QuickCheck: Is it true that the first computer mouse was made of wood?

The Engelbart mouse

COMPUTERS play a vital role in modern life. From communication to education, medicine, transportation, and even entertainment, they have revolutionised the way we live.

When we think of a "complete" computer, we often imagine one attached to various peripheral devices such as a mouse, keyboard, and speakers.

Such peripheral devices play a vital role in modern-day computing by providing additional functionality and improving the user experience. Nowadays, mice and keyboards even come in a variety of styles to suit their users’ tastes.

However, is it true that the very first computer mouse was carved out of a block of wood?

Verdict:

TRUE

The first computer mouse was invented in 1963 by Douglas Engelbart, a computer scientist at the Stanford Research Institute.

Engelbart's mouse was made of wood and used a single button and a rolling ball to move the cursor on a screen.

It was connected to the computer through a cord and was designed to be used with Engelbart's oN-Line System – which was at the time a revolutionary new way of interacting with computers.

The invention of the device came about as Engelbart was exploring different input devices people could use to interact with on-screen cursors and control information displays.

Several other devices considered for the task included trackballs, light pens and joysticks.

Other prototype pointing-devices were developed for Engelbart's oN-Line System – including some that needed to be mounted on the head, akin to modern VR devices – but ultimately the mouse won out because of its speed and convenience.

Engelbart and engineer Bill English, who was responsible for the hardware design, was the first to call it a "mouse" as the device was roughly the size and shape of a rodent, with its cord resembling a mouse’s tail. The name stuck and has been in use ever since.

Here’s another fun fact: According to its inventor, the official plural form of the computer mouse is "mice" but "mouses" is also commonly-used.

References:

1. https://www.computerhistory.org/revolution/input-output/14/350

2. https://history-computer.com/computer-mouse-complete-history/