Computer accessories have undergone remarkable advancements in the past few years. Keyboards and mouse have evolved and now support wired or wireless connections. A standard computer mouse is equipped with two click buttons, a scroll wheel, and one or more additional sensors to help track its location on the desk.
A standard traditional mouse won’t be suitable if you require high-precision movements and accurate hand-eye coordination. An optical mouse could be a great option to fulfil the accuracy criteria. But what does optical mouse mean exactly? Let’s dive deeper to know what is optical mouse in computer and the benefits of optical mouse.
What Is Optical Mouse In Computer?
A typical traditional mouse uses a mechanical system consisting of a ball-and-wheel mechanism to detect motion relative to a surface. However, an optical mouse is a modern-day mouse that uses an optical sensor to track the movement of the user’s hand. It uses an infrared LED and digital signal processing technology to track movement without contacting the surface.
The mouse takes around 1000 images per second below the surface level to detect motion through the changes in reflected light. It is highly useful in gaming, where there is a need to move the mouse rapidly across a slippery surface. Besides, it can be connected through a cord or wirelessly to a computer system.
How Does Optical Mouse Work?
An optical mouse is more efficient and precise than its traditional counterpart because of its advanced technology. It works in the following mechanism.
- The mouse projects a red light on the surface and is equipped with a CMOS sensor that can see the light and detect movement.
- When the light is detected, the sensor sends a signal to the computer to move the cursor on the screen.
- When the light source moves, the sensors detect the changes in the light path and move the cursor accordingly.
- It is a more accurate method that involves taking repeated images of the location and adjusting the cursor accurately when the image shifts in direction.
Benefits Of Optical Mouse
Now that you know what is a wireless optical mouse, explore the following benefits of optical mouse which you will gain from using one.
Cursor Accuracy
With a high DPI resolution, an optical mouse can analyse changing positions at 700 mm/sec. Rapoo’s wireless mouse has a DPI resolution from 600 DPI to 1600 DPI. Because of its high-precision movement tracking, an optical mouse has better cursor accuracy than a mechanical mouse.
Convenience
An optical mouse can be on a notebook or any other object as long as the laser can read the surface on which it is operated. On the other hand, mechanical mouse require a flat, hard, and frictionless surface for proper functioning. That is why an optical mouse is more convenient, especially for gaming.
Silent In Operation
Since no mechanical parts are involved in an optical mouse, there’s silence while you use it along the surface. Besides, it involves less maintenance than a mechanical mouse due to a lack of mechanical parts.
Excellent Ergonomics
Infrared sensors and LED sources are under the optical mouse and can be lifted slightly off the surface. This setup prevents the need for a tight grip around the mouse or a hard press on the click buttons. It leads to a comfortable user experience.
Eliminate Surface Issues
An optical mouse can be easily used on most surfaces, even if the surface is slightly rugged. However, you might face some difficulty using a gleaming surface or a surface made of a glass mirror. The infrared technology in an optical mouse makes it a better choice than a mechanical mouse with numerous surface restrictions.
What Is Better: Laser Or Optical Mouse?
By now, it must be clear what is a wireless optical mouse. Now, let’s answer another common question among professionals; what is better Laser or optical mouse?
An optical mouse uses an LED as the light source for detecting movements, whereas a laser mouse uses an infrared laser diode to lighten the surface beneath the sensor. Deciding which is better for you depends on your usage preferences.
- The optical mouse is known for more stable performance than the laser mouse. Hence it is highly preferred for top-level gaming experiences.
- An optical mouse may perform poorly on bright and glass surfaces. That’s where the laser mouse comes to the rescue. It can be used on almost any surface.
- When it comes to other surface types, optical mouse are as good as laser mouse.
- Laser mouse may have better specifications and high DPI levels, but people rarely use them at their max DPI. Therefore, an optical mouse is highly recommended for stable tracking and efficient use.
Conclusion
An optical mouse eliminates the need for additional sensors and provides convenience while browsing the monitor. With the wide-scale benefits of optical mouse, it is an ideal choice for everyday use at work or intense gaming sessions. Rapoo’s collection of optical mouse are built with superior design with a long battery life and are available in wired and wireless formats.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. In Which Year Optical Mouse Was Built?
The optical mouse was introduced to the world in 1999. However, it became commercially available only in the early 2000s.
Q2. What Material Is Optical Mouse?
An optical mouse consists of a LED, an optical sensor and a digital signal processor in place of the mouse ball and electromechanical transducer present in the traditional mouse.
Q3. What Color Is Optical Mouse?
The optical mouse colour varies according to the design and mouse brand. However, the LED in the optical mouse emits red colour because it has a higher chance of reflection regardless of the ambient lighting to detect the movement better.
Q4. Is Optical Mouse Light Dangerous?
The LEDs in an optical mouse are not harmful unless it is a class 2 laser device. Generally, the LEDs equipped with an optical mouse are class 1 devices.
