Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Is the computer mouse on the verge of extinction at 40?

The computer mouse, which was invented back in 1968 by Doug Engelbart and his team at the Stanford Research Institute in California, is facing extinction since the new technology might replace it. The computer mouse, which is now 40 years old, was developed after the team realized that there was a need for a simpler way of controlling computers than the standard light pen which had been used since the Second World War.

The mouse got its name since it quite resembled the animal and it was termed such by one unnamed researcher.

However, sadly it comes to light that on the eve of its 40th birthday, which is being celebrated next week when Engelbart returns to Stanford, the mouse could be facing death at the hands of new technology. The future is quite certain with the control methods of both the Wii and iPhone creeping in.

It is a well known fact that many laptop users already choose to use the built-in touchpad rather than a mouse. Moreover, touchscreens are now a reality rather than a science fiction. So sadly we may say that the mouse would be no more around us, since it would be replaced with a much more natural and user-friendly way of controlling the technology we use every day.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Newer products may flood the markets each day but as long as desk tops survice, computer mouse will remain alivea. -- A techie

Total Pageviews