The humble computer mouse has certainly come into its own since Douglas Engelbart invented it back in 1964. His contribution changed the way we work with computers. This user-friendly tool has undergone many changes over the years and now comes “tailess” with the wireless and laser mouse taking over from the earlier models connected to the computer by cable. This cable led Engelbart to christen this device a “mouse” because “. . . because the tail came out the end.”
Modern Mouse(s)
Recently I bought a new mouse for my laptop. It was a Microsoft product and was small and comfortable, fitting easily in my hand. It contained a new feature which I’d never come across before, the so-called “Back” button. Pressing this allows you to re-track where you’ve been on the web; saves you looking for the Back button on your browser’s toolbar.
New type of Laptop Wireless Mouse
Today’s mouse sports more than two buttons the earlier versions had. The scroll wheel can be configured to do many things, though I mainly use it to scroll up and down a screen while working in a document.
Configuring the Scroll Wheel
To access the Scroll Wheel’s options do the following:
- Open the Control Panel. It opens in Category View.
- Click Large Icons
- In the expanded view, select Mouse.
- Here you can customize your mouse.
Accessing Scroll Wheel options
Screen Pointers
The on-screen symbol is called a pointer. It shows your position on the screen. The type of pointer displayed will vary according to your location and the type of activity you are doing. It will also vary depending on the application you are using.
Mouse Pointer Shapes
Using the Mouse buttons
This table shows you the various ways of using the left and the right Mouse buttons.
Using the Mouse Buttons
Using the Mouse Buttons
