December 3rd, 2008
Information Age landmark: One billionth mouse produced
Logitech, maker of many mice, has hailed as a major landmark the production of their one billionth computer mouse, which rolled off production lines late last month.
The first mouse was created on December 9, 1968 when Douglas C. Engelbart and his group of researchers at Stanford University put the first mouse through its paces.
“It’s rare in human history that a billionth of anything has been shipped by one company,” said Logitech’s general manager Rory Dooley in an article by the BBC. “Look at any other industry and it has never happened. This is a significant milestone.”
But lately, the traditional mouse’s days seems numbered.
Gartner analyst Steve Prentice weighed in:
“The mouse will no longer be mainstream in three to five years…the world has changed and the nature of machines has changed. The multi-touch interface I believe really does seal the coffin of the mouse.”
Dooley said those technologies are just icing on the mouse’s cake:
“The fundamental functionality of the mouse has not changed for 40 years and that is one of the keys to its success. We do not envisage unlearning all those years of learning but that doesn’t mean to say there will not be a place for touch interfaces. Touch will augment the things you can do today with the mouse and keyboard interface.”
What do you think, readers? With the increased use of laptops as desktops, are mice endangered by touchpads, touchscreens and accelerometer-equipped devices? Tell us your mousey stories in TalkBack.
Andrew J. Nusca is an associate editor for ZDNet and SmartPlanet.
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