Originally referred to as an X-Y Position Indicator for a Display System, a mouse is a hardware input device that was invented by Douglas Engelbart in1963 while working at Xerox PARC. The mouse allows an individual to control a pointer in a graphical user interface (GUI) and manipulate on-screen objects such as icons, files, and folders.
By using a mouse, the user doesn't have to memorize commands, such as those utilized in a text-based command line environment like MS-DOS. For example, in MS-DOS a user would have to know the cd command and dir command to navigate to a folder and view the files inside. Whereas a Windows user only has to double-click a file to view its contents.
After its inception at the Stanford Research Institute (a think tank sponsored by Stanford University), Xerox applied the mouse to its revolutionary Alto computer system in 1973. However, due to Alto's lack of success, the first widely used application was with the AppleLisa computer. Today, this pointing device is found on virtually every computer.
How do I use a mouse?
Move - Using your right or left hand drag the mouse up, down, left, or right to move the mouse pointer on the screen. If you reach the edge of your mouse pad, pick up the mouse and move it to the opposite side and then continue dragging the mouse in the direction you want the mouse pointer to move.
Select - When your mouse pointer is on top of an object on your screen (e.g. an icon), click the mouse left button once to highlight the item. If you want to select text, click the left button at the end of the text you want to select and then while continuing to hold down the button drag to the mouse to the left.
Open - Click the left mouse button twice quickly (double-click) to open the icon, program, or document.
Viewing properties - To view the properties of anything on the computer, move your mouse cursor over the icon, folder, or file press the right mouse button (right-click). Then, select properties from the drop down menu. If you view the properties of text, you'll be given a menu with options such as cut, copy, and paste.