# computer mouse

> hand-held device used to move a pointer on a computer display

**Wikidata**: [Q7987](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7987)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_mouse)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/computer-mouse

## Summary  
A computer mouse is a hand‑held pointing device that lets a user move a cursor on a computer display. Invented by Douglas Engelbart in 1963, it translates physical motion into on‑screen movement and typically includes one or more buttons and a scroll wheel.

## Key Facts  
- **Inception:** 1963 – the first prototype was created by Douglas Engelbart【discoverer_or_inventor】.  
- **Inventor:** Douglas Engelbart (with contributions from William English)【discoverer_or_inventor】.  
- **Classification:** Subclass of *pointing device*, *input device*, and *computer hardware*【subclass_of】.  
- **Part of:** Integrated into a computer terminal as an input peripheral【part_of】.  
- **Typical components:** Push‑buttons, left/right (often middle) mouse buttons, and a scroll wheel【has_part(s)】.  
- **Major types:** Optical mouse (uses an optical sensor) and ball mouse (uses a rolling ball)【optical mouse】【ball mouse】.  
- **Connectivity:** Exists as wired (physical cable) and wireless (radio or Bluetooth) models【wired mouse】【wireless mouse】.  
- **Specialized variants:** Gaming mouse, ergonomic mouse, footmouse (feet‑operated), and bus mouse (historical interface)【gaming mouse】【ergonomic mouse】【footmouse】【bus mouse】.  
- **Patents:** US 3987685 is a key patent covering early mouse technology【patent_number】.  
- **Aliases:** mice, computer mice, mouses, ratón de ordenador, souris informatique, Maus, мышь, etc.【aliases】

## FAQs  
### Q: What is a computer mouse?  
A: It is a hand‑held device that detects its movement across a surface and translates that motion into cursor movement on a screen, usually featuring clickable buttons and a scroll wheel.  

### Q: Who invented the computer mouse and when?  
A: Douglas Engelbart invented the first computer mouse in 1963, with William English assisting in its development.  

### Q: What are the main types of computer mice?  
A: The two dominant technologies are the **optical mouse**, which uses a light sensor, and the **ball mouse**, which relies on a rolling ball to detect motion. Both can be wired or wireless and may include specialized designs such as ergonomic or gaming models.  

## Why It Matters  
The computer mouse transformed human‑computer interaction by providing an intuitive, precise way to control a graphical user interface. Before its adoption, users relied on keyboards or punch cards, which limited real‑time navigation and manipulation of on‑screen elements. The mouse enabled the rise of point‑and‑click paradigms, making software more accessible to non‑technical users and fostering the development of modern operating systems, design tools, and interactive applications. Its evolution—from the original mechanical prototype to today’s high‑precision optical and wireless devices—continues to influence ergonomics, gaming performance, and accessibility solutions such as footmice for users with limited hand mobility. As a cornerstone of everyday computing, the mouse remains essential for productivity, creativity, and entertainment across desktops, laptops, and specialized workstations.  

## Notable For  
- **First hand‑held pointing device:** Created by Douglas Engelbart, it introduced the concept of direct cursor control.  
- **Prototype used in the “Mother of All Demos” (1968):** Demonstrated real‑time interaction with a graphical interface.  
- **First ultrasonic 5‑button mouse (Logitech 3D mouse, 1990):** Pioneered multi‑button and 3‑D input capabilities.  
- **Broad classification:** Simultaneously a pointing device, input device, and component of computer hardware.  
- **Versatile form‑factors:** Includes wired, wireless, ergonomic, gaming, and adaptive (footmouse) versions, serving diverse user needs.  

## Body  

### History  
- **1963:** Douglas Engelbart builds the first prototype mouse, later showcased in the 1968 “Mother of All Demos.”  
- **Patenting:** The technology is protected under U.S. Patent US 3987685.  
- **Commercialization:** Early commercial models (e.g., the 1983 Apple Mouse) popularized the device for personal computers.  

### Types of Mouse Technology  
- **Ball Mouse:** Uses a rolling ball to detect motion; the earliest widely sold design.  
- **Optical Mouse:** Employs an optical sensor to track surface movement; now the dominant technology.  
- **Wireless Mouse:** Communicates via radio or Bluetooth, eliminating the need for a cable.  
- **Specialized Variants:**  
  - *Gaming mouse* – high DPI sensors, programmable buttons.  
  - *Ergonomic mouse* – shaped to reduce strain.  
  - *Footmouse* – operated with feet for accessibility.  

### Core Components  
- **Push‑buttons:** Typically left and right; a middle button is common on many models.  
- **Scroll Wheel:** Allows vertical (and sometimes horizontal) navigation.  
- **Sensor:** Optical sensor or mechanical ball mechanism.  

### Connectivity  
- **Wired:** Connects through PS/2 or USB ports.  
- **Wireless:** Uses proprietary RF, Bluetooth, or infrared links.  

### Related Devices  
- **Trackpad, touchpad, and trackball** serve similar pointing functions but differ in form factor.  
- **Gaming peripherals** (e.g., Logitech 3D mouse) extend mouse functionality into 3‑D space.  

### Standards & Classification  
- **UNSPSC Code:** 43211708 (computer mice).  
- **Dewey Decimal:** 004.76; 621.3986.  
- **Library of Congress:** sh93009624 (Mice – Computers).  

### Cultural Impact  
- The mouse enabled the widespread adoption of graphical user interfaces (GUIs) in operating systems like Windows and macOS.  
- It remains a primary input method for millions of users worldwide, influencing software design, accessibility standards, and ergonomic research.  

## Schema Markup  
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Computer mouse",
  "description": "Hand-held device used to move a pointer on a computer display.",
  "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_mouse",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4225191",
    "https://freebase.com/m/020lf"
  ],
  "additionalType": "PointingDevice"
}

## References

1. [Source](http://www.dougengelbart.org/firsts/mouse.html)
2. [Source](https://github.com/JohnMarkOckerbloom/ftl/blob/master/data/wikimap)
3. Integrated Authority File
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. BabelNet
6. Quora
7. National Library of Israel
8. KBpedia
9. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)