Is the End Near for the Computer Mouse?

When you suddenly move from a desktopbecome known as a descriptor of a person who
computer with a mouse to a laptop with ais considered an excessive computer mouse user
touchpad keyboard, what is your first instinct inwith a computer related injury called a mousing
order to perform a function? You reach for theinjury. Most people who use their computer and
computer mouse instinctively and once your handcomputer mouse excessively know this type of
discovers that it isn’t where you thought,pain. Sitting at a desk for hours with an arm
it hits you with anxiety, “what do you dooutstretched and consistent tapping creates pain
now? There isn’t a mouse!” Youin shoulders, backs, necks, wrists and forearms.
suddenly think, since I can’t communicateÂ
with the computer, it’s almost useless withAccording to recent media, Windows 7's
out a computer mouse to access themultitouch software can allow desktop and laptop
“start” button. Until you realize thatPC users to use their fingers to draw pictures
you have the touch pad keyboard, you realizeonto a computer screen, zoom in and out of
how much dependence is on the computerphotos, flip quickly through slideshows, search and
mouse.skim maps, and play an on-screen piano. Also
Âincluded in the new product is speech recognition
The computer mouse has had quite the legacy.technologies. This will allow users to communicate
From wireless to ergonomic to finger mouseto their computer and hear their computer
styles and several kitschy computer mouse padsrespond back. This multitouch technology is also
to go with it. All of it is about to change though.being called “Surface.” First instances
With the advent of touch screens, the era of theof the surface technology will be premiered at
computer mouse is quickly coming to an end. Ourhotels, restaurants and other public venues.
society has already embraced both resistive andÂ
capacitive sensor technologies on a grand scale.Now, the question remains, will other companies
We have seen touch screens impact our dailybesides the Microsoft giant be able to beat
lives already, from the grocery store check outMicrosoft to the market? As far as idealistic goals
to the gas pump and at the bank. Now, withof going mouse-less next year, is the actual time
touch screen phones and soon, touch screenline two or three? With so many people touching
Microsoft Windows, the computer mouse will bescreens to connect to the internet and other
unnecessary.functions via their telephone and other hand held
Âdevices, it almost seems like the next logical step
If users can speed up the process of touchingwould be seeking out ways to scroll our fingers
something on the screen rather than reaching fordown the computer’s screen, eliminating
the mouse and the pointer to produce a function,the clunky ol mouse and quickly accessing files,
think of the time it will save and not to mentionphotos and music faster than ever possible
“mousing injuries.”before. Just think, soon double clicking will be a
“Mousing,” the term for usingphrase of the past.
one’s computer mouse functions has also