Last Updated on September 1, 2022 by Shahzad Arsi
What are the Uses of the computer mouse, as we will cover the 7 best uses?
You can point, move, and select text, icons, files, and folders on your computer with a computer mouse, which is a portable hardware input device that controls a pointer in a GUI (graphical user interface). In addition to these features, a mouse allows you to drag and drop items as well as access the right-click menu when needed.
When working with a desktop computer, the mouse should be positioned in front of the machine on a level surface (such as a mouse pad or a desk).
Table of Contents
Who invented the mouse?
Douglas Engelbart, who was working at Xerox PARC at the time, was the one who came up with the idea for the mouse in 1963. At first, it was referred to as the X-Y Position Indicator for a Display System. However, because Alto was not a commercially viable product, the first use of the mouse that saw widespread use was the Apple Lisa computer. This type of pointing device may be found on practically all modern computers.
What are the uses of the computer mouse?
The following is a list of all of the functions and choices that are associated with the computer mouse, which will give you an understanding of all of the mouse’s capabilities.
- Move the mouse cursor – The major purpose is to let the user control where the mouse cursor is located on the screen.
- Point – As soon as you move the mouse, you will have the ability to either point something out to another user or point out a digital item. In a game, the mouse can be used, for instance, to position a gun in the desired direction so that it can be shot.
- Open or execute a program – When you drag the cursor to an icon, folder, or another object, clicking or double-clicking that item will open the document or run the program, respectively, depending on what it is. There are apps that even support double-clicking and triple-clicking.
- Select – The use of a mouse also enables the selection of text, files, and the highlighting and selection of several files at once.
- Drag-and-drop – After an item has been chosen, another technique of repositioning it, known as drag-and-drop, is also present.
- Hover – Discovering the purpose of each object may be accomplished by moving the mouse cursor over objects that display hover information.
- Scroll – It is possible that you will need to scroll up or down while working with a lengthy document or when reading a lengthy web page. To scroll, either click and drag the scroll bar or use the scroll wheel on your mouse. A button can also be accessed with the use of the mouse wheel.
- Perform other functions – Many different functions may be assigned to the buttons of desktop mice, making them quite versatile. For instance, the thumb section of many mice is equipped with two side buttons that may be used to perform various functions. It is possible to direct a browser to return to the web page that was being viewed before using the button that is located closest to the palm.
How exactly has the mouse made computers more user-friendly?
You don’t have to commit commands to memory while you’re working with a computer mouse, unlike when you’re operating in a text-based command line environment like MS-DOS. For instance, with MS-DOS, in order to open a directory (folder) and examine the contents within it, you would need to be familiar with the cd command and the dir command, and then input those commands on the keyboard. On the other hand, all that is required of a Windows user to access the contents of a folder is a simple double click.
Types of the computer mouse
The following is a list of all the many kinds of pointing devices and computer mice that may be used with a computer. The optical mouse that plugs into the computer’s USB port and is referred to as a USB mouse is now the most popular choice for a mouse to use with a desktop computer. The touchpad has become the standard input device for pointing and clicking on laptop computers.
- Air mouse
- Cordless (Wireless)
- Footmouse
- IntelliMouse (Wheel mouse)
- J-Mouse
- Joystick
- Mechanical
- Optical
- Touchpad (Glidepoint)
- Trackball
- TrackPoint
- Computer mouse ports
USB ports are now the most common method used for connecting a mouse to a computer. The following is a list of ports as well as wireless connections that a mouse is able to make use of.
- Bluetooth
- Infrared
- PS/2 Port
- Serial Port
- USB
What are the parts of a computer mouse?
The components of a computer mouse are subject to change depending on the model of the mouse. The following is an outline of the components that can be found on the majority of computers mouse.
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Buttons
These days, practically all computer mice feature at least two buttons, one on the left and one on the right, which may be used for clicking and manipulating objects and text respectively. In the not-too-distant past, there were mice that just had a single button. Take, for instance, the early Apple computer mouse; many of them just only a single button.
Ball, laser, or LED
If it’s a mechanical mouse, it utilizes a ball and rollers; if it’s an optical mouse, it uses a laser or an LED. A desktop mouse can be either mechanical or optical. These components monitor the movement of the mouse along an x-axis and a y-axis and then adjust the position of the mouse pointer on the display. One example of the bottom of an optical and a mechanical mouse is shown in the accompanying image.
Mouse wheel
The mice used with modern desktop computers typically include a mouse wheel that enables the user to scroll up and down inside a document.
Circuit board
The mouse has to have a circuit board with integrated circuits so that it can communicate (input) all of the information that is generated by the mouse, including clicks and other data.
Cable or wireless receiver
A corded mouse comes with a cable that has a connector at one end so that it may be connected to the computer. The majority of corded mice sold nowadays connect to a computer’s USB connection. If you use a wireless mouse with your computer, you will need a USB wireless receiver in order for the computer to be able to receive the wireless signal and process it.
Other parts
Some of the components listed above and discussed before are optional if you are working from a portable computer such as a laptop. To regulate movement, for instance, a touchpad relies not on a ball, laser, or LED but rather on the pressure that your finger exerts on the touchpad itself. Additional components consist of a ball for trackball mice, additional buttons on the side of the mouse that is closest to the thumb, and nubs that are utilized with laptop mice.
