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Computer Mouse

    Computer Mouse Editor's Picks

    • What Is a Computer Mouse?

      One of the most essential pieces of computer hardware is a mouse. The mouse is usually attached to a computer through a USB drive, though some are wireless. They still use a USB adapter, though. To navigate your computer screen, you must have a mouse on a desktop. more »

    • About Mouse Pointers

      Your mouse pointer, also called the mouse cursor, is usually shaped like an arrow or hand. As you move your mouse, the pointer references where your mouse is located. With a little knowledge, Windows users can change the size of the mouse pointer, how it functions and even what it looks like. more »

    • How Does a Computer Mouse Work?

      While laser, optical and other cordless mice gain popularity, the optical mechanical computer mouse remains the most common and affordable mouse option for computer users. The conversion of mechanical energy into digital signals is done simply and elegantly with just a few moving parts and minimal circuitry. more »

    • How to Make a Computer Mouse Cover

      Dust and electronic items rarely make good friends, and your computer mouse is no exception. Particles of dust, dirt, hair and other sediment in the air can impede your computer mouse's functioning if they get in through the cracks. Though most mice are made to resist this problem, it's a good idea to take precautions if yours is kept... more »

    • What Is a Mouse Pen?

      The keyboard and mouse have traditionally been the gateways to human communication with a computer. People alternate between text typing on the keyboard and clicking key areas with the mouse to create documents and navigate menus. This mode of communication however is not the friendliest means for most people. Mouse pens can change... more »

    Computer Mouse Quick Guides

    • Computer Accessories

      Your computer is made up of more than just a modem. Accessories like a keyboard, mouse and...

    • Your Desktop Computer and You

      While laptops are all the rage, desktop computers still have their place. While you can take a...

    • Acer Computers 101

      Acer offers a computer to meet almost everyone's needs, from full-blown desktops to tiny...

    • Apple iBook for Beginners

      The iBook is a laptop computer created by Apple, Inc. with the Mac Operating System...

    Computer Mouse Articles

    • How to Clean a Computer Mouse

      Sometimes the cursor on your screen will feel out of sync. You don't have to call a technician to fix the problem, or send your computer back to... more »

    • How Does a Wacom Pen Work?

      The Wacom Company, LTD manufactures a variety of digital pens to be used in conjunction with digital tablets that replace and refine the functions... more »

    • How to Buy an Optic Computer Mouse

      As new technology develops, new types of the computer mouse emerge. One of those types is the optical computer mouse. An optical computer mouse... more »

    • How Is a Computer Mouse Made?

      A mouse is comprised of a variety of parts that lend themselves to overall functionality. First, there are the externals. A hard plastic body... more »

    • How to Troubleshoot a Computer Mouse

      There are several reasons a computer mouse may stop working. Troubleshooting the broken mouse helps you figure out what's wrong with it and more... more »

    • What Is a Mouse Pad?

      A mouse pad is a type of surface that is used to enhance the usability or movements of a computer mouse. Mouse pads can come in a variety of... more »

    • How to Buy an Optical Computer Mouse

      Choosing just the right optical computer mouse can seem like an irritation once faced with all of the choices that are offered at most stores.... more »

    • How to Click a Mouse

      Learning how to properly click a mouse is not a taks that requires any heavy lifting, physically or mentally. Once you click your mouse, you can... more »

    • How to Clean a Ball Computer Mouse

      Taking proper care of computer components can help extend the life of your computer. One component that many people overlook is the mouse. If your... more »

    • How to Buy a Mouse

      Whether you're buying a mouse for a home-built PC or replacing one that is wearing out or dead, you need to get a mouse that is compatible with... more »

    • How to Put a Computer Mouse Back Together

      If you've ever taken apart a computer mouse, it may seem more than a little intimidating to put it all back together again and get it working... more »

    Wikipedia

    Mouse (computing)



    In computing, a mouse (plural mouses, mice, or mouse devices.) is a pointing device that functions by detecting two-dimensional motion relative to its supporting surface. Physically, a mouse consists of an object held under one of the users hands, with one or more buttons. It sometimes features other elements, such as "wheels", which allow the user to perform various system-dependent operations, or extra buttons or features can add more control or dimensional input. The mouses motion typically translates into the motion of a pointer on a display, which allows for fine control of a Graphical User Interface.

    The name mouse, originated at the Stanford Research Institute, derives from the resemblance of early models (which had a cord attached to the rear part of the device, suggesting the idea of a tail) to the common mouse.

    The first marketed integrated mouse shipped as a part of a computer and intended for personal computer navigation came with the Xerox 8010 Star Information System in 1981. However, the mouse remained relatively obscure until the appearance of the Apple Macintosh; in 1984 PC columnist John C. Dvorak ironically commented on the release of this new computer with a mouse: “There is no evidence that people want to use these things.”John C. Dvorak, San Francisco Examiner, 19 February 1984

    A mouse now comes with most computers and many other varieties can be bought separately.

    Etymology and plural

    The first known publication of the term "mouse" as a pointing device is in Bill Englishs 1965 publication "Computer-Aided Display Control".Oxford English Dictionary, "mouse", sense 13

    The Compact Oxford English Dictionary (third edition) and the fourth edition of The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language endorse both computer mice and computer mouses as correct plural forms for computer mouse. Some authors of technical documents may prefer either mouse devices or the more generic pointing devices read more at » http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mouse+(computing)

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