I thought it wise to focus on some of the hardware commonly found in most computer systems. This issue will be specifically dedicated to that marvel of modern technology, that most baffling of input devices, the mouse.
It is amazing how simple and effective a mouse is, and it is also amazing how long it took mice to become a part of everyday life. Given that people naturally point at things -- usually before they speak -- it is surprising that it took so long for a good pointing device to develop. Although originally conceived in the 1960's, it took quite some time for mice to become mainstream.
In the beginning there was no need to point because computers used crude interfaces like teletype machines or punch cards for data entry. Full screen editors were the first things to take real advantage of the cursor keys, and they offered humans the first crude way to point. There is something about the mouse that is completely natural. Compared to a graphics tablet, mice are extremely inexpensive and they take up very little desk space. Once ‘windows” graphical user interfaces (GUIs) became a standard, mice came into the PC world very quickly.
The main goal of any mouse is to translate the motion of your hand into signals that the computer can use.
A ball inside the mouse touches the desktop and rolls when the mouse moves. Two rollers inside the mouse touch the ball. One of the rollers is oriented so that it detects motion in the X direction, and the other is oriented 90 degrees to the first roller so it detects motion in the Y direction. When the ball rolls, one or both of these rollers move as well, rotating a disk, which breaks a beam of light. An infrared sensor sees pulses of light through the disk, the rate of which is directly related to the speed of the mouse and the distance it travels. Almost all mice used on personal computers use this optomechanical arrangement.
Most mice balls rest best on what is commonly called a mousepad, or as I have seen advertised lately “a mouse rug”. This slightly rough surface allows the ball to roll freely, however, the surface must be kept clean or the ball inside will pick up dirt and lint, making it work only sporadically. To clean your mouse (which you should do on a regular basis), open the back cover and let the mouse ball fall out. Using tweezers, pull off any stray lint or dirt from the inside rollers, and then wipe your mouseball with a damp cloth saturated in the best cleaner available~ lighter fluid (be careful- this is caustic, flammable and smells awful). Mousepads are much less expensive to replace than mice (although even these are often less that $10), so when yours starts showing wear and soil- replace it!
Of course, with the advent of new and ever improving technology, mice have evolved somewhat from their earlier cousins. Should you be itching to spend your dollars on technology, a wide range of mice are available, from wireless, to foot-controlled, to ergonomically designed, to the downright silly. (see picture at left) Input devices, like mice, are an essential part of a well maintained computer system.
