Introduction
After the keyboard, the mouse is the device used for the execution of the most varied of tasks in a computer. In essence, the mouse nothing more than a device that controls a cursor (or pointer) on the screen of the machine, serving as a kind of extension of the hands of a person and, more precisely, as a means of communication between the man and the computer. It is of course possible use a computer without a mouse, but this device is so practical and so common, that the overwhelming majority of applications graphics are developed considering their use. So being, that such and understand a little bit of the functioning of mice, know a little of its history and get to know the types (ball, optical) and the most common features of these devices? That’s why the AbbreviationFinder displays the following.
Brief history of the mouse
The emergence of the mouse came in 1968, thanks to the work of the researcher American DouglasC. Engelbart and his team. At that time, the device not remembered, not even a little models that we find today and even had that name. In fact, if it was called XY Position Indicator Is the Display System, consisted of a sort of wooden box with a cable and a single button, and it was done handmade. Though it may seem so primitive, this device had practically the same function of the mice of today, but it proved to be little practical, since, at that time, the computers were unable to process features advanced graphics and worked, essentially, with text, not having, therefore, application the practice of the invention.
Engelbart had the expectation that soon produced a series of applications that they make use of their creation, but the inventor had to wait about 15 years to see the mice come to be the market,when Apple launched in 1984, the Macintosh computer. This combined the mouse with a graphical user interface innovative, making the the invention of Engelbart finally started to become popular.Despite this, one of the first computers to use the mouse way expressive was the Xerox Star 8010 in 1981, followed by some other equipment, as the Commodore Amiga and the Apple Lisa.
The name “mouse” (mouse in English) came to be adopted already by the team of Engelbart, although it is not known exactly by whom. When you look at the XY Position Indicator For a Display System, someone linked it to a mouse because the cord coming out of the unit remember (well vaguely) the tail of this rodent.
Operation of the mice
Explain the functioning of mice is not as simple for a single reason: there is only one type of mouse.There are several categories available on the market, but this article will focus only on two: the mice with the sphere (popularly known as “mouse ball”) and optical mice (and its variation, the mice the laser). But, before you follow through with these explanations, it is convenient to have a clear definition of a mouse, although you certainly know what is and what is this device: the mouse is a device that communicates with the computer to move a cursor on your screen. This cursor serves to manipulate and move certain features displayed. To do this, the cursor should move on the screen according to the movement of the mouse is made by the user. The latter can also trigger features or modify resources through the buttons on the mouse. When the user presses any of these buttons to run a determining action, it is said that he made a click.
Thus, a mouse should, basically, allow the move a cursor and the execution of certain actions through clicks. What makes the various types of mouse different from each other are precisely the techniques used to allow the cursor movement and clicks. Being so, let us now get to know the types of mouse mentioned in the beginning of the previous paragraph:
Mice with a ball
For a long time, this was the type of mouse most common and is what more looks with the first model (the XY Position Indicator For the Display System). The main characteristic of this type of mouse it is the existence of a sphere (or “ball”) is usually covered by a layer of rubber that, when rotated, causes the cursor if you move around on the screen. This sphere is located inside the mouse, in the bottom of the device. However, a small part of that sphere it comes in contact with the surface where the mouse is. When the user moves the mouse, this contact causes the sphere to rotate and orient the cursor on the computer screen.
This orientation occurs by means of two small shafts (bearings or, still, tires) that are in constant contact to sphere. An axis has the function of moving the cursor in vertical, while the other is in horizontal, in a scheme reminiscent of the system X and Y coordinates (hence the fact that the first mouse to contain in your name the letters X and Y). If the user move the mouse in one direction diagonal, both axes will be working at the same time.
At one end of each of these bearings, there is a kind disk with perforations close to the edge. These disks are positioned between an infrared LED and a sensor of infrared light. When the user moves the mouse, the ball turns, causing the spindles and the respective disks rotate. When this occurs, at a time when the infrared light passes through the drilling and, in the next instant, the light is blocked by the part not the perforated disk. This is repeated until the user stop moving the mouse. It is through this passing scheme and not passage of light through the disks that the mouse directs the cursor on the screen of the computer of the user. A circuit existing in the mouse “account” as many times as the infrared light passes through the perforations and transmits this information to the machine. As the faster the user moves the mouse, the faster it will be the passage and not the passage, causing the arrow on the computer screen moves in a corresponding speed. For determine the direction of each roller, that is, if this revolves in the clockwise or anti-clockwise, there is more technique: some mice use two pairs of infrared LEDs and sensors of infrared light, and compare the differences passages of light between them to determine the direction. Others, especially mice latest, can make this distinction through the a combination of infrared LED and infrared light sensor more accurate, making just a pair is enough for each disk.
The majority of mice with the ball count with a third bearing. But, in general, this is typically used only to give greater stability to the movement of the ball.
The mice with the “ball” can fulfill well its function, but are subject to problems that make them less efficient. A of them is the dirt. Any mouse, with time, accumulate dust and other materials in its interior, but this occurs with much more frequency in the mice with the ball, already that this last item may take dirt to the tires. When this material builds up, the friction of the ball with the bearing decreases, impairing the movement of the arrow on the computer screen. Moreover, the parts of the mice with the sphere can be damaged more easily, according to the time and with the way in which the device is used. In addition also, it is not always mice of this type are able to work with accuracy that the user needs. These reasons certainly helped in the launch a category demouses more evolved: the optical mouse, seen the following.
Optical mice
Optical mice are so named because their main feature is the use of an optical engine in place of a sphere for to guide the movement of the cursor on the computer screen. The advantage of this scheme is that, because there are no parts furniture inside the device, its useful life is the greater the volume of dirt accumulated internally is much smaller (sometimes non-existent) and the precision of movements increases because of the greater sensitivity of the optical engine, making that optical mice are ideal for everyday tasks and even for gaming and professional activities.
The optical system of the mice of this type is comprised, basically, by a LED emitting red light and a sensor (typically CMOS sensor, acronym for Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor, or CCD, the acronym of Charge Coupled Device). When the mouse is in contact with a surface, the light is emitted and reflected, that is, “back” to the mouse. When this occurs, the sensor acts as if it were taking a photo of that point and sends the image to a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), that the analyses. This process is repeated constantly and at a very high speed. The DSP is then a kind of comparison and analysis of patterns of images, and can, therefore, understand where the mouse is being busy. The next step is to send this information to the computer, and finally, the cursor on the screen to be oriented.
There is a variation of optical mouse that uses an emitter of laser beam (harmless to the health and invisible to human eyes) instead of LED. These mice are known such as mice to the laser, although it does not cease to be optical, obviously. The use of laser is more advantageous because it provides better precision in the movements, it offers greater speed of response, allows the use of the mouse on certain surfaces in that mice with LED do not work as well (power windows, for example), etc.
Until the publication of this article in the AbbreviationFinder, the optical mice based on laser were less common in the market that the LED-based and, because they have greater quality, were also the more expensive.
Buttons of the mice
Moving the mouse is not enough to use it the satisfaction, after all, this action just moves the cursor on the computer screen, nothing more. It is also necessary to the use of buttons for the user to enter the machine what actions you want to perform: press the buttons, drag items, plot, select files, etc. For this, the mice the most common count, currently, with three buttons. The older models they had only two, the left and right buttons. Only some models had three. The mice latest include the left and right buttons, plus a third that is between them (known as the scroll ). However, the latter is,in fact, a button in the shape of a wheel. Thus, the user you can rotate it, a feature particularly useful for accessing the parts of the top or bottom of web pages, files texts and spreadsheets, for example.
The following images show the built-in buttons of the two mice. Note that, although a use the sphere, and the other is optical, the mechanisms of the buttons are similar. When the user presses any button do mouse (or makes a “click”), are those little buttons (which in the photos appear in the color red) existing on a small board inside the mouse that are triggered. Note that the button scroll, in addition to having the function scrolling can also be clicked, as if it were a simple button press. In mice, more simple, a kind of extension the wheel serves to drive the existing button in the plate of the mouse. In the more sophisticated, this pressure can be done by mechanical means (metal parts, for example, as shown in the second image):
Still referring to the button of the scroll, it is important to mention that there are various forms of mouse “to know” if the user is spinning the wheel up or down. The model below, for example, has a schema, which detects the spins of mechanical form:
Already the mouse following to use a sensor that detects the revolutions of the button in a manner similar to the disks of the mice with the ball, this it is, by “reading” the openings on the wheel. This mechanism generally provides greater precision in the detection of the spins:
It is clear that the mice do not necessarily need to have three buttons. This configuration is more common in PCs, however, it is possible to find a variety huge models. As an example, Apple uses a type of mouse other than on their computers called Mighty Mouse. In the example shown the following there are no buttons. The clicks are made by pressing the mouse down, since that part bottom this device is only docked on the part of up, and this is done in a way that it is possible to push the upper part down and make it return automatically, as if it was, precisely, a button. On the latest models of the Mighty Mouse it is possible to use resources of the computer by pressing certain points of the mouse, even when there is no buttons on the local. There is still another interesting feature: the Mighty Mouse has a small ball in place of a button of the scroll. This sphere has a similar function, but can do scrolling in a more detailed fashion, not just from the top down(and vice versa), as also from left to right (and vice versa):
The manufacturers of the mice to be more recognized, such as Logitech, Razer and Microsoft,usually offer specific models for certain applications, especially for those who need greater precision in games. These mice usually come with functions that allow you to trigger certain features of the games or application and have components are more accurate and reliable, in addition to characteristics ergonomic. This is the case, for example, of the line MX Revolution, the Logitech. The model shown below it has advanced design, buttons, scroll horizontal and vertical, additional buttons to the navigation among other features:
Connection of the mice to the computer
At the time that the computers use the standard AT the connection of mice to the machine was made by of connectors in serial, as shown in the image below:
With the passing of time, the market met the standard ATX, which, among other multiple characteristics included connections specific for the keyboard and for the mouse called PS/2 ports. As the connectors these ports are equal, by convention, to indicate the connector the keyboard with the purple color and the connector of the mouse with the color green:
The PS/2 mice replaced serial mice, but not they did this alone: some time after its birth, mice that use the USB interface also if you become popular. And not in the least: USB mice can be used in any connector of this type available on the computer, almost always work as soon as connected (no need to restart the computer) and allow its use in computers that do not have with PS/2 ports (such as certain models of notebook computers). However, those who bought a USB mouse, but I would like to connect it to the PS/2 port, you can use adapters, USB / PS2, as shown in the image below:
But there is another type of mouse that is becoming common: wireless mice, also called mice wireless. For working in this way, a good portion of wireless models uses technology radio frequency to transmit the data from the mouse to the computer. In this case, a receiver is connected to the machine, usually in a USB port (but there are models in that to which the receiver is connected to the PS/2 port). To work, usually the mouse uses batteries or rechargeable batteries, and technology of motion capture is optical (LED or laser).
Radio frequency is a good option for wireless mice because its components, in general, are cheap and the energy consumption is low. However, it is not difficult to find on the market mice that use the interface Bluetooth.
Wireless mice are interesting because they help decrease the mess generated by the various cables of a computer, as well as allow the user to increase your movement on the table or in the location in which the machine is positioned. To enjoy even more of this advantage, it is interesting to have also a wireless keyboard. For this reason, manufacturers often offer kits that include the mouse and keyboard without wire. It is recommended to opt for these kits, because in these cases, it is often using a single signal receiver for both devices. To buy keyboard and mouse manufacturers or even different lines almost always it is necessary to connect the computer to a receiver for each of these equipment.
Resolution
There are several factors that help define the quality of a mouse, for example, size and type of the optical sensor, speed with that you can move the mouse (as is usually done in inches per second) and resolution. In a few words, the resolution indicates the smallest movement that the mouse can detect. The higher the the resolution of the mouse, the smaller will be its movement to make the cursor reach a particular point on the screen of the computer.
To identify the resolution of the mice, usually if you use a measurement called DPI (Dots Per Inch – dots per inch). In the time that this article was available in AbbreviationFinder, the mice the most simple of manufacturers reputable offered resolutions that went from 400 DPI to 800 DPI. However, this value can be very most mice developed for gamers or for certain activities professionals. During the development of this article, have been found mice that work with 1600 DPI, 2400 DPI and 3200 DPI (there may be mice with even higher resolution). As very high values also can disrupt certain activities, there are even mice with drivers that allow the user to decrease its rate of resolution.
Some manufacturers indicate the resolution of your mice through CPI (Counts Per Inch – counts-per-inch), considering this is the ideal measure for this type of device. Of course, this fact that generates confusion among the users because it does not if you know, for example, if a mouse with 800 CPI corresponds to a mouse 800 DPI. For comparative purposes, the acceptance that if you have is that 1 the CPI is equivalent to 2 DPI. Thus, a mouse with 800 CPI can have your resolution construed as ifit was 1600 DPI.
Mousepad
There are those who consider the mousepad an inseparable companion of mice. This is a small area – usually done by material plastic, rubber, or fabric – that serves as a the basis for the mouse, so as to optimize its use. In mice with a ball, for example, the mousepad appropriate can do with that the ball spin more easily, without “skipping” or stuttering short. In the optical mouse, the mousepad can cause the sensor to capture the motions more accurately.
Because they are made of cheap material, mousepads tend to be distributed as giveaways, and, when sold, are sold at prices very low. However, it is worth spending a little more and buy mousepads with ergonomic features. The majority of small pads that serve as support to the wrists, causing the user to you should correctly position their hands on the mouse, decreasing significantly the risk of repetitive stress injuries, or by positioning inappropriate.
Other devices
The mice are the devices most used to guide the cursor on the computer screen, but they are not the only ones: there are devices that have the same function, but that are not mice. Let’s look at some of them:
– Trackball: this is a device similar to mice the “ball”. However, unlike the latter, the user does not move the device. To guide the cursor on the screen of the computer, the user must move around with your fingers a the sphere is located at the top of the trackball. As this device is requires less movement on the part of the user, is indicated for those who have or wish to prevent stress injuries repetitive. Users familiar with mice generally require an adaptation time to use the trackballs;
Touchpad: the touchpad is a device that is extremely common in notebooks and other portable devices. This is a small touch-sensitive surface. When passing the finger over this area, the user ends up causing the cursor to be busy in a way corresponding to the screen of the computer. The touchpads usually are accompanied by keys that make the times of the buttons the left and right of the mice. However, in most models, it is possible to simulate these buttons through strings ringtone fast on the device. It is also common find touchpads with an area that acts as the button the scroll of the mouse. In this case, simply move your finger up or down about this area to use the scroll features of the screen provided by the operating system;
– Pointing Stick:a pointing stick (or TrackPoint) is a kind of button small size and which is located between the keys of the laptops where it is found. This button combines slight flexibility and sensitivity to identify the movements that you apply with your finger to guide the cursor on the screen of the computer. This device is found in only a few models of notebooks;
– Tablets: also known as the tablet, the tablet is a device with a flat area that allows you to the user to make drawings on the computer. For this, the user uses an object similar to a pen called stylus to draw on the flat area of the tablet. Sensors capture the movement of the stylus, and send to your computer guidelines for this to reproduce the drawing on the screen. In most models, the user you can also use the stylus as a substitute mouse. For when this is necessary, some tablets are accompanied by mice that work specifically on your area flat;
– Mice biometric: this type of mouse is unusual in the market, but it has a function quite interesting:to identify users through a biometric, more precisely, through digital printing, though other schemes, biometric identification can be used. By combining this functionality with the software that came with the mouse, it is possible to allow access to the system or to certain computer resources only to authorized users, without the need password, by the user to position his finger (generally,the indicator) over an area of the mouse that reads impressions digital;
– Mini-mice: as the name indicates, the mini-mice are mice reduced size. In general, they are little comfortable and its constant use is not recommended. However, these devices are referred to as “break-fix” for those who use notebook and spends a lot of time using the touchpad. The small size serves precisely to facilitate the transport, making including with that is not difficult to find a space in the bag or in the bag in which the notebook is saved.
Ending
For the overwhelming majority of users, using a computer no mouse is a difficult task and, for some, impossible. Nothing is more natural, as the greater part of the applications developments currently they are best availed with the use of the mouse. By be an item as used, it is important to devote some time to choose a mouse suited to your needs. Give preference to models that manufacturers regarded the same that you you have to pay a little more for it. If possible, make a test with the mouse before you buy it: check if it fits well, in your hands, if the scroll button is comfortable, if the cursor movement is made in the expected manner, if the cable is sturdy and has proper size, if the buttons “click” satisfactorily, anyway. Look also the optional features, such as extra buttons or software that came with the product. In the case of wireless mice, check also features as the maximum supported distance, the existence of support to your operating system and battery life/battery.
