Billionth mark for Logitech mouse

Even as the discussions are on whether the technology called 'mouse', which is celebrating its birthday on next Wednesday (December 10), would soon be an extinct species in another couple of years, leading mouse manufacturer Logitech announced that it has shipped its billionth mouse.

"We've just done something that makes us all very proud at Logitech – we've shipped our one billionth mouse. How cool is that!?," read a blog posting by Rory Dooley, senior vice president, Control Devices, Logitech. "When all of this started for Logitech back in the early '80s, the mouse was primarily a tool for CAD (computer-aided design applications). Since then, the mouse has become something much more – it is truly the key to the kingdom – the device that unlocked the power of the computer."

He said the mouse opened up computing to the average person by providing a simple, intuitive way to interact with the computer.

Logitech has enthusiastically driven nearly every major innovation in mouse technology – persistently refining this ubiquitous interface between people and their digital experiences, said a press release.

With more than a billion people currently using computers worldwide and another billion expected to begin using computers by 2014, according to a report by analyst firm Gartner, Logitech continues to pursue compelling innovation to delight users of the next billion mice and input devices of the future, it said.

Founded in a farmhouse in Apples, Switzerland in 1981 and shortly thereafter establishing strong ties in Silicon Valley, Logitech introduced its first retail mouse in 1985 and reached the 100 millionth mouse mark in 1996, the company said.

"Since the first click of the Logitech P4 mouse in 1982, Logitech mice have played an indispensable role in the evolution of the personal computer," said Gerald P. Quindlen, Logitech president and chief executive officer.

"During the last few decades, the way people use computers has changed dramatically – what was once strictly a business tool has become highly integrated into our personal lives," he added.
Quindlen said Logitech has continually pursued innovations to meet those changing conditions, introducing – in the last five years alone – the world's first laser mouse, hyper-fast scrolling and the nano-receiver.
In celebration of its billionth mouse, Logitech is launching a worldwide contest that invites people to follow the travels of this notable mouse – from the manufacturing line to its final destination – and to try to figure out where in the world it will end up.

Logitech also said that the mouse's journey will be chronicled on Logitech's blog, Blogitech (blog.logitech.com).