com). Although basic trackball mice are still commercially available, they have been largely overshadowed by newer versions of the computer mouse based on optical and laser technologies. All computer mice allow the user to control the position of a cursor on the screen (or alternatively, a player position in a game) as the trackball, optical or laser sensors detect user movements and translate those into digital input. The mouse devices installed on the latest versions of laptop computers work differently from trackball and optical mice that are external to the computer but the underlying input principles are the same for laptop track pads and click buttons as they are for external mice. External mice may be wireless as well as wired, allowing users increased ergonomic flexibility.
Like most computer-related inventions, the mouse has had a positive effect on social change. Making computers more accessible to a greater number of people, making the machines increasingly user-friendly, and increasing the locus of user control over software applications has meant that the mouse has helped democratize computing. Without devices like the mouse, average daily users would not be able to simply "point and click" and therefore would be less inclined to use...
Although touch screen computers and other non-mouse methods of input are emerging on the 21st century market, the mouse remains a primary, fundamental feature of the personal computer (Peterkin 2008).
References
Computer Mouse." CNN.com Retrieved Sept 24, 2008 at http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2004/explorers/interactive/profiles/computer.mouse/content.html
Jimmythejock "History of the Computer Mouse." Blog retrieved Sept 24, 2008 at http://hubpages.com/hub/History_of_the_Computer_Mouse
Oldmouse.com. Retrieved Sept 24, 2008 at http://www.oldmouse.com/
Pang, a. Soojung-Kim. The making of the mouse. American Heritage: Invention and Technology. Retrieved Sept 24, 2008 at http://www.americanheritage.com/articles/magazine/it/2002/3/2002_3_48.shtml
Peterkin, T. (2008). Microsoft boss Bill Gates signals end of the computer mouse. Telegraph. Retrieved Sept 24, 2008 at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/2047932/Microsof...f-the-computer-mouse.html
Solca, B. (2006). Of Mice and Men... And PCs. So ftpedia.Retrieved Sept 24, 2008 at http://news.softpedia.com/news/of-Mice-and-Men-and-PCs-43129.shtml
