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Anatomy of a Mouse

 

The mouse is one basic way that you communicate with your computer about what to do next. A mouse has three basic features. It has a left button, a right button, and some way of moving the pointer on the screen. Most mice have a ball on the bottom, which tells your computer which way to move the pointer (Some mice don’t use a ball, but the principle is the same.). There are also other types of pointing devices like joy sticks and track balls. They have at least two buttons, but the way they point is a little different. Take a look at the notebook photo below. In that photo, there is a little blue knob that changes the location of the pointer. It also has a touch pad. But, just like a mouse, it still has a left and a right button.

 

Typical Two-Button Mouse

Full Featured Mouse

Notebook Pointers

  • Left Button
  • Right Button
  • A ball on the bottom
  • Left Button
  • Right Button
  • Middle Button

(The middle button can be programmed to do different things.)

  • Wheel

(The wheel is good for scrolling or moving up and down a page.)

  • Thumb Button

(The thumb button can also be programmed to do different things.)

  • A ball on the bottom

Option 1

  • Left Button
  • Right Button
  • Joy Stick

(Little Blue Button)

Option 2

  • Left Button
  • Right Button
  • Touch Pad

(Controlled by your fingertip)

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