Who Invented the First Computer Mouse? : History & Evolution

The computer mouse is a widely-used input device that has become an essential tool for interacting with computers. The invention of the mouse has been a significant breakthrough in the field of human-computer interaction and has greatly improved the efficiency and ease of use of computer interfaces. The first computer mouse was invented by Douglas Engelbart in 1963, and since then, it has undergone several changes and has become a vital part of modern technology. 

Inventor of Mouse

Modern Day Mouse

• Douglas Engelbart was an American engineer and inventor who is best known for his pioneering work in the field of human-computer interaction. In 1963, Engelbart came up with the concept of the computer mouse while working at the Stanford Research Institute (SRI) in California. Engelbart’s goal was to improve the efficiency and ease of use of computer interfaces, and he believed that the mouse could be used to manipulate on-screen objects and make it easier to navigate through documents and programs.
• At the Stanford Research Institute, Engelbart started his investigation into how to increase human productivity through the use of computers in the 1950s. In a paper titled “Augmenting Human Intellect: A Conceptual Framework,” which he released in 1962, he laid out his ideas on how computers could be used to improve human cognitive capacities. The invention of the computer mouse was one of Engelbart’s greatest achievements.
• Other interactive computing innovations created by Engelbart include networked computers, which enable numerous users to access and share information from a single computer, and hypertext, which enables users to effortlessly explore and link information on a computer screen. He also created the idea of the graphical user interface (GUI), which enables people to utilize windows and icons rather than merely text-based commands to communicate with computers.
• The advancement of personal computers and the internet was significantly influenced by Engelbart’s work. In 2000, he was awarded the National Medal of Technology for his groundbreaking computer work. Engelbart’s invention of the computer mouse was a significant breakthrough in the field of human-computer interaction; it has greatly improved the way we interact with computers and has become an essential part of modern computer interfaces. Engelbart’s invention was first commercialized by Xerox Corporation in the 1970s, but it was not until the advent of the Macintosh computer by Apple Inc in 1984 that the mouse became widely adopted.

Original Design and Function of the Mouse

• The original design of the computer mouse, as invented by Douglas Engelbart in 1963, was a wooden block with two metal wheels that rolled along the x- and y-axes. The mouse was connected to the computer via a cord, and it communicated the movement of the mouse to the computer. It also had one button on top, which was used to select items on the computer screen. The metal wheels were used to track the movement of the mouse along the x and y axis, which in turn moved the cursor on the screen. This design was called the “X-Y Position Indicator for a Display System” or simply the “X-Y Position Indicator.”
• The original function of the computer mouse was to improve the efficiency and ease of use of computer interfaces. Engelbart believed that the mouse could be used to manipulate on-screen objects and make it easier to navigate through documents and programs. The mouse allowed users to point, click, and drag objects on the screen, making it easier to navigate through documents and programs, and the button on top of the mouse allowed users to select items on the screen. The mouse was also used to draw shapes on the screen, and it was a key component in Engelbart’s vision of an “Online System” (NLS) which was a system that allowed users to interact with a computer through a graphical user interface (GUI).
• The mouse was first shown off in 1968 as part of Engelbart’s “Mother of All Demos” presentation, which also featured the GUI, hypertext, and other interactive computing concepts. The demonstration attracted a lot of interest and was largely regarded as a development in human-computer interaction. 
• The mouse has since undergone design and functionality improvements, but its fundamental idea and purpose have not changed: it is a pointing device that enables people to interact with computers more naturally by moving a cursor on the screen as they move the mouse.

Impact of the Computer Mouse

• The invention of the computer mouse had a big influence on personal computing. By moving a cursor on the screen along with the mouse movement, the mouse made it simple for users to interact with a computer in a more natural way. As a result, the graphical user interface (GUI) was able to be created, allowing users to communicate with computers through windows and icons rather than text-based commands.
• The creation of hypertext, which allowed users to effortlessly traverse and link information on a computer screen, was also made possible by the mouse. This was a crucial element in the growth of the internet since it made it simpler for people to obtain and organize content.
• The mouse was first made available for purchase by Xerox in the 1970s, and in the 1980s and 1990s, Apple and Microsoft helped make it a widely used standard input device for personal computers. Personal computing is now more accessible and usable than ever before because of the development of sophisticated and user-friendly applications.
• The mouse plays a significant role in the creation of personal productivity applications, including word processors and spreadsheets that allow users to swiftly create and alter documents and data. The mouse has also been used in the development of more complex software, including graphic design, video editing, and gaming programs. The usefulness, accessibility, and versatility of personal computing have all been significantly enhanced by the computer mouse.

Evolution of Mouse 

• The first mouse was a wooden shell with two metal wheels on the bottom, which were used to track movement on a surface.
• In the 1970s, Xerox Corporation developed the first graphical user interface (GUI) for their Alto computer, which was the first to use a mouse as the primary input device. This design was later commercialized by Apple in the Macintosh computer, which was released in 1984.
• In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the ball mouse became popular as an alternative to the wheel mouse. The ball mouse used a rolling ball to track movement instead of wheels. This design was more durable and required less maintenance than the wheel mouse. However, the ball mouse had a tendency to collect dust and dirt, which could affect its performance.
• In the 1980s and 1990s, optical mice became popular. These mice used a light-emitting diode (LED) and a sensor to track movement instead of a ball. This design was more precise than the older ball mouse and did not require cleaning.
• Today, most mice use laser technology to track movement, which is more precise than the older optical technology. Additionally, many modern mice have additional buttons and features such as scroll wheels, thumb buttons, and wireless connectivity. They can also come with programmable buttons and even touchpads, which makes them more versatile.
• In recent years, touch-based input has also become popular with the advent of smartphones and tablets, which have touchscreens. Some laptops and desktops also now have touchscreens which allow for touch-based input in addition to traditional input devices like the mouse and keyboard.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the computer mouse was invented in 1963 by Douglas Engelbart, an engineer and computer scientist working at the Stanford Research Institute. The first mouse was a wooden shell with two metal wheels on the bottom, which were used to track movement on a surface. This early design evolved over the years to incorporate new technologies such as the ball mouse, optical mice, and laser mice. Today, the mouse remains an essential input device for computers and is a key component of modern human-computer interaction. The invention of the mouse by Douglas Engelbart was a major step forward in the development of the personal computer and has had a lasting impact on the way we interact with technology.