Computer Mouse History

Concept of the computer mouse

Jan 1, 1961

Dr. Douglas C Englebart conceptualized the first computer mouse. The first mouse built was based on his sketches.

First Computer Mouse Prototype

Jan 1, 1964

Bill English built the first working mouse prototype. It had a single button, a wheel at the bottom and a cord at the back. This was where it was first called the mouse when someone in Englebart's lab said it looked like one.

Patented

Jun 21, 1967

Englebart filed a patent application for his mouse, which was listed as an “X-Y Position indicator for a
Display System.”

Two Buttoned Mouse Designed

Jan 1, 1974

Jean-Daniel Nicoud designed the mouse that we use today, with two buttons and a wheel.

First ergonomically designed mouse

Jan 1, 1987

Microsoft developed the first mouse that better fitted the hand than it's more rectangular predecessors. It was known as the "Dove Bar" because of it's resemblance to a bar of soap. Many mice generally followed the Dove Bar's sleeker, contoured design after it's release.

First Cordless mouse Developed

Sep 30, 2001

Logitech created the first wireless mouse, known as the Cordless MouseMan Optical. This gave way to many more of it's kind, varying in size and shape.

Another Cordless Mouse

Oct 8, 2008

The Logitech Nano cordless laser mouse was specifically made for notebooks and could clip onto a laptop for convenience. At this point, Laptops and computers were common in households and companies began thinking of ways to make mice stand out from the generic, two buttoned crowd.