But the design of the device also provides for the presence of special buttons that are responsible for selecting a specific action. Using default settings to open files or programs, double-click the left button, to select an object or activate interface elements - single, to access context menu - single click right button. But this only applies to classical designs. Today, on the market for such equipment, you can find many models that are radically different both in terms of design solutions and operating principles. We will dwell on them separately.

    A bit of history

    For the first time, what a mouse was, they started talking in 1968, when it was presented at an exhibition of interactive devices in California. A little later, in 1981, the mouse officially became part of the standard set of devices that came with the Xerox 8010 series mini-computers.

    A little later, it became an integral part of the periphery Apple computers, and only then IBM-compatible computer systems began to be equipped with a mouse. Since then, the manipulator has firmly entered the lives of all users, although it has undergone many changes and constantly introduced innovations in terms of design solutions, operating principles, controls, actions performed, as well as advanced features.

    The main types of manipulators according to the principle of operation

    Initially, the mouse was based on a direct drive design, which consisted of two perpendicular wheels, which allowed movement in different sides regardless of angle.

    A little later, devices based on a ball drive appeared, in which the main role was played by a built-in metal ball with a rubber coating, which provided improved grip on the surface of the mouse pad. The next generation was devices equipped with a contact encoder (textolite disk) with three contacts on radial metal tracks. Finally, optical mice were created based on one light and two photodiodes.

    Exactly optical devices became the most common and popular among users. In their classification, the following models can be distinguished:

    • mice with a matrix sensor;
    • laser mice;
    • induction mice;
    • gyro mice.

    Of this set, gyroscopic devices deserve special attention. They are able to control not only when moving on the surface, but also in a vertical position in space.

    Types of mice by connection

    What is a mouse, figured out a little. Now let's see how such manipulators are connected to computer systems. Initially, to connect to a computer on motherboard a special input was provided, and the mouse was connected via a cord with a special tulip-type plug.

    With the advent of USB interfaces, manipulators began to be used, which were connected to computers through them. Finally appeared wireless devices, which, however, also, in fact, are a USB mouse, since they use a special sensor or a tablet pad that is connected just through the USB port. A little later, devices based on Bluetooth radio modules began to be used. And these are definitely wireless mice.

    Primary and secondary mouse buttons

    Now a few words about the main elements of any such manipulator. In my time Apple company I considered that only one button is enough to control the interface, so for a long time I focused on such devices. Then it turned out that one button was clearly not enough, and Computer World switched to devices with two and three keys. However, it soon became clear that this was not enough. So, for example, models in which there were additional volume control buttons became especially popular. And, of course, there was a scroll wheel, which made it easier to move around the screen.

    Additional controls

    The design of that USB mouse, that of any other type is constantly being improved. And here the specifics of using the manipulator come to the fore.

    For example, gaming mice, besides having additional buttons, can also be equipped with mini-joysticks, trackballs, programming buttons and touch strips, which in a sense are analogues of the most common touchpads that are installed on laptops.

    And the scroll wheel itself began to perform a dual function. In addition to the fact that it can move up / down, when you click on it, it works like the middle key of a three-button mouse.

    Basic mouse settings in Windows

    This important question. Now let's see how the mouse is configured in Windows systems. To do this, use the appropriate section of the "Control Panel".

    There are enough settings here. It all depends on the type of connected device. But the mouse in Windows is usually configured on three main tabs containing button, wheel, and pointer selection options. You can adjust the sensitivity, the speed of moving around the screen, change the orientation of the buttons, select the types of pointers for any operation performed, specify the number of lines to which scrolling should be performed, use additional visual effects like a residual trace and much more. In general, setting up the mouse, even for an unprepared user, should not cause any special difficulties. By and large, the default settings can usually be left unchanged.

    Instead of an afterword

    That's briefly all about the mouse as one of the components of a computer system. As for her practical use, you can’t do without it on stationary PCs, but owners of laptops with a touchpad or equipped with touchscreens may well refuse to connect it to computer system. And still, despite such innovations, the mouse as a control element remains in demand and popular.

    Kinds computer mice. What only computer mice No. From such a variety, even the head is spinning. But until recently, there was practically no choice. It would seem, what else can you think of? But it turns out it's possible. Every company that produces these small and necessary "animals" finds more and more new designs and functions for them too.

    Which types of computer mice exist?

    There are just not so many types. Here they are:

    • Mechanical or ball (already practically not used);
    • Optical;
    • laser;
    • Trackball mice.
    • induction;
    • Gyroscopic.

    Mechanical or ball mice

    Mechanical or ball mice can only be found among collectors. Although some seven years ago she was the only species. It was not very comfortable to work with it, but having no other species, we considered it to be a super-mouse.

    She was heavy for weight and did not want to work without a rug. And her positioning left much to be desired. This was especially noticeable in graphic programs and games. And I had to clean it very often. What just did not well up under this ball? And if animals still live at home, then this process was repeated at least once a week.

    I always had tweezers near the computer, because. my furry friends always strove to sleep near the computer, and their fluff clung to the rug, making it furry. Now I don't have that problem anymore. The ball "rodent" was replaced by a more modern mouse - an optical one.

    Optical LED mouse

    Optical LED mouse - works in a different way. It uses an LED and a sensor. It already works like a small camera that scans the surface of the table with its LED and photographs it. An optical mouse manages to take about a thousand such photos per second, and some types even more.

    The data of these images is processed by a special microprocessor and sends a signal to the computer. The advantages of such a mouse are obvious. It doesn't need a mat, it's very light in weight and can easily scan almost any surface.

    Optical laser mouse

    Optical laser mouse - very similar to optical, but its principle of operation differs in that a laser is already used instead of a camera with an LED. That's why it's called laser.

    This is a more advanced model of an optical mouse. She needs much less energy. The accuracy of reading data from the working surface is much higher than that of an optical mouse. It can even work on glass and mirror surfaces.

    Trackball mouse

    Trackball mouse - a device that uses a convex ball (trackball). The trackball is an inverted ball mouse. The ball is on top or side. It can be rotated with the palm of your hand or fingers, and the device itself stands still. The ball drives a pair of rollers. The new trackballs use optical motion sensors.

    induction mice

    induction mice - use a special pad that works on the principle of a graphics tablet.

    Gyro mice

    Gyro mice - with the help of a gyroscope, it recognizes movement not only on the surface, but also in space. It can be taken from the table and control the movement of the brush in the air.

    These types of computer mice still exist in our markets.

    Now a very large variety of such devices. Some designs deserve special attention. And I will describe them. Follow the site for updates.

    Computer mouse device. Many already cannot even imagine how you can work on a computer without a mouse. But until recently, a computer mouse could not even be dreamed of. But those who worked on the computer knew the keyboard well. And with the advent of mice, many do not even know how to get out of the situation if. And now there is such a variety of these devices that sometimes it’s not immediately clear that this is a computer mouse. But, despite this, the internal structure of such mice is not much different. I don't think anyone cares about internal arrangement computer mouse, but general development it still needs to be known.

    What is the device of a computer mouse?

    A computer mouse is a small box for entering information into a computer, and easily fits in your hand. For manipulation, there are at least two buttons and a scroll wheel. Who first called her a mouse is not so important now.

    The important thing is that this name fits well with this device and is well entrenched in it. Even in young children, the first association with the word "mouse" is primarily connected with the computer.

    When reading a fairy tale about a little mouse, a child will most likely imagine a computer “animal”, and not an ordinary house mouse, which he has never seen before.

    Now let's talk about the device of a computer mouse. What this device looks like, I think, you do not need to tell.

    When you move the mouse on the table, the cursor on the monitor screen also moves. To work, you need to point the cursor at the desired object, and click on it with one of the mouse buttons, depending on the choice of action.

    Mouse buttons designed to give a command to enter information. Each button performs its specific function. They can be programmatically reconfigured for both right-handers and left-handers.

    The wheel is located in the middle between the buttons and serves mainly to scroll through pages in text editors and Internet browser windows. They can also perform the function of a third button, because. it not only rotates, but also is pressed.

    Previously, along with the mouse, there was a mandatory attribute - “ rug”, because on the bottom of the mouse was a ball that slid across the surface of the table. With the advent of the optical mouse, the pad is no longer needed. Mice have become more compact and "nimble". The one who picks it up for the first time, at first, cannot point the cursor at the desired object.

    IN optical models there is a special miniature optical sensor with a microprocessor, and the mouse is already a video camera. The microprocessor processes the signal coming from the optical sensor, and the pointer on the monitor moves following the movement of the mouse.

    Advantages of a computer mouse

    • Since the hand is not overhanging, unlike the touch input interface, the mouse is suitable for prolonged use;
    • High accuracy of cursor positioning;
    • Allows a lot of different manipulations, so a large number of controls are concentrated in one hand;
    • The most important advantage of the mouse is a very low price.

    Now in our markets a simple sensory model costs no more than 150 rubles.

    We will consider the advantages and disadvantages of the most common models of computer mice in the following articles.

    As you can see, the device of a computer mouse is not so simple.

    Hello, dear readers of the blog site. Computer mice or mice, they are called differently, there are a huge number. According to their functional purpose, they can be divided into classes: some are designed for games, others are for normal work, the third - for drawing in graphic editors. In this article I will try to talk about the types and design of computer mice.

    But for starters, I propose to go back a few decades, just at the time when they came up with this complex device. The first computer mouse appeared back in 1968, and was invented by an American scientist named Douglas Engelbart. The mouse was developed by the American Space Research Agency (NASA), which granted a patent for the invention to Douglas, but at one point lost any interest in developing it. Why - read on.

    The world's first mouse was a heavy wooden box with a wire, which, in addition to its weight, was also extremely inconvenient to use. For obvious reasons, they decided to call it "mouse", and a little later they artificially came up with a decoding of this kind of abbreviation. Yep, now the mouse is nothing more than a "Manually Operated User Signal Encoder", that is, a device with which the user can manually encode a signal.

    Without exception, all computer mice include a number of components: body, printed circuit board with contacts, mikriks (buttons), scroll wheel(s) - all of them are present in one form or another in any modern mouse. But you are probably tormented by the question - what then distinguishes them from each other (besides the fact that there are gaming, non-gaming, office, etc.), why did they come up with so many different types, see for yourself:

    1. Mechanical
    2. Optical
    3. Laser
    4. Trackball mice
    5. induction
    6. Gyroscopic

    The fact is that each of the above types of computer mice appeared in different time and uses different laws of physics. Accordingly, each of them has its own disadvantages and advantages, which will certainly be discussed later in the text. It should be noted that only the first three types will be considered in most detail, the rest will not be so detailed, in view of the fact that they are less popular.

    Mechanical mice are traditional ball models, relatively big size requiring constant cleaning of the ball for effective work. Dirt and small particles can get between the rotating ball and the body and need to be cleaned. It won't work without a mat. About 15 years ago it was the only one in the world. I will write about it in the past tense, because it is already a rarity.

    At the bottom of the mechanical mouse there was a hole that covered a swivel plastic ring. Under it was a heavy ball. This ball was made of metal and covered with rubber. Under the ball were two plastic rollers and a roller, which pressed the ball against the rollers. When moving the mouse, the ball rotated the roller. Up or down - one roller rotated, to the right or left - the other. Since gravity played a decisive role in such models, such a device did not work in zero gravity, so NASA abandoned it.

    If the movement was difficult, both rollers rotated. At the end of each plastic roller, an impeller was installed, like in a mill, only many times smaller. On one side of the impeller was a light source (LED), on the other - a photocell. When moving the mouse, the impeller was spinning, the photocell read the number of light pulses that hit it, and then transmitted this information to the computer.

    Since the impeller had many blades, the movement of the pointer on the screen was perceived as smooth. Optical-mechanical mice (they are simply "mechanical") suffered from great inconvenience, the fact is that they had to be disassembled and cleaned periodically. The ball in the process of work dragged any debris into the body, often the rubber surface of the ball became so dirty that the movement rollers simply slipped and the mouse was buggy.

    For the same reason, such a mouse simply needed a mat for correct operation, otherwise the ball would slip and get dirty faster.

    Optical and laser mice

    In optical mice, you do not need to disassemble and clean anything., since they do not have a rotating ball, they work on a different principle. IN optical mouse LED sensor is used. Such a mouse works like a small camera that scans the surface of the table and "photographs" it, the camera manages to take about a thousand such photos per second, and some models even more.

    The data of these images is processed by a special microprocessor on the mouse itself and sends a signal to the computer. The advantages are obvious - such a mouse does not need a pad, it is light in weight and can scan almost any surface. Almost? Yes, everything except glass and a mirror surface, as well as velvet (velvet absorbs light very strongly).

    A laser mouse is very similar to an optical mouse, but its principle of operation differs in that laser instead of LED. This is a more advanced model of an optical mouse, it requires much less power to work, the accuracy of reading data from the working surface is much higher than that of an optical mouse. Here it can work even on glass and mirror surfaces.

    In fact, a laser mouse is a kind of optical mouse, since in both cases an LED is used, just in the second case it emits spectrum invisible to the eye.

    So, the principle of operation of an optical mouse differs from that of a ball mouse. .

    The process starts with a laser or optical (in the case of an optical mouse) diode. The diode emits invisible light, the lens focuses it to a point equal in thickness to a human hair, the beam is reflected from the surface, then the sensor catches this light. The sensor is so precise that it can pick up even small surface irregularities.

    The secret is that precisely the irregularities allow the mouse to notice even the slightest movement. The pictures taken by the camera are compared, the microprocessor compares each subsequent picture with the previous one. If the mouse has moved, the difference between the pictures will be marked.

    Analyzing these differences, the mouse determines the direction and speed of any movement. If the difference between shots is significant, the cursor moves quickly. But even when stationary, the mouse continues to take pictures.

    Trackball mice

    Trackball mouse - a device that uses a convex ball - "Trackball". The trackball device is very similar to the device of a mechanical mouse, only the ball in it is on top or on the side. The ball can be rotated, and the device itself remains in place. The ball causes a pair of rollers to rotate. The new trackballs use optical motion sensors.

    Not everyone may need a device called "Trackball", in addition, its cost cannot be called low, it seems that the minimum starts from 1400 rubles.

    induction mice

    Induction models use a special mat that works on the principle of a graphics tablet. Induction mice have good accuracy and do not need to be properly oriented. An induction mouse can be wireless or inductively powered, in which case it does not require a battery like a conventional wireless mouse.

    I have no idea who would need such devices that are expensive and hard to find on the open market. And why, who knows? Maybe there are some advantages over conventional "rodents"?

    Gyro mice

    Well, we quietly approached the final type of computer mice- gyroscope mice. Gyroscopic mice with the help of a gyroscope recognize movement not only on the surface, but also in space. It can be taken from the table and controlled by the movements of the hand. The gyroscopic mouse can be used as a pointer to big screen. However, if you put it on the table, it will work like a regular optical one.

    But this type of mouse can really be useful and popular in certain situations. For example, at some presentation, it will be very useful.

    And finally: For normal operation With a mouse, it is very important that the surface on which it moves is even. Usually, special mats are used for this. An optical mouse is more demanding on the surface, you can use it without a pad, but on surfaces with potholes or on glass it will fail. A laser mouse can work even on a knee, even on a mirror.

    I think this article has helped you better understand the design of a computer mouse, as well as find out what types of computer mice exist.

    Read more: