We explain what the mouse is and the main functions of this peripheral device. Also, as it is an optical and mechanical mouse.
What is the mouse?
In computing, it is called mouse (from English: “mouse”), mouse, pointer or pointer to a peripheral input device, for manual use, designed to facilitate user interaction with graphical environment interfaces of numerous computer systems. Nowadays it is a popular and traditional computing accessory.
The mouse works by capturing, through various mechanisms, the movement that the user makes when moving it with their hand, and translates it on the screen through the position of a cursor or pointer, usually in the shape of an arrow or a hand.
To do this, it must transmit the signals of the detected movement to the computer, which can be done through a cable (PS/2 or USB) or remotely, using various wireless devices (wireless).
The first versions of the mouse were made of wood and were designed in the 1960s by Douglas Engelbart and Bill English at the Stanford Research Institute. Although they would look rudimentary today, their operation and design were basically the same, and although they were called “X and Y axis indicators for visual systems”, were nicknamed “mouse” due to their resemblance to this little animal. Eventually the nickname would stick and the first contemporary mouse model was introduced in 1968.
In many systems this device has been replaced by the touch screen, which allows the user's own hand, or a special indicator bar, to enter movement information directly into the system, without the need for additional hardware.
See also: Input devices
Mouse functions
The mouse has the task of reflecting the movements of our hand in the virtual graphic environment of the system, that is, of serving as extension or representation of our will within the computer system.
Thus, we can dictate to the system which applications we want to run, by pressing the button (or one of them: The Macintosh mouse has a single button, while the IBM mouse has two ) on the icon that represents it, or even where we would like to move it in the folder system, represented by windows that display its content.
Likewise, the mouse can serve as an interface with application software such as video games, spreadsheets, and more.
Optical mouse
They are known as optical mice, which have a tracking system for the position of the device using a light-emitting entity (such as Laser or LED), instead of the usual rotating ball inside the mechanics. This allows for smoother, more precise movement and is less prone to dirt accumulation. However, it requires greater energy consumption.
mechanical mouse
This is the name given to the classic mouse, whose operation requires a rubber or plastic ball inserted inside to move two wheels or fixed axles, whose movement is transmitted through electronic circuits to the computer.
This mechanism is the traditional and the most economical, but it is much less precise than optical mice and has the tendency to accumulate dirt when moving over the surface, which leads to blockages and other deficiencies in its operation.
