What is a computer mouse? What year was the computer mouse born?

Computer mice today have become familiar to most computer users. This device helps control and perform tasks on the computer screen faster. However, to achieve the current design and features, this device has also undergone a long development process. Join TipsMake to explore in more detail what a computer mouse is through the article below.

What is a computer mouse?

Computer mouse (Mouse) is a peripheral device whose main function is to support control and work on the screen. Users who connect the device to a computer mouse can easily move and select icons, text or files and folders on the computer screen. For desktop computers, the mouse will be placed on a flat surface, such as on a table or touchpad in front of the user's computer for convenient control.

It can be said that the birth of the computer mouse contributed great value to the development of computer science today. In the following content, let's join TipsMake to learn about which year the computer mouse was born as well as the development process of the mouse through each period.

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History of the creation of the computer mouse

The first device with a similar function to a computer mouse was invented in 1952 by the Royal Canadian Navy . The actual shape of the mouse looks like a bowling ball and is mounted on the device hardware. This hardware has the function of recording the movements of the trackball and then transmitting the information to the screen. However, because this invention belongs to the category of royal military secrets, the technical design of this device has not yet been announced to the outside world. 

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And in the early 1960s, the world's first computer mouse was developed by Douglas Engelbart when he was researching the interaction between computers and humans. The first generation of computer mice were placed in a high-quality wooden box that was twice the size of today's mice. In addition, to transfer data to the computer, the mouse must use 2 wheels to provide data along 2 axes.

And in 1970, Mr. Bill English - one of SRI's chief engineers - successfully created and replaced the original wooden wheel into a marble. This change makes mouse movement smoother and more multidimensional instead of just following 2 axes.

The reason why today's users are accustomed to calling this peripheral device a computer mouse is because the connecting wire protrudes. This reminded the inventors of the tail of a mouse, so they used the name to label the device. Initially, the mouse connection wire is installed in the direction of the arm. However, this design quickly changed when developers realized that the wire should lie in the direction of the wrist for user convenience.

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Although it has gone through many stages of development, it was not until 1981 when the GUI (graphical user interface) was born that the mouse fully developed its outstanding power. This combination has helped the mouse prevail over traditional keyboard operations and previous commands. At the same time, this also contributes to creating a new look for the technology world. 

This year also marked the birth of the first commercial computer mouse. And 2 years later, Lisa Mouse was born with a 'one-button' design that Apple still loyally uses to this day. 

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In 1984, the Logitech brand launched the first wireless mouse model using infrared waves. In the early 90s, toupad models were also introduced to users to support control processes on computer screens. And in 1996, the first mouse with scrolling function appeared on the market.

In 2004, the Logitech brand continued to launch on the market with a laser mouse model with precise movement speed and smooth movements, especially suitable for gamers to use. To this day, computer mice are equipped with better processors and users can also adjust the mouse sensitivity to suit their needs. 

Structure of computer mouse

In today's computer mouse market, not all mouse lines are similar in terms of structure. Instead, depending on the specific type of mouse, a few different parts will be added or removed. However, the components needed on a basic computer mouse will include:

1. Buttons

Most computer mice today have at least 2 buttons and are divided into left and right buttons. Each button will have its own function so users can click and perform operations with objects or text. 

In the early stages, computer mice only had one button. For example, the mouse on early Apple computer devices had only one button. 

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2. Mouse wheel

With a desktop mouse, the mouse wheel part has the function of controlling the page up or down according to the user's scrolling action. In addition, the roller can also help text or images on the screen enlarge or shrink.

3. Circuit board

Similar to other hardware devices, a computer mouse also has a circuit board and integrated circuits. This board has the function of inputting (transmitting) mouse signal information as well as mouse clicks and other information. 

4. Laser and LED lights

For desktop computers, there are mechanical mice that can use balls and rollers. As for optical mice, laser or LED lights are used. The movement of the mouse will be tracked by these components based on an x-axis and y-axis, thereby moving the mouse cursor on the computer screen accordingly.

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5. Cable or wireless receiver

With a wired computer mouse, the component will also include a cable with a jack connecting to the computer. Currently, most wired mice use USB ports to connect to devices. In case the computer uses a wireless mouse, the mouse needs a USB receiver to be able to receive wireless signals and transmit them to the computer. 

The best mouse models today

Although current computers are equipped with toupads to support users in operation and control. However, to save time and make operations more convenient, owning a mouse is something users should not ignore. Below, TipsMake shares the top 5 best mouse models today for you to choose from.

1. Zadez GT Gaming Mouse – 613M

The best mouse model mentioned today is the Zadez GT - 613M gaming mouse . This is a computer mouse manufactured by the famous Zadez company. The mouse has a compact design and a comfortable handle to help users easily manipulate and handle work or entertainment tasks. 

The Zadez GT – 613M mouse has a very light weight of only 140gr and has a height of 3.1cm. According to research, this is the appropriate height and provides comfort for users to hold and control, including left-handed or right-handed users.

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In addition, the Zadez GT - 613M gaming mouse model also has a maximum sensitivity of up to 4000 DPI . 5 DPI levels from 1000, 1750, 2500, 3500 and 4000 allow users to adjust according to their wishes and needs. At the same time, the upper body of the mouse also integrates an extremely eye-catching and attractive RGB LED lighting system.

In addition, the mouse body also has Back and Forward buttons to help users move the mouse forward or backward between websites or quickly exit Windows folders. More specifically, although the Zadez GT - 613M mouse belongs to the wired mouse line, the bottom is still equipped with an on/off button to increase the lifespan of the device. 

Specifications:

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2. Rapoo T200 Bluetooth Wireless Mouse

Next in the list of the top 5 best mouse models is the Rapoo T200 Bluetooth mouse model , suitable for both left- or right-handed people with stable and strong connectivity. Rapoo T200 mouse is a wireless mouse line from the prestigious Rapoo brand on the market. Product quality has been verified and guaranteed by the manufacturer before reaching the user. 

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The exterior design of the Rapoo T200 mouse is simple but still ensures elegance and luxury thanks to the use of high-quality materials. In addition, Rapoo T200 is a mouse line that uses Bluetooth technology so it has strong connectivity within a maximum range of 10m. Besides, this mouse model is also easily compatible with many different operating systems. 

More specifically, the battery life of the Rapoo T200 mouse is also very impressive. Mouse usage time depends on each user's time with a maximum lifespan of up to 9 months. 

Specifications: 

3. Rapoo V16 Gaming Mouse

Among the top best computer mouse models and continuously named recently is the Rapoo V16 mouse for gamers. This mouse model has a simple and extremely symmetrical design. The mouse surface uses high-quality materials with effective anti-slip properties, giving players a comfortable feeling when manipulating and controlling. 

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In addition, the Rapoo V16 mouse is also equipped with a glowing LED lighting system that attracts the eye and increases the experience for users, especially gamers. Not only that, the Rapoo V16 mouse also possesses an extremely powerful optical sensor. Fast task processing speed of up to 6400 FPS/s combined with 5 buttons and 1 adjustment button brings more convenience to users. The mouse sensitivity of the Rapoo V16 series reaches a maximum of 2000 DPI with 3 levels of 750, 1350 and 2000 DPI respectively for users to customize based on their needs.

Specifications:

>> See more: Top 10 best ergonomic mice today

4. Logitech G102 Gaming Mouse

One of the long-standing famous brands and manufacturers of quality mice on the market cannot help but mention Logitech. The best Logitech mouse model currently popular with many people is the Logitech G102, which features a classic, sophisticated design. 

Logitech G102 mouse is familiar to most users thanks to its friendly design. This mouse model has a moderate size but still shows a unique style in the gaming world thanks to its unique beveled edge details.

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In addition, this Logitech G102 mouse model also integrates RGB LED lights for continuously changing color ranges to increase user experience. The mouse has a very light weight of only 85g, making it feel light and easy to operate. 

At the same time, the Logitech G102 mouse is also equipped with an noise filtering feature to help the mouse operate stably and smoothly when connected to devices. At the same time, this is also a specialized mouse model for gamers, so the mouse sensitivity is very high up to 8000 DPI , making movement speed even faster.

Specifications:

>> See more: Top 10 cheapest and best Logitech mice today

5. Rapoo M500 Silent Bluetooth Mouse

The final list of the top 5 best computer mice today comes from the familiar Rapoo brand with the Silent Rapoo M500 mouse model . This is a wireless mouse model that uses outstanding Bluetooth connection with Silent technology to provide a smooth and quiet experience.

In terms of design, the Silent Rapoo M500 mouse has a compact design and attracts the eye thanks to its colorful patterns, creating a youthful and dynamic feeling for the user. Currently on the market are distributing 3 mouse color versions including gray, blue and red. 

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In addition, the wireless connection type brings convenience to users whenever they need to carry it to locations. At the same time, the Silent Rapoo M500 mouse is suitable for both gamers, office workers and designers. The sensitivity of the Silent Rapoo M500 mouse ranges from 600 - 1600 DPI . Users can customize the sensitivity to increase mouse movement speed to be more accurate and responsive to suit their needs.

In particular, the Silent Rapoo M500 mouse also integrates Silent noise canceling technology. Users can comfortably perform mouse clicks without fear of making noise that will affect people around them. 

Specifications:

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Epilogue

Hopefully the information TipsMake just shared above will help you answer the question of what a computer mouse is and what year it was born. If you are looking to buy the best mouse to use today, please refer to the 5 mouse models suggested in the article. Thanks for watching! 

Jessica Tanner

Update 03 October 2023