Amazing computer mouse designs. The evolution of computer mouse design: a review of iconic retro models Designer mouse

December 9, 1968 American Douglas Engelbart demonstrated at a conference in San Francisco a computer mouse invented four years earlier. In honor of the 45th birthday of one of the key PC devices, I prepared a review of iconic models in evolution computer mouse.

With an eye on convenience

American inventor Douglas Engelbart (Douglas Engelbart) was not the first to propose adding a compact device to the computer to simplify work. But it was he who created the optimally shaped mouse and determined the direction of its further evolution. In 1964 Engelbart together with Bill English (Bill English) assembled a test sample of a mechanical manipulator, which was a wooden box with two metal wheels and a single button.

"Indicator X-Y positions for the display system" 1964 - the simplest model of a computer mouse from Douglas Engelbart

But already on December 9, 1968 Engelbart made a presentation at the conference Fall Joint Computer and demonstrated a sleeker model of a computer mouse, equipped with three buttons. In 1970, the scientist patented the invention, calling it "X-Y indicator provisions for display system". It was then that the word “mouse” was heard for the first time. I used this comparison myself Engelbart: "It's called a mouse because of its wire tail."

The very first

In fact, the first device functionally close to a modern computer mouse is a trackball Rollkugel from a German company Telefunken. Developed in 1968, it was never patented. "Mouse" Rollkugel no one named it, although it worked on the same principle - it was used to perform simple graphical operations on a computer. However, then the invention did not become widespread and was used exclusively in research laboratories.

The first "ball"

In 1972, inspired by the achievements of a colleague, Bill English together with Jack Hawley (Jack Hawley) and developed for Xerox PARC an innovative mouse model with a ball drive. Soon the newfangled device went on sale for $415.

First optical

A significant drawback of the ball drive was its rapid contamination, leading to jamming of the moving elements and deterioration in the quality of the mouse. The founder of the company found a solution Mouse Systems(later incorporated into the Taiwanese corporation KYE Systems, which produces mice under the brand Genius) Steve Kirsch (Steve Kirsch). In 1982, he released the world's first optical mouse, which works with a special mousepad with special shading.

The first affordable

A dome-shaped computer mouse from a Swiss company was relatively affordable Logitech, which cost $299 in 1982.

Two buttons from Microsoft

It was the idea of ​​the Microsoft people who set out to conquer the computer market in 1983 to reduce the number of mouse buttons to two.

Monobutton from Apple

To simplify working with the mouse and achieve a more affordable price for the latter, Steve Jobs (Steve Jobs) decided to limit the number of buttons to one at a time.

The first ergonomic

The transition to the usual drop-shaped form occurred in 1993 - again, on the initiative of Jobs.

In 1991 Logitech replaces infrared communications with more reliable radio communications.

As you know, the evolution of computer mouse design did not end there. Modern creatives offer users a variety of the most...

So you have your laptop and monitor sorted, but that's only part of the picture. You'll also need the best mouse you can afford to ensure your workflow is smooth and efficient. It's one of the most important tools you use every day, so it's important to find a model that's responsive and comfortable.

Luckily, with 36 hours of Amazon Prime Day starting at noon on July 16th, find best mouse for the lowest price is easier than ever. Our price comparison tool will show you all the best Prime Day deals on our favorite mice in the guide below—or you can check out more deals directly from Amazon:

Go to home page Amazon Prime Day: US | Great Britain | India | Australia

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So, once you find the mouse button you need, you can take part in the free 30-day trial version(and cancel it before the trial period expires). After all, there are thousands of computer mouse options, including trackpads. Here we list the six best mouse options to help you find the perfect device for your creative work.

The best mouse for designers

DPI: 1000 | Interface: Bluetooth (pairs with three devices) | Buttons: 5 | Ergonomics: Right | Peculiarities: Hand-sculpted comfort contour, Speed-adaptive scroll wheel, Thumb wheel, Darkfield Laster Tracking, Dual Connectivity, Rechargeable battery

Thumb wheel and adaptive scrolling

Couples with three PCs

A lot of money for a mouse

Might be a little big for some

Logitech makes some of the most responsive computer mice on the market, which is quite handy when you need a tool with high precision. Its wireless MX Master model is designed to fit comfortably in your hand for long periods of time and includes an ultra-responsive scroll wheel that lets you browse web pages or documents at your own speed, depending on how fast you spin the wheel .

The buttons located on the side of the mouse also allow you to move between windows without using the usual alt + Tab and can easily program your shortcuts. The only downside to the MX Master is the fairly high RRP price of around £80, but there are deals to be had so don't despair (you'll find the best prices available above).

Do you prefer new model? The Logitech MX Master 2S Wireless Bluetooth Mouse works with Mac and Windows. It boasts highly accurate tracking, a rechargeable battery (that lasts a long time between charges), and customizable buttons.

2. Apple Magic Mouse 2

Best mouse for Apple devices

DPI: 1300 | Interface: Bluetooth | Buttons: 0 | Ergonomics: Ambidextrous | Peculiarities: Multi-touch

Looks fantastic

Multi-touch smart

Impressively inconvenient (for us)

Apple was late to join the mouse innovation bandwagon when it created the Magic Mouse. Its replacement, imaginatively called Magic Mouse 2, features an ultra-lightweight design and laser tracking capabilities that make it easy to move between InDesign pages and make even the most minute changes on virtually any surface.

However, the downside is that it is perhaps a little overly sensitive at times. The multi-touch area on the top of the mouse, which allows you to scroll in any direction, can sometimes get frustrating when you want to keep your finger in one place for an extended period of time.

Alternatively, many designers prefer the Apple Magic Trackpad 2, which brings pressure-sensitive Force Touch technology (as seen on the Apple Watch screen) to the 2015 12-inch MacBook's trackpad. Or for a cheaper option, try the old Apple Magic Trackpad.

03. Anker Vertical Ergonomic Optical Mouse

3. Anker Vertical Ergonomic Optical Mouse

Best Ergonomic Mouse for Ads

DPI: 1000 | Interface: USB | Buttons: 5 | Ergonomics: Vertical | Peculiarities: No

Good for RSI sufferers

Helps prevent RSI

Cheap as chips

t work on Mac

Of course, the Anker vertical ergonomic optical mouse looks strange. It is vertically aligned to encourage a healthy, neutral "handshake" of the wrist and hand. But once you get used to it, it's cheap and very convenient way avoid RSI. If you are a digital creative who spends a lot of time using a mouse for work, then it is important to have one that is easy to use. After all, if you hurt yourself and can't work, it could mean you're losing money. This makes this weird mouse a very wise investment, which is why we think it's the best ergonomic mouse for digital signage.

4. Logitech MX Ergo Wireless

DPI: 512 — 2048 | Interface: Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless | Buttons: 8 | Ergonomics: Right | Peculiarities: Trackball, USB dongle, compatibility software Logitech "Flow" for simultaneous use of up to three PCs, micro-USB charging, precision mode

User-friendly design

Accurate trackball

Non-left-handed version

Tilt options are limited

The MX Ergo Wireless is a completely retro mouse thanks to its trackball. While many mouse manufacturers have ditched trackballs in favor of optical laser mice, Logitech continues to produce trackball mice, and for that we are grateful. For many people, a tactile trackball makes working on creative projects more intuitive and convenient, and the MX Ergo Wireless can be used flat or at a 20-degree angle.

5.Razer DeathAdder Chroma

A gaming mouse that feels great

DPI: 10 000 | Interface: USB | Buttons: 5 | Ergonomics: Right | Peculiarities: Lighting effects

Very comfortably

Very accurate

Lighting is a bit awkward

Software may be flaky

Just like designers, gamers need a responsive and precise mouse, so it makes sense that gaming mice are good option for designers. And Razer's range of gaming mice is one of the most responsive available right now.

Razer mice have three types of sensors—dual, laser, and optical—and an ergonomic shape designed to support the flow of your hand. The Razer Deathadder mouse is the best-selling mouse (and also the cheapest), and features an optical sensor and rubber side grips. It also syncs with all your mouse settings stored in the cloud.

6. Microsoft Bluetooth Mobile Mouse 3600

DPI: 1000 | ] Bluetooth Buttons: 2 | Ergonomics: Ambidextrous | Peculiarities: No

Really, really cheap

Less tha n Most mice

The Bluetooth Mobile mouse from Nokia 3600 is, in our opinion, the best budget mouse, which you can buy these days. Although it has a low price, it has impressive build quality and is very reliable. This is because Microsoft is not just a software company - it also creates some very good peripherals, such as this mouse.

Every user personal computer knows and loves the electronic animal “computer mouse” like his own pet. These creatures appeared with us along with the first IBM personal computers and were purely mechanical. Oh, how many tears were shed, curses were cursed, and mega hours were spent cleaning the mechanism of these manipulators! The rubber balls with enviable greed attracted all kinds of debris, the rollers also very quickly became caked with dirt, and the mouse refused to function. But these sad times are long gone, and now users no longer experience the same discomfort as before. But with modern mice it’s not so simple. Finding the right manipulator for a specific task can be very difficult, despite the abundance of products and manufacturers on offer. There are several parameters for choosing computer manipulators, and all of them directly affect the final result.

I will not list here all the available types of manipulators because... many of them are intended for a narrow circle of users. Such devices include special mice for gamers and a separate category for gourmet designers. Why gourmets? Yes, because most ordinary designers use ordinary computer mice. And ordinary mice are either optical or laser. The latter differ from the former only in the increased sensitivity of the cursor, achieved due to the higher resolution of the laser.

That is, optical mice in turn, they differ in the type of connection to the computer. This is where the fun begins! A manipulator with a regular round wire is suitable for ordinary users, clerks, and other most undemanding categories of PC users. The wire of such devices is rigid and long. Such a mouse is very inconvenient and sometimes impossible to perform fine manipulations. There are indeed mice for laptops. They have thin and flexible wiring, which is almost not felt during operation. But they are not entirely suitable for a designer’s work, since most of these devices are smaller than average.

Wireless manipulators provide a sufficient degree of freedom, but sometimes produce errors due to various electronic interference. Data from such manipulators is transmitted over a regular radio channel. Yes and batteries similar devices quickly deplete, forcing busy designers to constantly run for new batteries. There are still trackballs (upside-down mechanical mice), but you need to get used to them.

So it turns out that the ideal computer manipulator for the job has not yet been invented and sold. But no matter what type of computer mouse you prefer, you need to keep ergonomics in mind. Designers work for many hours on end at the computer. Your right hand can get very tired, and if the size and shape of the mouse is not optimal for you, then time efficient work will decrease sharply.

I will not consider the remaining parameters of manipulators for PCs. The number of buttons and keys on the mouse, the diameter of the wheel, additional switches, all this only affects the style of work. Summarizing all of the above, I would like to note that the main parameters for choosing a computer mouse for a designer’s work are ergonomics and accuracy of cursor positioning. Everything else is secondary.

Even after switching from desktop computers to mobile laptops and netbooks, not everyone is in a hurry to abandon them as a manipulator. It's not just habit that prevents you from switching to the touchpad. A laptop is a one-piece device, and you can’t buy a stylish designer keyboard for it or a nicer and bigger monitor if you suddenly want to somehow upgrade your computer. But you can change the mouse at least every day, fortunately, modern designers are making sure that the range of “computer rodents” is steadily expanding. So today we have another review of unusual computer mice .

Inflatable computer mouse

It would seem that such a small gadget as a computer mouse, how could it be even more compact? It turns out it can. This is what the designers and inventors of the world’s only inflatable mouse, Jelly Click, have proven. All the necessary electronics are hidden in a flexible case, and the manipulator itself is made of soft silicone. At rest, the mouse resembles a thick plastic bag and takes up virtually no space in your bag. To work, Jelly Click simply needs to be inflated like a balloon.

Flexible computer mice

An unusual mouse was invented by Microsoft Corporation. Their concept is called Le Arc Touch Mouse, and was announced as a compact and flexible manipulator with a touch panel. This mouse can be easily bent, adjusting the appropriate height so that your hand is comfortable and does not bother you with wrist pain. And the mentioned Touchpad replaces the traditional wheel and that very middle button, which can be configured for any action. If desired, this can be a double click, opening a link in a new tab, or automatically opening a new window.

Curved computer mouse

When working with a laptop outside the home or office, you often have to move the mouse not on smooth horizontal planes, but on whatever you have to. The “whatever you have” is mainly your own leg or the armrest of a chair. Therefore, the body of the innovative mouse should be made concave/convex, adapting it to such non-standard surfaces. This idea formed the basis for the development of the Arc Mouse concept, an original computer mouse from Korean designers.

Designer mouse-clip

Another unusual concept is the Clip Mouse manipulator in the form of a clip or clothespin, a new product from designer Frank Guo. By attaching it to your laptop like a clothespin to a clothesline, it’s convenient to move from place to place, since you’re sure nothing will get lost along the way. Moreover, the inside of the mouse is covered with ribbed rubberized material, which allows it to hold tighter and not damage the surface of the laptop. But the outside of the mouse-clip is smooth and shiny, because it is touch sensitive.

Pointer mice

The creation of Artemy Lebedev's studio, the Mus-2 pointer mice, resemble traditional cursor icons on the screen of old Windows versions. The body of the cursor mouse can be black or white, and to the touch it resembles thick suede, since it is made of pleasant matte plastic. The “cursor” handle has a charge indicator that lights up only when it is time to change the battery or recharge the battery.

Computer mice in the form of other animals

The computer “hedgehog” Run-chy Mouse was invented for those users who either already suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome or want to avoid this fate. The mouse body has built-in wheels and a special timer that will work after a certain period of time, prompting the “hedgehog” to roll away. Trying to catch an escaped rodent, the user will be forced to actively move his hand, developing muscles and thereby eliminating the risk of getting sick. Well, those who have already developed wrist pain can use the massager, also built into the Run-chy Mouse body.

The terrible beast, an amazing hybrid of a mouse and a shark, is a conceptual manipulator from modern designers, an innovative computer mouse called Shark mouse. The device is made of environmentally friendly thermoplastic, and thanks to its unusual shape, it fits comfortably in the hand, repeating the natural curve of the palm in a relaxed state.

Mouse airplane

Designers from the Brando company have pleased all fans of non-standard gadgets with a stylish computer mouse in the shape of a jet plane. The new product, called Aircraft mouse, is equipped with backlighting and is available in a wide variety of colors and color combinations. This gadget is designed for teenage gamers, or for adult gamers who also like to play racing, tanks and space rangers.

Stylish leaf mouse

An eco-friendly mouse in the shape of a leaf from a tree - the Leaf wireless mouse concept from designers Lu Hairong and Zhang Xuehui. And its environmental friendliness lies not only in the unique shape of the body. According to the authors of the project, the wireless mouse will operate on kinetic energy, recharging the batteries by friction against the surface of a table or other flat surface.

Mouse in the shape of lipstick. Feminine design

The miniature Crystal Lipstick Mouse is designed specifically for women. It weighs 24 grams and looks like an expensive tube of lipstick: the body is decorated with Swarovski crystals, and the packaging is a cute fabric pouch with a drawstring or a stylish box that looks like a jewelry case. But even despite the glamor appearance, this little one is able to do everything that is required of it by connecting to a computer or laptop via Bluetooth.

Mouse in the shape of a woman's breast. Men's design

And the ideal mouse for men will probably be a device called iTit. They say that the ideal female breast fits in the palm of a man’s hand, therefore, iTit is the ideal mouse, since it is made in the shape of an ideal female breast. The device was invented by Apple, who said that iTit would not only look like a woman’s breasts, but also feel very little different. It is expected that the shell of the manipulator will be made of special rubber, tactile sensations reminiscent of human skin.