Computer mouse: the history of creation. What did the computer mouse look like first?

Today the mouse is the necessary input device for all modern computers. But more recently everything was different. Computers did not have a graphical user interface, commands and data could only be entered using the keyboard. And when did the very first computer mouse appear ? You will be surprised to see what evolution this familiar for each subject has experienced.

Who invented the first computer mouse?

Douglas Engelbart is considered the father of this device. He was one of those scientists who try to bring science closer to ordinary people and make progress available to everyone. He invented the first computer mice in the early 1960s in his laboratory at the Stanford Research Institute (now SRI International). The first prototype was created in 1964, in the patent application for this invention, filed in 1967, it was named as the "XY position indicator for a display system." But the official document under number 3541541 was received only in 1970.

But is everything so simple?

It would seem that everyone knows who created the first computer mouse. But the technology of the trackball (ball drive) was first used much earlier by the Navy of Canada. Then, in 1952, the mouse was a conventional bowling ball attached to a complex hardware system that could sense the ball's displacement and mimic its movements on the screen. But the world learned about this only years later - it was a secret military invention, which was never patented or tried to produce massly. After 11 years it was already known, but Engelbart recognized it as ineffective. At that moment, he did not yet know how to connect his vision of the mouse and this device.

How did the idea come about?

The main ideas about the invention first came to D. Engelbart in 1961, when he was at a conference on computer graphics and pondered the problem of increasing the effectiveness of interactive computing. It occurred to him that, using two small wheels that move along the table top (one wheel rotates horizontally and the other vertically), the computer can track the combinations of their rotation and, accordingly, move the cursor on the display. To some extent, the principle of action is similar to a planimeter - a tool used by engineers and geographers to measure distances on a map or drawing, etc. Then the scientist wrote this idea into his notebook for later use.

Step into the Future

A little over a year later, Engelbart received a grant from the institute to launch his research initiative called "Improving the Human Mind". Underneath it, he represented a system where people of mental work, working on high-performance computer stations with interactive displays, have access to a vast information online space. With his help, they can cooperate, solving especially important problems. But this system was sorely lacking a modern input device. After all, to comfortably interact with objects on the screen, you need to be able to quickly select them. NASA became interested in the project and allocated a grant to design a computer mouse. The first version of this device is similar to the modern one except that size. In parallel, a team of researchers were invented and other devices that allow you to control the cursor by pressing the foot on the pedal or moving the knee special clip under the table. These inventions did not get accustomed, but the joystick, invented at the same time, was later improved and applied until now.

In 1965 the team of D. Engelbart published the final report on his research and evaluation of the effectiveness of various methods of selecting objects on the screen. There were even volunteers who participated in the testing. It was like this: the program showed objects in different parts of the screen and the volunteers tried to click on them with different devices as quickly as possible. According to the test results, the first computer mice were unequivocally superior to all other devices and were included as standard equipment for further research.

What did the first computer mouse look like?

It was made of wood and was the first input device that was placed in the user's hand. Knowing the principle of its operation, you should not be surprised by what the first computer mouse looked like. Under the body were two metal discs-wheels, a circuit. The button was only one, and the wire went under the wrist of the person holding the device. The prototype was assembled by one of the members of the team of D. Engelbart, his assistant William (Bill) English. Initially, he worked in another laboratory, but soon joined the project to create input devices, developed and implemented the design of the new device.

Tilting and swinging the mouse, you can draw perfectly flat vertical and horizontal lines.

In 1967 the building became plastic.

Where did the name come from?

Nobody really remembers who first called this device a mouse. It was tested by 5-6 people, it is possible that one of them and voiced similarities. Especially since the world's first computer mouse was with a tail-tail in the back.

Further improvements

Of course, the prototypes were far from ideal.

In 1968, in San Francisco, at a computer conference, Engelbart introduced improved first computer mice. They had three buttons, in addition to them the keyboard was equipped with a device for the left hand. The idea was this: the right hand works with the mouse, highlighting and activating objects. And the left hand creates the necessary commands with the help of a small keyboard with five long keys, like a piano. Then it became clear that the wire at hand at the operator is confused when using the device, and that it should be taken to the opposite side. Of course, the prefix for the left hand did not get accustomed, but Douglas Engelbart used it on his computers until the last days.

Continuing work on improvement

At further stages of mouse development, other scientists came to the scene. The most interesting thing is that Engelbart never received deductions from his invention. Since he patented it as a specialist at the Stanford Institute, the rights to the device were controlled precisely by the institute.

So, in 1972, Bill English replaced the wheels on the trackball, which allowed to recognize the movement of the mouse in any direction. Since he then worked for Xerox PARC, this novelty became part of the forefront by the standards of the Xerox Alto system. It was a minicomputer with a graphical interface. Therefore, many mistakenly believe that the first computer mice invented in the company Xerox.

The next round of development occurred with the mouse in 1983, when Apple entered the game. Enterprising Steve Jobs calculated the cost of mass production of the device, which amounted to approximately $ 300. This was too expensive for the average consumer, so it was decided to simplify the design of the mouse and replace the three buttons with one. The price fell to $ 15. And although this decision is still considered controversial, Apple is not in a hurry to change its iconic design.

The first computer mice were rectangular or square, anatomical rounded design appeared only in 1991. It was introduced by Logitech. In addition to an interesting form, the novelty was wireless: communication with a computer was provided by means of radio waves.

The first optical mouse appeared in 1982. She needed a special mat with a printed mesh for work. And although the ball in the trackball quickly became dirty and inconvenient because it needed to be cleaned regularly, the optical mouse until 1998 was commercially unprofitable.

What's next?

As you already know, "tailed" with the trackball is practically not used. Technology, appearance and ergonomics of computer mice are constantly being improved. And even today, when devices with touchscreens are becoming more popular, their sales do not fall.