67-487: The Microsoft Mouse is a computer mouse released by Microsoft in 1983. It is the first mouse released by the company, and it was bundled with the first versions of Microsoft Word , and/or Notepad (inclusion of these two programs varied in the initial product release), an on-screen teaching tutorial, a musical piano program, a game, and one of the first home computer color bitmap creation programs, called “Doodle,” for an initial price of $ 195. The Microsoft Mouse featured
134-548: A cursor , computer mice have one or more buttons to allow operations such as the selection of a menu item on a display. Mice often also feature other elements, such as touch surfaces and scroll wheels , which enable additional control and dimensional input. The earliest known written use of the term mouse or mice in reference to a computer pointing device is in Bill English 's July 1965 publication, "Computer-Aided Display Control". This likely originated from its resemblance to
201-428: A pointer in two dimensions in a graphical user interface (GUI). The mouse turns movements of the hand backward and forward, left and right into equivalent electronic signals that in turn are used to move the pointer. The relative movements of the mouse on the surface are applied to the position of the pointer on the screen, which signals the point where actions of the user take place, so hand movements are replicated by
268-409: A high breeding rate. The best known mouse species is the common house mouse ( Mus musculus ). Mice are also popular as pets . In some places, certain kinds of field mice are locally common. They are known to invade homes for food and shelter. Mice are typically distinguished from rats by their size. Generally, when a muroid rodent is discovered, its common name includes the term mouse if it
335-465: A keen sense of hearing. They depend on their sense of smell to locate food and avoid predators. In the wild, mice are known to build intricate burrows. These burrows have long entrances and are equipped with escape tunnels. In at least one species, the architectural design of a burrow is a genetic trait. The most common mice are murines , in the same clade as common rats . They are murids, along with gerbils and other close relatives. Researchers at
402-643: A large organization believed at first that his company sold lab mice . Hawley, who manufactured mice for Xerox, stated that "Practically, I have the market all to myself right now"; a Hawley mouse cost $ 415. In 1982, Logitech introduced the P4 Mouse at the Comdex trade show in Las Vegas, its first hardware mouse. That same year Microsoft made the decision to make the MS-DOS program Microsoft Word mouse-compatible, and developed
469-769: A large variety of vegetables. Despite popular belief, most mice do not have a special appetite for cheese. They will only eat cheese for lack of better options. Mice are common experimental animals in laboratory research of biology and psychology fields primarily because they are mammals , and also because they share a high degree of homology with humans. They are the most commonly used mammalian model organism , more common than rats . The mouse genome has been sequenced, and virtually all mouse genes have human homologs . The mouse has approximately 2.7 billion base pairs and 20 pairs of chromosomes. They can also be manipulated in ways that are illegal with humans, although animal rights activists often object. A knockout mouse
536-439: A more elegant input device was needed and invented what they called a "roller ball" for this purpose. The device was patented in 1947, but only a prototype using a metal ball rolling on two rubber-coated wheels was ever built, and the device was kept as a military secret. Another early trackball was built by Kenyon Taylor , a British electrical engineer working in collaboration with Tom Cranston and Fred Longstaff. Taylor
603-547: A mouse as well. The third marketed version of an integrated mouse shipped as a part of a computer and intended for personal computer navigation came with the Xerox 8010 Star in 1981. By 1982, the Xerox 8010 was probably the best-known computer with a mouse. The Sun-1 also came with a mouse, and the forthcoming Apple Lisa was rumored to use one, but the peripheral remained obscure; Jack Hawley of The Mouse House reported that one buyer for
670-568: A mouse device named Rollkugelsteuerung (German for "Trackball control") was shown in a sales brochure by the German company AEG - Telefunken as an optional input device for the SIG ;100 vector graphics terminal, part of the system around their process computer TR 86 and the TR 440 [ de ] main frame. Based on an even earlier trackball device, the mouse device had been developed by
737-492: A pair of green buttons, and was nicknamed the "green-eyed mouse". As with other mice at the time, the Microsoft Mouse used a steel ball for tracking. The Japanese company Alps Electric produced the mouse. The initial version featured a DB-25 Serial Port. Later versions were available with an InPort ISA interface, requiring a Microsoft bus card to be installed in the computer or a DE-9 serial connector. All versions of
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#1732845420268804-505: A pair of light beams, located so that a given beam becomes interrupted or again starts to pass light freely when the other beam of the pair is about halfway between changes. Simple logic circuits interpret the relative timing to indicate which direction the wheel is rotating. This incremental rotary encoder scheme is sometimes called quadrature encoding of the wheel rotation, as the two optical sensors produce signals that are in approximately quadrature phase . The mouse sends these signals to
871-481: A relatively short time. Mice are generally very docile if raised from birth and given sufficient human contact. However, certain strains have been known to be quite temperamental. Many people buy mice as companion pets. They can be playful, loving and can grow used to being handled. Like pet rats, pet mice should not be left unsupervised outside as they have many natural predators, including (but not limited to) birds, snakes, lizards, cats, and dogs. Male mice tend to have
938-403: A similar product. Modern computer mice took form at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) under the inspiration of Professor Jean-Daniel Nicoud and at the hands of engineer and watchmaker André Guignard . This new design incorporated a single hard rubber mouseball and three buttons, and remained a common design until the mainstream adoption of the scroll-wheel mouse during
1005-524: A stronger odor than the females. However, mice are careful groomers and as pets they never need bathing. Well looked-after mice can make ideal pets. Some common mouse care products are: Mice are a staple in the diet of many small carnivores . In various countries mice are used as feed for pets such as snakes , lizards , frogs , tarantulas , and birds of prey , and many pet stores carry mice for this purpose. Such mice are sold in various sizes and with various amounts of fur. Mice without fur are easier for
1072-460: A tiny low-resolution video camera) to take successive images of the surface on which the mouse operates. Battery powered, wireless optical mice flash the LED intermittently to save power, and only glow steadily when movement is detected. Mouse A mouse ( pl. : mice ) is a small rodent . Characteristically, mice are known to have a pointed snout, small rounded ears, a body-length scaly tail, and
1139-419: A user can drag and drop a picture representing a file onto an image of a trash can, indicating the intention to delete the file. This intuitive and visual approach to interaction has become synonymous with organizing digital content and simplifying file management tasks. Standard Semantic Gestures In addition to the drag and drop gesture, several other semantic gestures have emerged as standard conventions within
1206-494: Is a genetically modified mouse that has had one or more of its genes made inoperable through a gene knockout . Experimental mouse model systems include mouse models of colorectal and intestinal cancer , mouse models of Down syndrome and mouse models of breast cancer metastasis . Reasons for common selection of mice are that they are small and inexpensive, have a widely varied diet, are easily maintained, and can reproduce quickly. Several generations of mice can be observed in
1273-434: Is attributable to breeding and different conditions in the wild. The best-known strain of mouse is the white lab mouse . It has more uniform traits that are appropriate to its use in research. Cats , wild dogs , foxes , birds of prey , snakes and certain kinds of arthropods have been known to prey upon mice. Despite this, mice populations remain plentiful. Due to its remarkable adaptability to almost any environment ,
1340-402: Is smaller, or rat if it is larger. The common terms rat and mouse are not taxonomically specific. Typical mice are classified in the genus Mus , but the term mouse is not confined to members of Mus and can also apply to species from other genera such as the deer mouse ( Peromyscus ) . Domestic mice sold as pets often differ substantially in size from the common house mouse. This
1407-401: Is the drag and drop gesture, which has become pervasive across various applications and platforms. The Drag and Drop Gesture The drag and drop gesture is a fundamental gestural convention that enables users to manipulate objects on the screen seamlessly. It involves a series of actions performed by the user: This gesture allows users to transfer or rearrange objects effortlessly. For instance,
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#17328454202681474-454: Is typically designed to be plug compatible with an analog joystick. The "Color Mouse", originally marketed by RadioShack for their Color Computer (but also usable on MS-DOS machines equipped with analog joystick ports, provided the software accepted joystick input) was the best-known example. Early optical mice relied entirely on one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and an imaging array of photodiodes to detect movement relative to
1541-462: Is typically translated into the motion of the pointer (called a cursor) on a display , which allows a smooth control of the graphical user interface of a computer . The first public demonstration of a mouse controlling a computer system was done by Doug Engelbart in 1968 as part of the Mother of All Demos . Mice originally used two separate wheels to directly track movement across a surface: one in
1608-803: The Leibniz Supercomputing Centre in Munich in 1972 are well preserved in a museum, two others survived in a museum at Stuttgart University, two in Hamburg, the one from Aachen at the Computer History Museum in the US, and yet another sample was recently donated to the Heinz Nixdorf MuseumsForum (HNF) in Paderborn. Anecdotal reports claim that Telefunken's attempt to patent the device
1675-471: The Mozilla web browser will follow a link in response to a primary button click, will bring up a contextual menu of alternative actions for that link in response to a secondary-button click, and will often open the link in a new tab or window in response to a click with the tertiary (middle) mouse button. The German company Telefunken published on their early ball mouse on 2 October 1968. Telefunken's mouse
1742-698: The "dove bar" Microsoft Mouse (so called for the curved palm rest's resemblance to a Dove soap bar) was introduced, in variants for both Microsoft's InPort , serial port and PS/2 port . In 1991, the trackball "Microsoft BallPoint Mouse" was made. The "kidney" Microsoft Mouse 2.0 was introduced in 1993, and its design served as the basis for the IntelliMouse , which debuted in 1996. More Microsoft mice have been released in later years, including Microsoft Natural Wireless Laser Mouse, Microsoft SideWinder , Arc Mouse , Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Mouse and others. In January 2024, Microsoft announced that it would license
1809-458: The 1990s. In 1985, René Sommer added a microprocessor to Nicoud's and Guignard's design. Through this innovation, Sommer is credited with inventing a significant component of the mouse, which made it more "intelligent"; though optical mice from Mouse Systems had incorporated microprocessors by 1984. Another type of mechanical mouse, the "analog mouse" (now generally regarded as obsolete), uses potentiometers rather than encoder wheels, and
1876-593: The Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology have confirmed that mice have a range of facial expressions. They used machine vision to spot familiar human emotions like pleasure, disgust, nausea, pain, and fear. In nature, mice are largely herbivores , consuming any kind of fruit or grain from plants. However, mice adapt well to urban areas and are known for eating almost all types of food scraps. In captivity, mice are commonly fed commercial pelleted mouse diet. These diets are nutritionally complete, but they still need
1943-424: The Microsoft Mouse could be used with IBM-compatible and other DOS systems. In 1985 Microsoft introduced the "gray-eyed" Microsoft Mouse, featuring a higher resolution than competing mice, and a rebadged copy of ZSoft PC Paintbrush called “PC Paintbrush,” which replaced Doodle in version 4 of the drivers. This would later be re-tooled and included with Windows 1, and formed the basis for Microsoft Paint . In 1987
2010-500: The animal to consume; however, mice with fur may be more convincing as animal feed. Humans have eaten mice since prehistoric times . In Victorian Britain, fried mice were still given to children as a folk remedy for bed-wetting ; while Jared Diamond reports creamed mice being used in England as a dietary supplement during Second World War rationing. Mice are a delicacy throughout eastern Zambia and northern Malawi , where they are
2077-642: The ball. By counting the pulses, the physical movement of the ball could be determined. A digital computer calculated the tracks and sent the resulting data to other ships in a task force using pulse-code modulation radio signals. This trackball used a standard Canadian five-pin bowling ball. It was not patented, since it was a secret military project. Douglas Engelbart of the Stanford Research Institute (now SRI International ) has been credited in published books by Thierry Bardini , Paul Ceruzzi , Howard Rheingold , and several others as
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2144-854: The command to delete the selected shape. This gesture-based interaction enables users to perform actions quickly and efficiently without relying solely on traditional input methods. Challenges and Benefits of Gestural Interfaces While gestural interfaces offer a more immersive and interactive user experience, they also present challenges. One of the primary difficulties lies in the requirement of finer motor control from users. Gestures demand precise movements, which can be more challenging for individuals with limited dexterity or those who are new to this mode of interaction. However, despite these challenges, gestural interfaces have gained popularity due to their ability to simplify complex tasks and improve efficiency. Several gestural conventions have become widely adopted, making them more accessible to users. One such convention
2211-517: The company in 1966 in what had been a parallel and independent discovery . As the name suggests and unlike Engelbart's mouse, the Telefunken model already had a ball (diameter 40 mm, weight 40 g ) and two mechanical 4-bit rotational position transducers with Gray code -like states, allowing easy movement in any direction. The bits remained stable for at least two successive states to relax debouncing requirements. This arrangement
2278-420: The computer system via the mouse cable, directly as logic signals in very old mice such as the Xerox mice, and via a data-formatting IC in modern mice. The driver software in the system converts the signals into motion of the mouse cursor along X and Y axes on the computer screen. The ball is mostly steel, with a precision spherical rubber surface. The weight of the ball, given an appropriate working surface under
2345-467: The design and manufacturing of its current mice products to Incase, as part of an effort to focus more on its Surface -branded accessories. These products will be branded under the Incase name, but as being designed by Microsoft. Computer mouse A computer mouse (plural mice , also mouses ) is a hand-held pointing device that detects two-dimensional motion relative to a surface. This motion
2412-513: The device was based on an earlier trackball-like device (also named Rollkugel ) that was embedded into radar flight control desks. This trackball had been originally developed by a team led by Rainer Mallebrein [ de ] at Telefunken Konstanz for the German Bundesanstalt für Flugsicherung [ de ] (Federal Air Traffic Control). It was part of the corresponding workstation system SAP 300 and
2479-435: The drag and drop convention, form the building blocks of gestural interfaces, allowing users to interact with digital content using intuitive and natural movements. At the end of 20th century, digitizer mice (puck) with magnifying glass was used with AutoCAD for the digitizations of blueprints . Other uses of the mouse's input occur commonly in special application domains. In interactive three-dimensional graphics ,
2546-630: The earlier trackball device. The device was finished in early 1968, and together with light pens and trackballs , it was commercially offered as an optional input device for their system starting later that year. Not all customers opted to buy the device, which added costs of DM 1,500 per piece to the already up to 20-million DM deal for the main frame, of which only a total of 46 systems were sold or leased. They were installed at more than 20 German universities including RWTH Aachen , Technische Universität Berlin , University of Stuttgart and Konstanz . Several Rollkugel mice installed at
2613-420: The few axes of movement mice can detect. When mice have more than one button, the software may assign different functions to each button. Often, the primary (leftmost in a right-handed configuration) button on the mouse will select items, and the secondary (rightmost in a right-handed) button will bring up a menu of alternative actions applicable to that item. For example, on platforms with more than one button,
2680-523: The file in a window. Different ways of operating the mouse cause specific things to happen in the GUI: The Concept of Gestural Interfaces Gestural interfaces have become an integral part of modern computing, allowing users to interact with their devices in a more intuitive and natural way. In addition to traditional pointing-and-clicking actions, users can now employ gestural inputs to issue commands or perform specific actions. These stylized motions of
2747-611: The first PC-compatible mouse. The Microsoft Mouse shipped in 1983, thus beginning the Microsoft Hardware division of the company. However, the mouse remained relatively obscure until the appearance of the Macintosh 128K (which included an updated version of the single-button Lisa Mouse ) in 1984, and of the Amiga 1000 and the Atari ST in 1985. A mouse typically controls the motion of
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2814-427: The forward-backward motion of the mouse and the other the left-right motion. Opposite the two rollers is a third one (white, in the photo, at 45 degrees) that is spring-loaded to push the ball against the other two rollers. Each roller is on the same shaft as an encoder wheel that has slotted edges; the slots interrupt infrared light beams to generate electrical pulses that represent wheel movement. Each wheel's disc has
2881-667: The gestural interface paradigm. These gestures serve specific purposes and contribute to a more intuitive user experience. Some of the notable semantic gestures include: Crossing-based goal: This gesture involves crossing a specific boundary or threshold on the screen to trigger an action or complete a task. For example, swiping across the screen to unlock a device or confirm a selection. Menu traversal: Menu traversal gestures facilitate navigation through hierarchical menus or options. Users can perform gestures such as swiping or scrolling to explore different menu levels or activate specific commands. Pointing: Pointing gestures involve positioning
2948-648: The inventor of the computer mouse. Engelbart was also recognized as such in various obituary titles after his death in July 2013. By 1963, Engelbart had already established a research lab at SRI, the Augmentation Research Center (ARC), to pursue his objective of developing both hardware and software computer technology to "augment" human intelligence. That November, while attending a conference on computer graphics in Reno, Nevada , Engelbart began to ponder how to adapt
3015-462: The keyboard". In 1964, Bill English joined ARC, where he helped Engelbart build the first mouse prototype. They christened the device the mouse as early models had a cord attached to the rear part of the device which looked like a tail, and in turn, resembled the common mouse . According to Roger Bates, a hardware designer in English, another reason for choosing this name was because the cursor on
3082-405: The mouse became widely used in personal computers. In any event, the invention of the mouse was just a small part of Engelbart's much larger project of augmenting human intellect. Several other experimental pointing-devices developed for Engelbart's oN-Line System ( NLS ) exploited different body movements – for example, head-mounted devices attached to the chin or nose – but ultimately
3149-456: The mouse cursor over an object or element to interact with it. This fundamental gesture enables users to select, click, or access contextual menus. Mouseover (pointing or hovering): Mouseover gestures occur when the cursor is positioned over an object without clicking. This action often triggers a visual change or displays additional information about the object, providing users with real-time feedback. These standard semantic gestures, along with
3216-454: The mouse cursor, known as "gestures", have the potential to enhance user experience and streamline workflow. Mouse Gestures in Action To illustrate the concept of gestural interfaces, let's consider a drawing program as an example. In this scenario, a user can employ a gesture to delete a shape on the canvas. By rapidly moving the mouse cursor in an "x" motion over the shape, the user can trigger
3283-579: The mouse is one of the most successful mammalian genera living on Earth today. In certain contexts, mice can be considered vermin . Vermin are a major source of crop damage, as they are known to cause structural damage and spread disease . Mice spread disease through their feces and are often carriers of parasites . In North America, breathing dust that has come in contact with mouse excrement has been linked to hantavirus , which may lead to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). Primarily nocturnal animals, mice compensate for their poor eyesight with
3350-495: The mouse won out because of its speed and convenience. The first mouse, a bulky device (pictured) used two potentiometers perpendicular to each other and connected to wheels: the rotation of each wheel translated into motion along one axis . At the time of the "Mother of All Demos", Engelbart's group had been using their second-generation, 3-button mouse for about a year. On 2 October 1968, three years after Engelbart's prototype but more than two months before his public demo ,
3417-617: The mouse's motion often translates directly into changes in the virtual objects' or camera's orientation. For example, in the first-person shooter genre of games (see below), players usually employ the mouse to control the direction in which the virtual player's "head" faces: moving the mouse up will cause the player to look up, revealing the view above the player's head. A related function makes an image of an object rotate so that all sides can be examined. 3D design and animation software often modally chord many different combinations to allow objects and cameras to be rotated and moved through space with
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#17328454202683484-557: The mouse, provides a reliable grip so the mouse's movement is transmitted accurately. Ball mice and wheel mice were manufactured for Xerox by Jack Hawley, doing business as The Mouse House in Berkeley, California, starting in 1975. Based on another invention by Jack Hawley, proprietor of the Mouse House, Honeywell produced another type of mechanical mouse. Instead of a ball, it had two wheels rotating at off axes. Key Tronic later produced
3551-420: The pointer. Clicking or pointing (stopping movement while the cursor is within the bounds of an area) can select files, programs or actions from a list of names, or (in graphical interfaces) through small images called "icons" and other elements. For example, a text file might be represented by a picture of a paper notebook and clicking while the cursor points at this icon might cause a text editing program to open
3618-408: The screen was also referred to as "CAT" at this time. As noted above, this "mouse" was first mentioned in print in a July 1965 report, on which English was the lead author. On 9 December 1968, Engelbart publicly demonstrated the mouse at what would come to be known as The Mother of All Demos . Engelbart never received any royalties for it, as his employer SRI held the patent, which expired before
3685-419: The shape and size of a mouse , with the cord resembling its tail . The popularity of wireless mice without cords makes the resemblance less obvious. According to Roger Bates, a hardware designer under English, the term also came about because the cursor on the screen was, for an unknown reason, referred to as "CAT" and was seen by the team as if it would be chasing the new desktop device. The plural for
3752-416: The small rodent is always "mice" in modern usage. The plural for a computer mouse is either "mice" or "mouses" according to most dictionaries, with "mice" being more common. The first recorded plural usage is "mice"; the online Oxford Dictionaries cites a 1984 use, and earlier uses include J. C. R. Licklider 's "The Computer as a Communication Device" of 1968. The trackball , a related pointing device,
3819-548: The terminal SIG 3001, which had been designed and developed since 1963. Development for the TR ;440 main frame began in 1965. This led to the development of the TR 86 process computer system with its SIG 100-86 terminal. Inspired by a discussion with a university customer, Mallebrein came up with the idea of "reversing" the existing Rollkugel trackball into a moveable mouse-like device in 1966, so that customers did not have to be bothered with mounting holes for
3886-470: The underlying principles of the planimeter to inputting X- and Y-coordinate data. On 14 November 1963, he first recorded his thoughts in his personal notebook about something he initially called a " bug ", which is a "3-point" form could have a "drop point and 2 orthogonal wheels". He wrote that the "bug" would be "easier" and "more natural" to use, and unlike a stylus, it would stay still when let go, which meant it would be "much better for coordination with
3953-607: The underlying surface, eschewing the internal moving parts a mechanical mouse uses in addition to its optics. A laser mouse is an optical mouse that uses coherent (laser) light. The earliest optical mice detected movement on pre-printed mousepad surfaces, whereas the modern LED optical mouse works on most opaque diffuse surfaces; it is usually unable to detect movement on specular surfaces like polished stone. Laser diodes provide good resolution and precision, improving performance on opaque specular surfaces. Later, more surface-independent optical mice use an optoelectronic sensor (essentially,
4020-486: The way to light sensors, thus detecting in their turn the motion of the ball. This variant of the mouse resembled an inverted trackball and became the predominant form used with personal computers throughout the 1980s and 1990s. The Xerox PARC group also settled on the modern technique of using both hands to type on a full-size keyboard and grabbing the mouse when required. The ball mouse has two freely rotating rollers. These are located 90 degrees apart. One roller detects
4087-425: The x-dimension and one in the Y. Later, the standard design shifted to use a ball rolling on a surface to detect motion, in turn connected to internal rollers. Most modern mice use optical movement detection with no moving parts. Though originally all mice were connected to a computer by a cable, many modern mice are cordless, relying on short-range radio communication with the connected system. In addition to moving
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#17328454202684154-430: Was chosen so that the data could also be transmitted to the TR 86 front-end process computer and over longer distance telex lines with c. 50 baud . Weighing 465 grams (16.4 oz), the device with a total height of about 7 cm (2.8 in) came in a c. 12 cm (4.7 in) diameter hemispherical injection-molded thermoplastic casing featuring one central push button. As noted above,
4221-580: Was invented in 1946 by Ralph Benjamin as part of a post- World War II -era fire-control radar plotting system called the Comprehensive Display System (CDS). Benjamin was then working for the British Royal Navy Scientific Service. Benjamin's project used analog computers to calculate the future position of target aircraft based on several initial input points provided by a user with a joystick . Benjamin felt that
4288-475: Was one of the first computers designed for individual use in 1973 and is regarded as the first modern computer to use a mouse. Alan Kay designed the 16-by-16 mouse cursor icon with its left edge vertical and right edge 45-degrees so it displays well on the bitmap. Inspired by PARC 's Alto, the Lilith , a computer which had been developed by a team around Niklaus Wirth at ETH Zürich between 1978 and 1980, provided
4355-559: Was part of the original Ferranti Canada , working on the Royal Canadian Navy 's DATAR (Digital Automated Tracking and Resolving) system in 1952. DATAR was similar in concept to Benjamin's display. The trackball used four disks to pick up motion, two each for the X and Y directions. Several rollers provided mechanical support. When the ball was rolled, the pickup discs spun and contacts on their outer rim made periodic contact with wires, producing pulses of output with each movement of
4422-540: Was rejected by the German Patent Office due to lack of inventiveness. For the air traffic control system, the Mallebrein team had already developed a precursor to touch screens in form of an ultrasonic-curtain-based pointing device in front of the display. In 1970, they developed a device named " Touchinput - Einrichtung " ("touch input device") based on a conductively coated glass screen. The Xerox Alto
4489-487: Was sold as optional equipment for their computer systems. Bill English , builder of Engelbart's original mouse, created a ball mouse in 1972 while working for Xerox PARC . The ball mouse replaced the external wheels with a single ball that could rotate in any direction. It came as part of the hardware package of the Xerox Alto computer. Perpendicular chopper wheels housed inside the mouse's body chopped beams of light on
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