'Mouse' Turns 40 Today!

by Sreeraman on  December 01, 2008 at 6:57 PM Lifestyle News
  •   Print
  •   Share
  •   Comments
  •  Text 
One computer device could be called as being most 'in touch' with humans -the mouse, which celebrates it's 40th birth anniversary today.

The first computer mouse, developed 4 decades ago, was a little wooden box with a single red button on top and a wire hanging from the back, because of which it was likened to a rodent.

And while computers have transformed from big white boxes to cool flat screens and laptops, the mouse has, more or less, stayed the same.

But, its designer, Douglas Engelbart, is not a rich man giving orders in a huge IT firm.

The 83-year-old American, who worked on the mouse at California's Stanford Research Institute, never got any royalties because the patent expired before it became a must-have.

It was in 1981 that Xerox included a mouse with their Star computer system, followed by Apple, which offered one with their Macintosh system, a few years later.

And then Microsoft made it the standard device for navigating their Windows system.

With more and more innovations- like a second, third and fifth button- the mouse today has bid adieu to the rubber trackball to be replaced by more accurate infra-red technology.

Now many of the devices are cordless too, doing away with the reason they were called a mouse in the first place.

However, Apple's innovative touchscreen technology on its iPhone and iPod Touch gadgets might just send the mouse into oblivion.

"I very much doubt that we'll be using the mouse in 40 years' time," the Sun quoted Steve Prentice, an analyst at Gartner Research, as saying.

Source-ANI
SRM

 Email Email   RSS Feeds RSS Feeds   Print this page Print   Save this page Save   Link Link   Syndicate Syndicate   Comments Comments   Bookmark and Share
 
Comment & Contribute
Comments should be on the topic and should not be abusive. Comments are normally moderated and are reviewed after they are posted.
* Your comment can be maximum of 2500 characters

Notify me when reply is posted
I agree to the terms and conditions
  
If you have a question about health related issues, you can now post it in our Ask An Expert section on our community website Medwonders.com and get answers from our panel of experts.
X

Medwonders Health Network

  • Health News Index
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
News Archive
Date :
Category :
Keyword :
  • News Quick Links
News Central Health Watch
Latest Health News Health In Focus
News Category (500+) Breaking Health News
Popular News Celebrating Life
Health News and Press Release Medindia - Exclusive
News Photo Gallery India Special
News Video Gallery Lifestyle and Wellness
News From Other Resources
News Categories:  
Kidney Health Center

Lifestyle Related News

» Mystery of 'Disappearing' Tweets Solved » 'Slut Walks' Attract Thousands in Brazil
» Enthusiasm for Tattoos High Among Women » Individuals' Brains 'Tick Together' If They Have Strong Emotions
» Keeping Emotions in Check and Being Resilient Helps to Remain Satisfied With Life » Moral Sense Depends on Type of Activity Being Done at Particular Time
» 'No Scanty Garbs' Campaign UAE Women » Asian Casinos Combat Crooks
Read More >>