Mouse+(Computer)

Mouse (Computer) - Group **4**
 * Topic: Mice**

In computing, a **mouse** (plural **mice**, **mouse devices**, or **m****ouses**) is an input device used on computers and other computer related objects; it is primary used to direct the movement of a cursor across a display monitor. Input devices are sensors that monitor and read information. Input devices feed information into the computer, as opposed to output devices which make up the hardware interface between the computer and the user. Mice are useful because they allow users of a Graphical User Interface (GUI) to manipulate objects via mouse clicks. Mice are considered an ergonomic revolution, because they can accomplish tasks that previously required a keyboard (thereby liberating users, in small part, from using the keyboard).
 * Description:**

Physically, a mouse consists of a small case, held under one of the user's 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 mouse has come a long way since its creation at Stanford in the late 1960's. Engelbart revealed that it was first nicknamed the "mouse" because the tail came out the end. His group also called the on-screen cursor a "bug," but this term was not widely adopted. The patented mouse was awarded in 1970 because of its "high tech" two perpendicular gears attached to rotating wheels. The first widely marketed integrated mouse was shipped as a part of a computer and intended for personal computer navigation in 1981.

The mouse has most certainly evolved throughout its life. From ancient wooden boxes, to touch pad devices, the computer mouse and its design has rapidly changed. The mouse now seems to be nearly obsolete, with touchpads being the newer technological demand. Touchpads, like mice, are motion sensing devices used to point to positions on a screen with the aid of a user's fingers. A touchpad's surface detects the capacitance ("measure of the amount of electric charge stored for a given electric potential") of the user's finger to sense movements and translate them onto the screen.


 * Applications:**  

__Ball mouse__- a computer mouse that uses two rollers against the side of a ball. One roller detects horizontal movements and the other roller detects vertical movements. Wires then transmit signals to a computer to move a cursor accordingly.
 * Types of Mice:**

__Optomechanical__ - Very similar to a mechanical mouse, but it uses optic sensors (instead of rollers) to track movement of the ball.

__Optical mouse__- A computer mouse that uses a light emitting diode and photodioes to detect the horizontal and vertical movements of a mouse.

__Laser mice__- A computer mouse that uses infrared laser diodes which enables around 20 times more surface tracking power and increased sensitivity.

__Scroll wheel__- A small wheel located on top of the mouse, usually between the left and right clickers, that can be rotated to provide ease when moving up and down web pages.
 * Optional Features:**

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_mouse** http://webopedia.com/TERM/M/mouse.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitance
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