The growing popularity of handheld PCs marks a major movement in computer history. Aside from the change in computer use due to the rise of these revolutionary innovations, the phenomenon also signals an imminent change in input devices. With the now-ubiquitous cutting-edge touch screen, it may cause one to wonder – Is the era of computer mouse coming to an end? Indeed, there may soon be no need for the device that allowed us to click our way through interfaces for the past few decades.
Clicking vs Touching
The ground-breaking invention, the mouse, was conceptualized in 1972; it has since then enabled much ease and efficiency in operating a personal computer. These days however, various touch-navigated input devices provide even more convenience, far outdoing the dependable mouse.
Before the Touch Screen Came the Touch Pad
It’s observable how laptops have begun to shed the mouse by incorporating the touch pad or track pad, even as early as two decades ago. Since laptops have been constantly growing in popularity, outshining desktop computers, users have gradually grown accustomed to touching and tapping with their fingers instead of clicking on a mouse. Apple was the first to integrate multi-touch, which allows two or more points to be recognized by the surface. Other computer companies soon incorporated a similar technology into their laptops.
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Blazing the Trail for Touch Screen Navigation
Touch navigation was later engineered for the screen itself. Various computer companies aimed to develop the touch screen for years, and it was Apple who beat all the others in making the technology practicable. The iPad is today’s gadget of choice – yet even long before this brainchild of Apple was born, several touch-screen tablets and pocket PCs were already in the market. Those earlier models easily became a sensation among consumers who could afford them, but their appeal was brief since the technology was yet flawed in those days. It was Apple that eventually improved upon touch screen navigation, as first seen in the iPhone and iPod Touch.
Companies such as HP and ASUS soon incorporated touch navigation into their laptops, yet the devices that were first produced were not completely satisfactory. It was then thought that the technology was suitable only for small hand-held gadgets, and not for devices with larger displays. When the iPad was released in 2010, it garnered much praise, due in part to the large screen featuring effortless touch navigation. Though the device may not be as ergonomic as a desktop PC or a regular laptop, combining it with a few interesting iPad accessories like the Bluetooth keyboard – together with the appropriate applications, of course – can afford a good amount of productivity.
The success of the iPad has since spurred other computer companies to produce similar Windows-based devices. It’s easy to extrapolate that touch-operated interfaces will soon be integrated into laptop computers and Netbooks. The devices and the corresponding applications will likely move into a kind of interface that can be navigated without requiring a mouse.
Nonetheless, Hold On to That Mouse
Though it’s apparent that computer use is moving toward the touch-screen interface, it’s doubtful that this technology will be applied to desktop PCs. Don’t throw your mouse away just yet; the computer mouse will still prove to be very useful for certain tasks, such as intense gaming or graphic design work. Just be sure to keep up with the changing times by preparing for a permanent shift to touch navigation.
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Do you think the computer mouse is heading towards the end of its era? Tell us what you think in the comments.
I don’t think so that is the end of the computer mouse. Using computer mouse for me is convenient. I do much believe that you can actually do your computer task when there is a computer mouse..
Thanks for the comment, Nicholle!
Desktop PCs still have the little mouse attached to it and the mouse is surely here to stay till the PCs don’t become obsolete.
It’s very hard to find something to replace the computer mouse in terms of high fidelity precision of interaction isn’t it?
I am MUCH more comfortable using a good Logitech mouse. But, right now I’m actually using the Magic Trackpad from Apple. I’m trying to switch between a mouse 1 week (at work) and then trackpakd the next week (at work). At home I always use a mouse. This is just to “switch it up” a bit, and to avoid getting injuries because of the mouse.
Computer mouse related pain/injuries are certainly bothering me. I have these tingling sensation on my fingers and hand sometimes. I guess I need to switch things up a little too. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Klaus.
I really feel hard to use touch pad for long time..I love to use mouse which make me feel comfortable to work for long time. I don think its the end for computer mouse..! Recently my laptop touch pad was not working and thank god i had USB mouse which helped in completing my work on time.
The mouse is always reliable isn’t it?
Yes,Peter Lee..! they are compact,much more comfortable for me..!!
Being truthful, I only use my mouse on my laptop when i play Counter Strike..
I still like to use a mouse with my laptop. I have the IBM thinkpad nub in the middle of the keyboard, and that’s great, but it gets tiring after a while. I hate the trackpad on a laptop, hate hate hate it. I need a mouse.
I guess it’s hard to find a replacement for the mouse huh? 🙂
hello Peter….
the technology changed too fast.Surely there will be touch screen PC,but when it comes to me,I never through my mouse out.You said right,mouses are really helpful in playing games.I am a Counter Strike fan.It impossible to imagine CS without mouse.
There goes another vote in favor of the humble mouse 🙂
What’s a change in technology! If we consider only computer, we will be 100% astonished. Now computer has been small device and more powerful. We are also avoiding the mouse. Although touch screen technology still can’t come frequently to the general users, but it’s a matter of time. People will find an easy way and that is touch screen than mouse. Thank you to give a detail.
Hi Peter. For what it’s worth, I like the mouse much better than a touch pad (which I just can’t seem to get the knack of). A touch screen is great for hand-helds, but when I am at my desk, I like a big screen at a bit of a distance – not practical for touch screen. Even with my glasses, I find it hard to work for too long with a screen close up. The mouse is the best technology we have for now to move things around on a screen beyond arm’s length reach.
My thoughts exactly! Thanks for stopping by, David!
Personally for myself I could not get rid of the mouse as I even use it on my laptop rather than the touch pad it has. I agree that as most computers come with touch screens the mouse will be set aside but for now I think there is still reason to use it and people who prefer it.
Many people are still used to the mouse since we’ve been using it for decades. But eventually, software will adopt the touch-screen technology by the time our mouses become unattachable to our computers.