Bus mouse

Bus Mouse

A bus mouse connected to a computer

The Bus Mouse is a type of computer mouse that was commonly used in the 1980s and 1990s. It was designed to be connected to a computer through a bus interface, which allowed for faster and more accurate cursor movement compared to earlier mouse models.

History

The Bus Mouse was first introduced by Microsoft in 1983 as an alternative to the traditional serial or parallel mice. It was initially developed for use with the IBM PC and compatible computers, which were becoming increasingly popular at the time. The Bus Mouse quickly gained popularity due to its improved performance and ease of use.

Design and Functionality

The Bus Mouse is typically connected to a computer through a bus interface, such as the ISA (Industry Standard Architecture) or the VESA (Video Electronics Standards Association) bus. This allowed for direct communication between the mouse and the computer, resulting in faster response times and smoother cursor movement.

The mouse itself consists of a handheld device with one or more buttons and a tracking ball. The tracking ball, located on the underside of the mouse, detects the movement of the mouse and translates it into cursor movement on the computer screen. The buttons are used for various functions, such as selecting and dragging objects.

Advantages and Disadvantages

One of the main advantages of the Bus Mouse is its improved performance compared to earlier mouse models. The direct communication with the computer through the bus interface allows for faster and more accurate cursor movement, making it ideal for tasks that require precise control, such as graphic design or gaming.

However, the Bus Mouse also has some disadvantages. One of the main drawbacks is its limited compatibility with modern computers. As technology advanced, newer bus interfaces, such as PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) and USB (Universal Serial Bus), became more common, rendering the Bus Mouse obsolete for most users.

Legacy and Influence

Although the Bus Mouse is no longer widely used, its impact on the development of computer mice cannot be overlooked. It paved the way for future advancements in mouse technology, such as the optical mouse and the wireless mouse. The Bus Mouse also played a significant role in popularizing the use of graphical user interfaces (GUIs), as it provided a more intuitive way to interact with the computer.

See Also

• Computer mouse
• Graphical user interface
• ISA bus
• VESA bus