BETA
Chapter 1
The wooden block of 1964
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Answer
Chapter 2
The Xerox PARC refinement
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Answer
Chapter 3
The democratic click
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Chapter 4
Beyond the wire
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YOUR GOAL
Master of The first computer mouse
Ch 4 · Beyond the wire
steve Assemble the wooden prototype with wheels to discover how the first computer mouse worked.
steve The First Computer Mouse
Just a block of wood—(with a red button!) / Rolling on two wheels—(on those metal wheels!)
steve The addition of the scroll wheel in 1996 fundamentally changed how we browse the web.
steve Infrared and radio technologies freed the mouse from its physical tail in the 1980s and 90s.
Fun Fact
Space mouse: Astronauts use specialized, trackball-style mice in microgravity because a standard mouse would float away from the desk surface.
Glossary
wireless mouse (noun)
A computer mouse that connects to a computer without using a physical cable. In September 1984, Logitech built the first version using infrared technology for the Metaphor computer system.
A computer mouse that connects to a computer without using a physical cable. In September 1984, Logitech built the first version using infrared technology for the Metaphor computer system.
Quiz
In which field is the computer mouse still preferred over touchscreens and trackpads for its precision?
Quiz
Which company released the first commercial cordless mouse using infrared technology in 1984?
Quiz
Which company introduced the IntelliMouse Explorer in 1999, popularizing optical mice?