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GlobalSpec.com > Industrial Computers and Embedded Systems > Computer Peripherals > Computer Mouse and Other Pointing Devices > Understanding Optical Mice - White Paper

Today's computer mouse comes in many shapes, and in a wide range of features, sizes and prices. The two main technologies driving this input device are optical and mechanical. The mechanical engine was the earlier system and was introduced in the 1960s. Optical technology was introduced in the 1980s but didn't gain much traction until the early part of 2000. Since then, with the massive adoption of computers for communication, data storage, and networking, the mouse's function as an input device has grown increasingly more critical-particularly in accommodating the higher tracking speeds and better response required by demanding users. Fueled by this insatiable appetite for performance, the mouse has come a long way from its humble beginnings. From a single button, corded device, now there is a version for every type of user including cordless models, and even high performance models oriented toward gaming.