The Computer Mouse.

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Computer Mouse

Geoff Williams

Netty Griggs

Year 2

20089227

The Computer Mouse

The computer mouse first came about in the early 1980’s. The idea being that the movement from the users hand could be turned into signals that the computer could read moving the cursor around and also allowing the buttons to function when pressed.

Today there are a few different types of computer mice on the market. These being the mice that use the traditional tracking ball, the optical mouse and the mouse that has no physical connection to the computer.

The most common mouse found near a computer today is the traditional mouse that uses the tracking ball. This is the same method as was used when the mouse was first released in the 1980’s. The track ball inside the mouse touches the desk when it is moved. When the ball moves the motion is detected by two perpendicular axis, one which detects x axis directional motion and the other y-axis direction motion.

                                             

  Tracking Ball                                Perpendicular axis motion detectors

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                                                                      Hole in which track ball would sit

The diagrams above show the tracking ball and the hole in which the tracking ball sits. You can see the x and y axis motion detectors of which the y-axis detector lies 90° from the x-axis detector. These motion detectors are also known as rollers. When the mouse is in use ...

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