40 years ago this week, the mouse made its first public appearance at a tech party in San Francisco.
The device was invented by Doug engerbart and his team at the Stanford Institute in California, who are looking for a new way to control computers.
Before the mouse rolls to the scene, the team has been using light pens, similar to what radar operators like during the war, to navigate around the screen.
Although the team has tried a variety of new input methods, it is the mouse that proves the most successful.
"The mouse won in every category [of tests]
"Although it has never been used before," recalls Mr engerbart . ".
"It's faster and people make fewer mistakes. " No-
One can remember who started calling the wooden device a "mouse", but the name is stuck and the gadget continues to be one of the most important developments in computing history.
Apple is the first company to really bring the idea of mouse control to the mass market, but Microsoft has developed a complete operating system around the input function of the mouse, which consolidates its position in public awareness.
For years, the mouse has been
Excellent computer controller
On the rubber track.
Mats may have made way for infrastructure
The red sensors and some mice now offer so many buttons and personalized options that they don't look inappropriate on the shuttle, its simplicity and ease of use guarantee its place in the hearts of users.
Indeed, just this week, Logitech, one of the world's largest mouse makers, announced that it has produced the billion mouse.
The computer mouse hit 40 of Bill Gates's worst IT predictions, but as hardware makers and software developers seek new and improved ways to simplify interaction between people and technology, the mouse will soon find out
Some experts predict that over the next decade, as more and more computers use the touch mouse, the mouse may be commissioned into a digital scrapbook.
Screen and gestures
Control the recognition of the computer.
"I am very skeptical that we will use the mouse in 40 years," Gartner analyst Steve Prentice said . ".
Here, let's take a look at some emerging technologies that may signal the last click of the mouse: Touch-
This year's screen will be remembered as the year of touch. screen.
Everything from mobile phones and personal multimedia players to computers now has touch capabilities
Devices such as screen technology and Apple's iPhone have bought previously niche, professional and expensive technologies for a wider audience.
Some PC vendors have already launched touch-
The screen interface of their computer
For example, HP TouchSmart allows users to browse their music and photo collections by moving their fingers on the screen, which provides
Touch access to the Internet and social networks
Network site.
Microsoft's Surface computer prototype has pushed this to a new stage. This table-
Like the tablet's reaction to natural gestures and touch, Microsoft is working on its goal --
So is the ability to identify.
This means that in the future, the kitchen countertop can be built into the surface and used to provide stepsby-
Provide step-by-step recipe information for any ingredients you place above or at bars and restaurants so that when you place a credit card on the surface, the bill is automatically paid.
Hope to see responsive touch
In the next few years, more and more devices have built-in screens, especially portable devices.
"The Mouse works fine in a desktop environment, but for home entertainment or a laptop, it's over," Mr Prentice said . ". Face-and gesture-
For developers, identifying the holy grail is finding a way to translate natural gestures and actions into precise means of controlling objects.
Take an ordinary digital camera as an example: most of these devices offer clever features, such as the face.
Identify, blink, and smile detection to help you take the perfect picture.
But even a small, relatively basic device like a camera can recognize and distinguish facial expressions, and this processing power and software can obviously be used more impressively on a larger scale.
It won't take long for our TV sets to be operated not through the remote control, but through the movement of our hands and eyes.
Panasonic already has a home entertainment system prototype that can be identified when the viewer raises his hand to the screen and gestures to change the volume or bring up the program guide.
Nintendo Wii and other consoles used gestures-
Very effective recognition and help people get used to using wireless, motion-
Sensitive equipment.
A company called Oblong Industries is even making a set of gloves, similar to the one Tom Cruise used to control the computer in the movie "Minority Report.
It believes in its G.
Speaking gloves allow for more precise manipulation on-
Screen menus and information can be implemented by draggingand-
Click Mechanism of traditional mouse.
Estimated G-in rectangular industry-
Within the next two years, Speak will be commercially available and compatible with all computers at a cost of around £ 20.
Earlier this year, Microsoft founder Bill Gates said the mood system was "very interested in a simpler way to navigate information . ".
What's simpler than just controlling a computer or other gadget through the power of thought?
It may sound like science fiction, but manufacturers are already working on devices that can turn ideas into actions.
Emotiv Epoc headsets, for example, allow players to control computer games using only their ideas, expressions and emotions, not their joystick.
Users can train wireless "neural headsets" to distinguish between subtle thoughts, feelings and wordless instructions, such as shocked expressions and even faces.
The device is expected to be available early next year, and other manufacturers such as EmSense are also working on similar technologies.