Gaming Mouse Pad

When the first mouse was invented by Douglas Engelbart, it needed a mouse pad to get it moving and to protect it. This is because the way that a computer mouse works is that certain messages are transmitted to the computer through the movement of the ball underneath it. This ball had to roll over a smooth surface and not get impeded by dust and dirt. However, when the optical mouse was invented, this changed. Today, the optical mouse can either function on its own, or with a specific optical mouse pad.

The optical mouse works with an image-processing chip that takes pictures of the mouse pad surface. The various changes that occur are then processed to onscreen movement. This more sophisticated technology means that there is no longer a ball that requires friction or can get messed up by excessive dust. However, there is still a certain need for an optical mouse pad.

When the first optical mouse appeared on the market, it came with an optical mouse pad. At this stage, the infrared and diode rays that replaced the rolling ball required a mouse pad with a reflective face and grid lines painted with infrared ink on a reflective surface. This meant no cute mouse pad designs, as these would not have helped. The computer used to log the movements of the mouse as they navigated the gridlines on the optical mouse pad.

Things have moved on since then. Today’s optical mouse does not necessarily need an optical mouse pad. Even the friction that facilitates the movement of a trackball mouse is not required for an optical mouse. However, if you are working on a reflective or transparent surface, this could still affect the performance of your optical mouse. In this particular situation you would still need a mouse pad.

Do not go for any type of optical mouse pad that is transparent, reflective, or shiny. It might look good on your computer table, but it is not going to do anything for your optical mouse. So if your Aunty from down south brings you a nice, shiny silver mouse pad as a nice gift, forget about it as it really will not help you when it comes to actual mouse performance.

If you are a computer games enthusiast, you also might find an optical mouse pad that is very suitable for your needs. The best materials to use in this case are durable plastic with a rubber, non-slip bottom surface. This provides protection against your mouse slipping off the mouse pad, which can be very irritating, regardless of what you are doing. Never use a pad made from cloth as this could fray and also impede movement.

So who knows which way mouse and mouse pad technology will follow as time goes on – and whether the optical mouse pad will soon become completely a thing of the past. For now, it looks like it’s here to stay, but at some point, it will not be surprising to see an evolution of the mouse into something completely different.