Mousepads were designed in 1969 to allow a mouse to glide easily across a surface. They come in various shapes, sizes, and materials, and can be customized with logos or pictures. Some people may choose specific mousepads for gaming or ergonomic purposes.
The first mousepad was designed in 1969, although it would be many years before they became such a popular item in homes and offices. The essential purpose of the mouse pad is to allow the mouse to glide easily across a surface. Many types of mouse controllers can be used without a pad, but they can be hard on surfaces and don’t roll as well, which can slow down tasks.
Early forms of optical “mice” might require special mouse pads that the mouse would read to function properly. These specialty pads aren’t particularly common today, and many people can simply purchase any form of pad for use with a mouse. Some mice were integrated with computer systems and could not be used separately from the computer. Instead people might have a trackball or spinning ball built into their computer keyboard. This used to be common in laptops, although people might be able to plug in external mice if they preferred.
The shape of the mouse pad has considerable variation. The simple ones can be made in rectangular or slightly square shapes. Some newer forms include those with wrist padding, which are said to be more ergonomic. Sizes vary, although the largest pad, which may be suitable for certain applications, is approximately 35″ x 17″ in size (about 90X45cm).
While numerous mousepads can be very simple, containing a logo, perhaps, or simple colors, many are highly decorative. People can have custom mousepads made with family pictures, companies might produce company logo mousepads as gifts for customers or employees, and there are even art mousepads that use reprints of famous artists’ work.
The variety of materials is significant and bearings can be made from recycled materials, a combination of rubber and fabric, plastic, steel, silicone or even wood or cork. The plain, lightly padded cloth pad with a non-stick backing is usually the most preferred. However, with so many choices, it’s quite easy to choose a mouse pad for every taste.
Some people may select mouse pads for certain applications. Gamers who play video games regularly may find a gaming mouse pad a better choice. There are many to choose from, and they can help improve game accuracy, preserve the life of the mouse, and provide a larger playing space for various PC games.
For most computers, especially rarely used ones, an inexpensive mouse pad will do. Often people are able to score blocks for free. Those with specific needs can come up with more elaborate pads for certain types of use. A mousepad designed to serve additional purposes such as ergonomic protection or better gaming play is likely to be more expensive than simple mousepads designated as multipurpose.
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