Computer Mice Not All Input

Computer Mice

Not all input devices are created equal. While the QWERTY keyboard is indispensable for most computer applications, the computer mouse might be equally as important in helping computer users accomplish their tasks. The mouse can do what no keyboard can, and vice-versa, which is why nearly all PCs and Macs come equipped with both. Moreover, the mouse has revolutionized the ways software manufacturers design their products. Invented in the 1960s and popularized in the 1980s during the home PC revolution, the computer mouse has changed its appearance, its functionality, and its construction throughout the years but has remained one of the most important computer input devices. So significant has the mouse been that the English language has adapted mouse-specific phrases into its vernacular such as "point and click." Before the invention and proliferation of the mouse, computer users relied mainly on keyboard arrows to control the position of the cursor on the screen and the "enter" button to select options. Users need only move their mouse to accomplish tasks, saving time and energy. Gaming was similarly hindered by the limitations of the keyboard and surfing the web seems nearly impossible without the use of the mouse and its ability to "point and click" or "drag and drop." The mouse transformed the design, function, and use of the PC and might be one of the most noteworthy computer-related technological developments.

Computer mice come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and mechanical types but all serve a similar input function, enabling the user to move and position the cursor on the screen and execute activities. In graphic design programs, the mouse can also be used as a drawing tool. Gaming opens up a plethora of mouse-related uses depending on the nature of the game: from shooting to shifting Tetris blocks. Software media players allow computer users to play music and movies with an interface similar to their home audio and video equipment but without the mouse, pressing "play" and "rewind" would be a chore. Mouse functions in word processing programs include selecting large blocks of text and advanced editing functions. One of the reasons the computer mouse has become prevalent is its universality. Although optical mice, trackball mice, and cordless mice all have their unique properties, they all serve the same purpose and interface with the computer in basically the same way.

Software developers have altered their approach due to the mouse. Drop-down menus, drag-and-drop capabilities, and hypertext would all be virtually useless without the mouse and developers would have to come up with alternate ways to include such functions into their products. If computer users remained confined by the keyboard, software developers would be forced to invent new ways to do simple tasks, or would otherwise be forced to invent a novel input device. Because of the standardization and flexibility of the mouse, software developers have considerable leeway in their engineering. Alternates to the mouse such as the light pen and tablet do not provide users with as robust and diverse usages as the mouse.

Mice, moreover, are inexpensive. Although users can opt for high-end mice, most standard mice and even optical and cordless mice are affordable for the average consumer. Early mice, contained in clumsy rectangular boxes, did not have the ergonomic or visual appeal of modern mice, which are easy and accessible for all users. Accessibility is another reason why the mouse has revolutionized computing. Disabled computer users who cannot access QWERTY keyboards can perform many functions using voice recognition software and basic mouse clicks.

Advancements in mouse technology have also enabled users to save considerable time and energy for their computing needs. For example, the right-click button often brings up menu items that the user would otherwise have to search for in the upper menu bar in most PC-based applications. Scroll mice, increasingly more common, allow users to scroll easily through Web pages and long documents. Without the scroll button let alone without the mouse, users would have to painstakingly hold down the arrow buttons to navigate through text. Mice allow for precise navigation within text or Web pages or within more robust software applications including art and music composition software. Many computer users rely exclusively on their mouse, rather than their keyboard, for their computing needs.