Re: Whats it for?

[mjmahon@aol.com (Michael J. Mahon)]

william strutts wrote:

>I have an optical mouse with an infrared sensor.  I don't need a mouse
>pad with this since it is optical and can work on any surface.  It is
>great and I wouldn't want to go back to a standard mouse.  I can't
>even stand a standard mouse these days because I am spoilt with
>this one.  Plus I find it frustrating to live without my wheel which
>comes in real handy when perousing web pages.

I, too, have a "video" mouse, and love it.

FWIW, this technlogy is based upon taking a video image of the
surface under the mouse many times per second, and comparing
successive pictures to observe relative movement, which is then
communicated to the system as "mouse movement pulses".

The video "navigation" technology was developed by HP in the
early 90's, and used in their abortive CapShare handheld portable
scanner.  When the poorly packaged CapShare failed to take off
as a product, the division *sold* the navigation technology off to
Microsoft and Logitech, and they are now the proud purveyors of
"ball-less" mice.  ;-(

-michael

 Email:  mjmahon@aol.com
 Home page:  http://members.aol.com/MJMahon/