1981: The first integrated mouse intended for use with a personal computer makes its appearance with the Xerox Star workstation.

The name “mouse” derived from the device’s rounded shape and tail-like cord extending from it, suggesting the diminutive rodent.

The first mouse, an experimental pointing device, was invented in 1964 by Douglas Englebart, who was then working at the Stanford Research Institute in Palo Alto, California. Other methods of direction were being tried at the time — a head-mounted device, for example — before Englebart’s hand-operated mouse won out.

See Also:

Photo Gallery
40 Years of Mighty Mice

Video
Doug Engelbart on the Mouse Turning 40

Photo Gallery
The Evolution of the Computer Mouse

Englebart’s original design underwent a number of changes before emerging as part of the Star workstation, a commercial system which was notable for a few other firsts as well: the graphical user interface, and the use of folders, file servers and e-mail.

The modern mouse is available in a number of variations, each designed to be integrated with a specific operating system or to fulfill a specific function.

Source: Wikipedia

This article first appeared on Wired.com April 27, 2007.

See Also:

• Dec. 9, 1968: The Mother of All Demos
• Evolution of the (Awful) Apple Mouse
• Wired.com coverage of computer input devices
• March 19, 1981: Shuttle Columbia’s First Fatalities
• May 26, 1981: Programmer-Attorney Wins First U.S. Software Patent
• June 18, 1981: Vaccine Puts Best Foot-and-Mouth Forward
• Aug. 12, 1981: IBM Unveils 5150 PC
• Nov. 19, 1981: Marcos Regime Puts the Kibosh on Games
• April 27, 1791: Samuel F.B. Morse, 'American Leonardo,' Born
• April 27, 1998: Koko Goes Ape in AOL Chat