Will the Computer Mouse die at 40?

Many of the computer users might get sleepless nights when they hear the news about the mouse going to be extinct in the ever changing Information Technology world. But the news seems to be going round because the new technology could replace its uses.  

The computer mouse was invented back in 1968 by Doug Engelbart and his team at the Stanford Research Institute in California. The computer mouse, which is now 40 years old, was developed after the team realized that there was a need for a simpler way of controlling computers than the standard light pen which had been used since the Second World War.

More aptly mouse got its name since it quite resembled the animal and it was termed such by one unnamed researcher. However, sadly it comes to light that on the eve of its 40th birthday, which is being celebrated this week when Engelbart returns to Stanford, the mouse could be facing death at the hands of new technology.

The future of mouse is quite uncertain with the control methods of both the Wii and iPhone creeping in. It is a well known fact that many laptop users already choose to use the built-in touchpad rather than a mouse. Moreover, touchscreens are now a reality rather than a science fiction. So there may be time we may not see the mouse around us, since it would be replaced with a much more natural and user-friendly way of controlling the technology we use every day.

But the fact is, evolving mouse might have taken years of toil and it wouldn’t die so soon. Well, technology savvy person can say goodbye to mouse soon but there would be people who would love to respect him and continue being its patron. But how long is the question. And in fact, none of us can answer this question, only time can answer this.