Types of computer mice and their characteristics. Good computer mouse: types, description, rating. How to choose a computer mouse

A modern computer is generally impossible to imagine without this gadget, which greatly simplifies the process of managing a PC. But only a few users know in what year the computer mouse was invented, and who is its creator. Let's remember how this gadget appeared, and how it was from the very beginning.

What year was the computer mouse invented?

December 9, 1968 - it was on this day that the world saw the prototype of all modern computer mice. Of course, it was just a prototype. However, until that time, there were special computerized radars and manipulators, which became the basis for the creation of a modern mouse.

The very first prototype appeared in the early 50s. Then, according to the Cossack of the Canadian Navy, computerized radars with the first graphical interface were created. They required a special cursor positioning system, which was a simple device based on a smooth ball. It was called the trackball, and it was the first step towards the creation of a modern computer mouse.

A little later, in 1951, Douglas Engelbart (the creator) was already thinking about the development of a manipulator, and in 1955 he took part in the manufacture of radar systems. In particular, he developed information display systems within the framework of the NASA computer program. According to Douglas himself, together with his team he created a table with the parameters and capabilities of all modern manipulators at that time, determined their functions and required parameters, which did not exist then. In the course of research in 1963, the idea was formed to create a display pointer that would move in the X-Y coordinate system.

First prototype

In 1964, based on the design of Douglas Engelbart, Stanford Research Institute graduate student Billy English assembled the first prototype of a computer mouse. At the same time, a program was written to demonstrate its capabilities.

It was a big square brown wooden box with a big red button on the top. The cord was located in front, but over time it was moved back. So he didn't really interfere. Inside there was a planar displacement sensor, which consisted of two metal disks. They were located perpendicular to each other: one rotated when the device moved to the side, and the other was responsible for moving forward or backward. Given this design, the mouse could not be moved diagonally, it could move forward or backward.

Speaking about the year in which the computer mouse was invented, it is worth clarifying that some people rightly believe that this invention was "born" in 1946. After all, it was in this year that a prototype device of all modern computer gadgets appeared.

First introduction of the mouse

A little later, on December 9, 1968, Douglas Engelbart presented a more advanced modification of this device to a group of engineers. It worked as an oN-Line System OS manipulator. The mouse had three buttons, although Douglas Engelbart himself claimed that he wanted to make 5 buttons (for each finger). And although at first they planned to call the device a "beetle", the name "mouse" later took root - because of the thick connecting cable resembling the tails of a rodent.

So, if it is logical to calculate in what year the computer mouse was invented, then we can talk about two dates: 1964 and 1968. In 1970, the inventor received a patent, which recorded the authorship of a manipulator based on the use of two perpendicular wheels. At the same time, the principle of the manipulator itself was not patented.

In 1972, this research was actively engaged in the company Xerox PARC, which significantly improved this gadget. In particular, then the discs were replaced with a small ball or rollers. So there were new types of computer mice.

In 1979, Xerox created the Xerox Alto computer, which was a research prototype and was not included in the series. But it was equipped with a computer mouse and had a graphical interface in the form of a desktop. Several thousand such computers were created.

The appearance of a rubber ball inside the case

In 1979, the Stanford Research Institute (that's where Engelbart's team worked) sold the Apple mouse project for $40,000. Having obtained a license for such an invention, Apple commissioned Hovey-Kelley Design to improve the mouse. As a result, instead of a steel bearing, she received a comfortable rubber ball that rolled freely in the body. The introduction of this innovation made it possible to get rid of the complex system of coding wheels and electrical contacts. Instead, simple optoelectronic converters and slotted wheels were implemented.

Further development

In 1983, there were already a dozen companies producing and selling different types of computer mice. In the same year, Apple released the Lisa single-button mouse. It was developed by order of Apple in the center of Palo Alto. Engineers were able to create a cheap modification of this device, make it compact and collapsible. It was possible to remove the ball from the inside, clean it of dust. This mouse was included with the Apple-Macintosh home computer.

In 1987, the patent of Douglas Engelbart expired, and only in 1998 the merits of this inventor were officially recognized. Engelbart himself received the $500,000 Lemelson-MIT Prize.

Since 1999, optical mice have been appearing that work on any surface. Many models that came out after 2000 have survived to this day. Moreover, some of them are successfully used.

Finally

The history of the computer mouse is short. In about 30 years, it was possible to create a high-tech gadget from a primitive and very expensive device, which today is cheap. As for modern models, they are fundamentally different from the first computer mouse. All that remained from her was the idea of ​​positioning the cursor on the graphical interface.

Now you know who invented the computer mouse. In this regard, no one has any doubts. But as for the date of creation, there are 2 opinions here:

1. In 1964, a graduate student at the Stanford Research Institute created a prototype of this gadget (designed by Engelbart).
2. In 1968, Engelbart himself presented a working improved version of the mouse.

Here, everyone decides for himself when the first computer mouse appeared. However, it is generally accepted that she first saw the world on December 9, 1968.

Annotation: The mouse is one of the essential components of the basic configuration of any desktop computer. A touchpad (touch pad) can act as a kind of mouse substitute in laptops. With its help, the cursor is controlled by moving a finger along the surface of this device. But a laptop touchpad can't compete with a computer mouse in ease of use. Using the mouse, you can control a special pointer (cursor) displayed on the screen of a personal computer (PC). There are several types of modern mice, differing both in the method of connecting to a computer (wired and wireless), and in the principle of operation (optical and laser).

Computer mice of the optical type have a light emitter and a light receiver, due to which the movement of the manipulator over the surface is fixed. In other words, optical mice use a tiny camera and a light source (LED). A beam of light is reflected from the surface on which the mouse is moving and analyzed. Optical mice are the most popular among everyday PC users today, but they have problems with highly reflective (white, glass, or metal) surfaces (Figure 4.1).

Rice. 4.1.

Mice are wired and wireless. Wired mouse, as well as a keyboard, is connected to the PS / 2 or USB connector. USB connection provides higher transmission speed data compared to using PS / 2, which should be considered when buying a gaming computer mouse. The wireless mouse transmitter also plugs into one of these connectors, after which you can work with the mouse without the discomfort of a wire that takes up space on the table and can constantly cling to something. Such a wireless mouse is powered by a built-in battery or from AA batteries.

laser mouse

This mouse will be more expensive than an optical mouse (about $100) because it uses a laser beam instead of an LED. Such a mouse works much more accurately and more smoothly than optical ones, and on any surface. The laser allows you to increase the accuracy of the mouse up to 2000 dpi. The mouse is good for computer game fans and designers. As an illustration of what has been said in Fig. Figure 4.2 shows the Logitech V450 Nano wireless mouse. The red arrow in the figure shows its receiver, which is included in the USB port of the PC. The mouse operates at a frequency of 2.4 GHz, its battery ensures the operation of the mouse for a year.

How to choose the right computer mouse?

So mice are different. But which mouse is right for you? Buy a mouse according to the intended use of the mouse, i.e. the work that you will be doing on the PC. The size and shape of the mouse should fit the size of the palm of your hand, as these characteristics are responsible for the convenience and rational distribution of the load on the hand. Among the well-known and popular manufacturers of computer mice, Logitech and Genius can be noted. Next, we will consider the main parameters that you should be guided by when buying a mouse.

Permission

Optical mice are considered the standard today and will be suitable for most of your daily tasks. Buying a laser mouse will interest you if you are looking for a mouse with special features. Sensitivity The (resolution) of a mouse is determined by the characteristics of its sensor, which are measured in dots per square inch (dpi). A standard mouse has a resolution of 400-600 dpi and a polling rate of 100 Hz - these parameters of the manipulator meet the needs of most PC users. You will need a computer mouse with a resolution of over 1000 dpi to work with graphics and engineering applications (such as Adobe Photoshop or AutoCAD). High resolution provides more accurate cursor positioning.

New term

Under resolution mice understand the number of measurements that the mouse makes in the distance traveled. It is expressed as the number of measurements per unit length of 1 inch (2.54 cm).

Response time

Response time computer mouse characterizes the polling frequency and processing time of the light signal, which is of great importance for computer games. The response time for gaming mice should be over 1000Hz. However, keep in mind that the higher this setting, the faster the mouse reacts and the more difficult it becomes to control.

Advice

Since it is necessary to strike a balance between mouse speed and cursor positioning accuracy for a given monitor screen resolution, today a mouse resolution of 800 dpi when working on a monitor with a resolution of 1280x1024 can be called a reasonable compromise. Raising the resolution above 800-1000 dpi does not make sense, since the mouse will be inconvenient to use.

Additional functionality

Computer mouse options can be expanded with additional keys and scrolling modifications (scroll wheels). The wheel can simply scroll the document up or down, or it can also be a pressure wheel, that is, it can also serve as an additional button. An additional button in graphics programs can, for example, change the image viewing scale, which is convenient when working with graphics. Mice for computer games are equipped with a special computer program that allows you to change their capabilities. So, for example, you can change their sensitivity, and replacing the scroll wheel with a trackball allows you to position the cursor more precisely. This computer mouse is perfect for working with computer graphics. As you already understood, the highest requirements for mice are made by gamers. In addition to the requirements already noted above, they are chosen even by weight. Although there are piece products and more sophisticated. For example, if you do not want anyone other than you to use your computer, you can purchase a mouse with a built-in sensor that reads your fingerprint.

Mouse Cursor Techniques

Below we will look at the basic techniques for working with a mouse in the Windows 7 operating system.

Exercise 4.1. Mouse freeze

Hover your mouse over the button Start located on Taskbars, and hold the mouse for a while. The pop-up text "Start" appears (

In an era when computers occupied entire rooms, many developers and scientists tried to make them as understandable as possible for the average user and facilitate the interaction of the user with the machine. One of them is Douglas Engelbart.

He was one of the pioneers in trying to make the computer as user-friendly as possible. In addition to the computer mouse familiar to everyone today, Douglas Engelbart took part in the development of the first electronic messaging services, which today have become a massively used e-mail.

But perhaps his most famous invention is the input device, patented in 1970. Initially, this miracle of technology was planned to be called a "beetle", but later the name "mouse" was fixed, to which the word "computer" was attached. In order not to confuse.

The first implementation of the mouse was not plastic, but wooden. On top of it there were two metal wheels that correlated the movement of the cursor on the screen with the X and Y coordinate axes.

The presentation of the new device took place in December of the distant 1968. The new input device looked bulky and far from ergonomic. The first computer mouse was brought to the market far from immediately. This joyful event for many users took place only in 1984. The mouse was included with one of the first Apple-Macintosh home computers, and this "miniature" pleasure cost almost $400.

In fairness, it should be noted that since then more than one billion computer mice have been sold worldwide.

ball mouse

Like any necessary and useful technique, the computer mouse has evolved at an incredible speed. The first bulky units were soon replaced by more compact ball mice.

They looked something like this: a fairly large case with the usual right and left buttons, sometimes even with a wheel between them, and from below - a rubberized ball that protrudes slightly from the base of the device and rolls when moving the mouse.

Rotating, this ball transmitted a signal of a certain direction of movement to two rollers inside the device. The rollers, in turn, transmitted it to special sensors, which "turned" the movement of the mouse into the movement of the cursor on the monitor.

This mechanism worked quite well and quite well, but it, like everywhere else, had its pluses and minuses. In particular, the ball on mice of this type sooner or later became dirty, and the mouse, as a result, began to seize. There was only one way to deal with this: remove the ball from the mouse, clean it and then put it back in place.

Despite its simplicity, this procedure took a certain amount of time and not everyone knew how or wanted to do it. For this very reason (or maybe there were others), ball mice soon evolved into mice with an optical "drive".

Optical mouse

The optical computer mouse, unlike its predecessor, did not contain any rotating elements in the design. In fact, a small camera is built into the body of an optical mouse, which takes up to a thousand pictures per second.

When moving the mouse, the camera photographs the work surface, illuminating it. The processor processes these "snapshots" and sends a signal to the computer - the cursor moves. Such a mouse can work on almost any surface, except for a mirror, and does not need to be cleaned.

Despite all their advantages, some of the optical mice were extremely "finicky" to the working surface. They can easily be found in homes and offices today, but the farther, the more users prefer laser and even wireless mice.

Mouse laser and wireless

The laser computer mouse is an improved version of the optical mouse. The principle of their work is very similar. The only difference is that not an LED is used to illuminate the surface, but a laser. This refinement made the device almost perfect: the device works on any surface. It is more reliable and consumes relatively little power, and the cursor movements are as close as possible to the actual movement of the mouse. In addition, laser mice have very weak backlighting.

In turn, laser computer mice are tailed and tailless, that is, wired and wireless. The latter do not have a cable and, unlike wired ones, do not require connection to a computer: they transmit a signal via radio waves or via Bluetooth.

Ordinary radio mice are able to work at a distance of up to 5 meters from the computer, Bluetooth mice - up to 10-15 meters. These mice are the most convenient for gamers. But they also have a drawback: radio mice can interfere with nearby devices. In addition, the absence of a cable is equal to the absence of a stationary power supply.

Wireless mice require a separate power source - batteries or rechargeable batteries, which is not always convenient. In addition, wireless devices may fail due to a connection that is not always stable.

What mouse do you have and what do you like about it? Share with us and our readers your story about a computer mouse.

• Official website Lenta.ru. Section "Science and technology". Material "Mouse day.
• The computer mouse is 40 years old
• Official site of the magazine "Home PC"
• The free electronic encyclopedia Wikipedia, section "Computer mouse"
• Article "Why didn't the inventor of the computer mouse become a billionaire?"

A manipulator called "Mouse" has already entered our lives so tightly that we do not even notice how often we use this device. The mouse allows you to control your computer with maximum comfort. Remove it, and the speed of working with a PC will decrease several times. But the main thing is to choose the right mouse, based on the types of tasks that will need to be solved with its help. Some situations will require special types of mice.

Types of computer mice

According to the design features, several types of computer mice are distinguished: mechanical, optical, laser, trackball, induction, gyroscopic and sensory. Each type has its own unique characteristics that allow you to successfully use the mouse in a given situation. So what mice are best for pc? Let's try to understand this issue, having examined in detail each type separately.

Mechanical mice

This is the same type from which the history of computer mice began. The design of such a mouse assumes the presence of a rubberized ball that glides over the surface. He, in turn, makes special rollers move, which transmit the result of the movement of the ball to special sensors. The sensors send the processed signal to the computer itself, as a result of which the cursor moves on the screen. This is how a mechanical mouse works. This outdated device had two or three buttons and did not differ in any features. Connection to a computer was carried out using a COM port (in earlier versions) and a PS / 2 connector (in later models).

The weakest point of a mechanical mouse was exactly the same ball that “crawled” along the surface. It became very dirty very quickly, as a result of which the accuracy of the movement fell. I had to clean it often with alcohol. In addition, mechanical ball mice categorically refused to slide normally on a bare table. They always needed a special mat. At the moment, such mice are obsolete and are not used anywhere. The most popular manufacturers of mechanical mice at the time were Genius and Microsoft.

Optical mice

The next stage in the evolution of computer mice was the emergence of optical models. The principle of operation is fundamentally different from mice equipped with balls. The basis of the optical mouse is a sensor that registers the movement of the mouse by photographing at high speed (about 1000 shots per second). Then the sensor sends information to the sensors and after appropriate processing, the information enters the computer, causing the cursor to move. Optical mice can contain any number of buttons. From two in ordinary office models to 14 in serious gaming solutions. Thanks to their technology, optical mice are able to provide high precision cursor movement. In addition, they can glide perfectly on any flat surface (except for a mirror).

Now optical mice are the most popular among most users. They combine high DPI and an adequate price. Unpretentious optical models are the most cheap computer mice. In form, they can be very different. By the number of buttons too. There are also wired and wireless options. If you need high accuracy and reliability, then your choice is a wired optical mouse. The fact is that wireless technologies make the user dependent on batteries and wireless communication, which is not always up to par.

Laser mice

These mice are evolutionary continuation of optical mice. The difference is that a laser is used instead of an LED. At the present stage of development, laser mice are the most accurate and provide the highest DPI value. That is why they are so loved by many gamers. Laser mice don't care what surface they "crawl" on. They work well even on rough surfaces.

With the highest DPI of any mouse, laser models are widely used by gamers. That is why laser manipulators have a wide range of models aimed at game fans. A distinctive feature of this mouse is the presence of a large number of additional programmable buttons. A prerequisite for a good gaming mouse is only a wired connection using USB. Since wireless technology cannot provide the proper accuracy of work. Gaming laser mice are usually not cheap. Most expensive computer mice based on a laser element are produced by Logitech and A4Tech.

trackball

This device does not look like a standard computer mouse at all. At its core, a trackball is a mechanical mouse in reverse. The cursor is controlled by a ball on the top side of the device. But the sensors of the device are still optical. In its form, the trackball does not resemble a classic mouse at all. And it does not need to be moved anywhere in order to achieve the movement of the cursor. The trackball is connected to the computer via USB.

The advantages and disadvantages of the trackball have been arguing for quite some time. On the one hand, it reduces the load on the hand and ensures the accuracy of cursor movement. On the other hand, it is a bit inconvenient to use the trackball buttons. Such devices are still rare and unfinished.

induction mice

Induction mice are a logical continuation of wireless devices. However, they are devoid of some properties characteristic of "tailless" models. For example, induction mice can only work on a special mat connected to a computer. Carrying the mouse away from the rug will not work. However, there are also pluses. High accuracy and no need to change batteries, since there are no batteries in such mice at all. Induction mice get their energy from the mat.

Such mice are not very common, as they have a high price and are not very mobile. On the other hand, these are the most original computer mice. Their originality lies in the absence of batteries.

Gyro mice

These mice do not need to slide on the surface at all. The gyroscopic sensor, which is the basis of such a mouse, responds to changes in the position of the device in space. Of course it's convenient. But this method of management requires a fair amount of skill. Naturally, such mice are distinguished by the absence of wires, because with their presence it would be inconvenient to control the mouse.

Like induction models, gyroscopic devices are not widely used due to their high cost.

Touch mouse

Touch mice - the diocese of Apple. It was they who deprived their Magic Mouse of all sorts of buttons and wheels. The basis of such a mouse is a touch coating. The mouse is controlled by gestures. The reading element of the mouse position is an optical sensor.

Touch mice are mainly found in Apple products (iMac). You can also purchase a Magic Mouse separately and try connecting it to a regular computer. However, it is not clear how convenient it will be to use such a mouse under Windows, given that it is "sharpened" for MacOS.

Conclusion

It remains only to choose the option that is right for you.

In contact with

A modern computer (which can be assembled and) has a mouse in its kit. Now it is difficult to imagine how without it it would be easy and simple to “communicate” with a computer. There are many mice - good and different. For every taste and color. size and weight...

The computer mouse was created by Douglas Engelbart in 1964, after 6 years he received a patent for this invention. On the computer screen, the mouse is displayed as an arrow, moving it around the table, we control the movement of the arrow on the screen. This way you can select objects on the computer screen and work with them.

The market offers a large number of computer mice, they differ in shape, color and internal structure. How to choose the one that will be the most convenient?

The following types of mice are known today: mechanical(ball), optical, trackball mice, laser, gyroscopic.

1. Ball mice- a rarity. Their technology was simple. The ball, moving along the surface inside the mouse, rotated two rollers. The rotation of the horizontal roller was converted into a signal for moving the arrow on the screen horizontally, while the rotation of the vertical roller was converted into a signal for moving vertically. Two signals, acting simultaneously, moved the arrow on the screen in the desired direction. Because of the ball, these mice were heavy, they did not work without a rug, the hand got tired. Dust got inside the mouse, which caused poor performance, we often had to take out the ball and clean the entire structure.

2.Optical LED mice work without balls. Inside these is an LED and a sensor. The surface on which the mouse moves is scanned. The LED lights up, and the sensor-camera shoots frames at a frequency of 1 kHz. The surface is uneven, so when you move the pictures are different. The built-in chip analyzes the images, generates a movement signal and transfers it to the computer. Optical mouse pad is not needed, no need to clean. The main advantage of an optical mouse is greater accuracy and a decent service life.

3. On a laser mouse a laser is used instead of an LED, the accuracy of work is even higher than that of an LED mouse. The laser mouse will work on any surface, even on a smooth one, such as glass. For a laser beam, any smooth surface will still not be perfect, that is, the frames of the surface when moving the mouse are different.

4. Trackball mice are used less often. This device looks like an inverted mouse. The difference from a ball mouse is that the trackball does not move, and the ball, which is on the side of the device, is rotated with a finger. This design is used to work with graphics programs, computer-aided design programs, and others where it is necessary to control the movement of the cursor more precisely than a conventional computer mouse can.

With or without wire

By type of connection, computer mice can be wired and wireless.
Wired mice can be wired to a computer via two inputs: USB, PS / 2. The second option is considered obsolete.

Wireless mouse connection types: RF, infrared, induction, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi. Wireless mice are more commonly used for laptops. Radio frequency and infrared types are considered yesterday. If an infrared mouse, then there should be no obstacles between it and the computer, otherwise the connection will be broken. The radio frequency communication of the mouse with the computer is carried out at a frequency of 27 MHz and 2.4 GHz. The difference in frequencies affects the range and price of the mouse.

Induction mice do not have a "tail", but work on a pad-tablet, which is connected to the computer with a wire.

The most popular wireless mouse connection is Bluetooth. This connection is used for computers and laptops. This device is small in size, it can be built-in or it can be purchased. There is another type of connection - Wi-Fi.

Infrared and inductive communication operate at a short distance from the computer. All other types of communication make it easy to work within the room. It must be remembered that wireless mice require autonomous power sources for their operation.

Design, the number of buttons, the size of the mouse - everyone can choose according to their taste. The choice of a mouse according to the size of the hand, perhaps, should be put in the first place. A lot of time is spent at the computer and the hand gets tired less if the computer mouse is comfortable and light. Choosing the wrong mouse size can lead to disease in the hand and fingers.

There are mice with two buttons and a scroll wheel, there may be two additional buttons. Developed special mice for games. When choosing a mouse, you should not choose multifunctionality, catchy appearance and low cost. Reliability of work, quality is guaranteed by proven brands Microsoft, Logitech. Genius and Mitsumi mice are a little cheaper.

Types of computer mice. There are no computer mice. 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.

Read other articles on computer mice:

Mechanical Or you can only find it with 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 graphics 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- 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- 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- 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- use a special pad that works on the principle of a graphics tablet.

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.

Perhaps everyone has seen a computer mouse. This is a necessary device for working at a computer. With it, they click, switch between objects, control movements in games, etc. So, the "mouse" manipulator is. At the moment, there are many different types of . In the article, each of them will be discussed in detail.

Direct drive mouse

It was in this form that the manipulator was originally invented: 2 wheels protruded from the body, which were directed perpendicular to each other. One was responsible for horizontal movements, the other - vertically. As they move, they both spin. Of course, the movement was not very accurate, and the rotation was often difficult. The very first mouse was created in 1963.

Optomechanical mouse

The next stage in the development of the device is the "mouse" ballpointer. This device is well remembered by those who began to "be friends" with computer technology in the 90s. There was a hole in the bottom of the case through which a rubberized ball peeked out. Inside the mouse were sensors that took data about the movements of the ball. She worked without problems only on special mats, because. on smooth surfaces, the ball does not rotate.

In addition, debris and pet hair constantly got inside through the hole in the case, so the roller had to be cleaned periodically, otherwise it would “stick” and not turn. However, for a long time it was the ballpoint mouse that was considered the best, until it was replaced by more advanced optical devices.

First generation optical mouse

The first competitor of the ball. He failed to oust her due to some shortcomings, which will be discussed below.

Inside the mouse there was a special diode that tracked the movements of the manipulator on the surface. Thanks to this, cursor movements on the monitor have become more accurate. However, the graphical manipulator "mouse" worked only if there was a special mat on which the orienting stripes were applied. The device did not respond to other surfaces. Each mouse model had its own mousepad. When replacing it with another device, it did not read landmarks. The manipulator was very sensitive to contamination. It was also necessary to orient the substrate and the mouse in a certain way, otherwise the latter did not work correctly. This whole kit was quite expensive, so ordinary users preferred a ballpointer.

Optical LED mouse

This device was no longer dependent on the rug and could work even without it. Best of all, the LED perceived plain surfaces. Therefore, the second generation optical mouse easily replaced all its predecessors. At the same stage, specialized computer mice began to appear - gaming mice.

The principle of operation here is completely different: nothing is spinning inside the case, but an LED and a camera are installed. The first illuminates a rug or any other surface, and the second takes microphotographs at high speed (up to 1000 per second). Photos are processed by a microprocessor, which converts them into movements in space.

laser mouse

A modern, well-known manipulator. It practically does not differ from LED, however, a laser is used for illumination. Thanks to this, the camera takes clearer pictures. As a result, the accuracy of movements increases. can work on any surface, including the mirror. A rug is not required for comfortable work. Most gaming mice are of this type.

trackball

Apparently, the creators of this mouse remembered that the movements of the ballpointer were much more accurate if you twist the roller with your fingers. Therefore, they developed a device where you can rotate the trackball manually. It looks like a ball mouse in reverse: a convex ball is located on the outside of the body, and it can be rotated with your fingers or palm. You do not need to move the manipulator.

Of course, trackball mice are made using more advanced technologies, in particular, they are much lighter than ball mice, the roller itself rotates easily, but sits more tightly in the nest and no longer collects as much debris. Again, it uses not only mechanical, but also movements.

induction mouse

The main difference is that it does not need a separate power source (batteries or wire). The manipulator works at the expense of the induction energy received from a rug. The latter is connected to the computer. Works like a graphics tablet. This connection method provides greater movement accuracy, which is especially important when working with graphics. However, induction mice have a big drawback: the induction mouse is a device that is tied to a specific mousepad. The elements of the set cannot be replaced. Such a manipulator can only work on a rug, on other surfaces - no.

Gyro mouse

One of the novelties of the modern market. Equipped with a gyroscope that allows you to navigate in In other words, the mouse is no longer attached to any surface in order to correctly read information about its movements. You can pick it up and, without using a table, rug, etc., control the cursor by simply moving the brush in the air. Such a mouse can even be compared in part to a conductor's baton.

While this type has not yet entered the general sale and is not found in every electronics store.

The mouse manipulator is a device that still has many prospects and hidden possibilities. Most likely, in 10-15 years their appearance will change beyond recognition. And those mice that most people are used to will go into the archives along with floppy disks and cassettes.

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 ordinary work, and others are 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 incorporate a number of components: a case, a printed circuit board with contacts, mics (buttons), a 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 they came 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 at different times 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

Mechanical mice are traditional ball models, relatively large in size, requiring constant cleaning of the ball for effective operation. 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 pad 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. An optical mouse uses an LED sensor. 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 on a large 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 of the mouse, it is very important that the surface on which it moves is flat. 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.

Whether you use it for work or play, our hands grip a computer mouse almost every day. What is the difference between optical and laser mouse?

They are on store shelves in a large assortment, most are designed for right-handers, while a few have an ergonomic design suitable for left-handers. Of all the features and form factors, you will find two basic versions of computer mice: with an optical sensor or based on a laser. What's better? Let's figure it out.

Guess what? All modern computer mice are optical.

Modern computer mice are the same cameras that, instead of capturing faces, capture images of the surface from below (table, stand, etc.). The captured images are converted into data to track the current location of the peripheral on the surface. Ultimately, this is a low-resolution camera in the palm of your hand designed only to track X and Y coordinates thousands of times per second.

Essentially, all computer mice consist of a tiny low-resolution camera (CMOS sensor), two lenses, and a light source. All mice are technically optical because they collect data optically. However, those sold as optical models rely on an infrared or red LED to project light onto a surface. This LED is usually mounted at an angle and focuses the light onto the beam. The beam bounces off the surface, through a lens that magnifies the reflected light, and transmits it to the CMOS sensor.

The CMOS sensor collects light and converts light particles into electrical current. This analog data is then converted to 1s and 0s, resulting in over 10,000 digital images being captured every second. These images are compared to create the exact location of the mouse, and then the final data is sent to the PC for cursor placement every one to eighth milliseconds.

On older LED mice, you may have noticed that the LED was pointing straight down and shining a red beam on the surface that the sensor saw. Now the LED light is projected at an angle and is generally invisible (infrared). This helps your computer mouse track movements on most surfaces.

Meanwhile, Logitech was the first to introduce the concept of using a laser for a computer mouse back in 2004. Specifically, it is called a vertical cavity laser diode, or VCSEL, which is used in laser pointers, optical drives, barcode readers, and other devices.

This infrared laser simply replaces the infrared/red LED on optical models. But don't worry: it won't harm your eyes because it only emits light in the infrared range, which the human eye can't see. This major advantage allows the laser mouse to use a higher beam intensity, resulting in better visualization and increased sensitivity.

At one time, laser models were considered far superior to optical versions. Over time, however, optical mice have improved, and now they work in a wide variety of situations, with a very high degree of accuracy. The advantage of the laser model is due to the greater sensitivity than the LED mouse. However, if you're not an avid gamer, this is not such a big deal.

So, what's the difference between using an optical mouse and a laser mouse, other than the difference in lighting?

To begin with, it should be mentioned that both methods use surface irregularities to track the position of the periphery. But, the laser can penetrate deeper into the surface texture. This gives more information to the CMOS sensor and processor inside the mouse to manipulate and transmit data to the parent PC.

For example, despite the fact that ordinary glass is transparent, it still has very small irregularities that can only be traced with a laser. This allows you to use the surface of the glass table when working, although it is not ideal. Meanwhile, if we place a modern optical mouse on the same glass surface, it won't be able to track our movements. Place a glass surface on a black desktop and the optical mouse still won't be able to track motion. Remove the glass and the optical mouse will work just fine.

Of course, the chances of constantly using a computer mouse on a glass surface are extremely rare, but this demonstrates how the two lighting processes differ in performance. The LED will track anomalies found on the top layer of the surface while the laser can penetrate deeper to find additional positional details. Optical mice work best on non-glossy surfaces and mousepads, while laser mice work best on almost any glossy or non-glossy surface.

Accuracy and sensitivity

The problem with laser computer mice is that they can be too precise, picking up useless information like invisible surface particles. This leads to problems when driving at slower speeds, causing "judder" on the screen. This incorrect 1:1 tracking is due to useless data being passed to the general tracking used by the PC. The result is that the cursor will not appear in the exact location at the time your hand placed it there. While this problem has improved a lot over the years, laser mice are still not perfect when you're drawing details in Adobe Illustrator, for example.

However, jitter has nothing to do with the number of dots per inch a mouse can track per second. Instead, the jitter is tied to whatever is scanned by the laser, collected by the sensor, and sent to the parent PC's processor to display the screen cursor. To smooth out some of the judder, you can place a cloth-based material, with a hard, dark surface underneath, on your table so the laser doesn't pick up unnecessary or unwanted data.

Another option would be to decrease the sensitivity. The resolution of the CMOS sensor on a computer mouse is different from that of a camera because it is based on motion. The sensor consists of a given number of physical pixels aligned on a square grid. Resolution is related to the number of distinct images captured by each pixel as it moves across a surface.

Since physical pixels cannot be changed, the sensor can use image processing to divide each pixel into a smaller area. However, all computer mice have a given physical resolution, and increased sensitivity is associated with algorithms within the sensor, so it is possible to speed up the movement of the cursor on the screen, with the same physical movements. Thus, the closer you are to the base resolution, the less unwanted positional data the sensor in a laser-based computer mouse collects.

Simply put, lower sensitivity results in more precise movement.

What's better?

It depends on the application and the environment. If you look at the Logitech G brand, you will notice that there Logitech mainly focuses on LED mice when it comes to PC gaming. This is because users usually sit at a desk and may even use a mouse pad designed for better tracking and traction. However, the company also has laser mice, the same Logitech offers a small part of devices with a laser that are not aimed at gamers.

Another manufacturer, Razer, prefers laser technology because it offers higher sensitivity in games. In general, we do not believe that optical or laser technology is completely self-sufficient in itself. Our recommendation is more specific for office use.

A laser mouse can be perfect when you're in a hotel room, in the living room, lying on the couch, or scrolling through Facebook while sitting in a meeting. Performance can be inconsistent given the surface below, but with a laser mouse you definitely have more options on all surfaces. A laser-based computer mouse comes in handy when you have to use your foot as a tracking surface, or when the office has nothing but shiny furniture that your LED device absolutely hates.

Most modern high performance mice use a laser. However, they usually cost more. While laser is the more versatile technology, a decent optical mouse can handle less as long as you use it on a flat, non-glossy surface.

We hope this article has helped to understand at least a little better the differences in technologies in the main peripheral devices, and it's up to you to decide which computer mouse you need.

Mouse Sensors: Laser or Optics?

If you find an error, the video does not work, please select a piece of text and click Ctrl+Enter.