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Quizzes > Computers & IT

Who Invented the Computer Mouse? Find Out in This Quick Quiz

Quick, free quiz on the first mouse demonstration and more. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Natalie WagenaarUpdated Aug 25, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art style layered computer mouse on dark blue background with playful tech trivia quiz theme about mouse invention

Use this quiz to check what you know about who invented the computer mouse and how it became a key tool. Answer quick questions on early demos, design changes, and the company that popularized it. If you want more practice, try our computer hardware quiz, explore technology trivia questions, or take a computer basics quiz.

Who is credited with inventing the first computer mouse?
Alan Turing
Steve Jobs
Douglas Engelbart
Bill English
Douglas Engelbart conceived and built the first prototype of the computer mouse in the 1960s at the Stanford Research Institute. Bill English was Engelbart's assistant who helped construct the device. Engelbart's invention was first publicly demonstrated in 1968 during the famous "Mother of All Demos". .
What material was the outer casing of the first computer mouse made from?
Rubber
Wood
Plastic
Metal
The very first mouse prototype featured a wooden casing, handcrafted to house the internal wheels and electronics. Wood was chosen for its ease of machining and prototyping in the 1960s. Later commercial mice switched to plastic for cost and durability. .
In what year was the computer mouse first publicly demonstrated?
1968
1962
1970
1972
Douglas Engelbart publicly unveiled the mouse during "The Mother of All Demos" in December 1968. This landmark demonstration showcased real-time text editing, video conferencing, hypertext, and the mouse as a pointing device. It marked a pivotal moment in human-computer interaction. .
What was the shape of the original mouse?
Rectangular wooden block
Triangular plastic housing
Spherical ball shape
Cylindrical metal device
The original mouse was literally a small rectangular wooden block with two perpendicular metal wheels underneath. Engelbart's team designed it for simple X- and Y-axis tracking. Its distinctive boxy form is far from today's ergonomic curves. .
What input mechanism did the first mouse use to detect movement?
Trackball
Infrared sensors
Optical sensor
Two perpendicular wheels
Engelbart's mouse used two orthogonal wheels - one for horizontal movement and one for vertical movement - to translate motion into cursor movement. Each wheel drove potentiometers that converted rotation into electrical signals. Optical and trackball mechanisms came decades later. .
Where was the first mouse prototype developed?
MIT
IBM Research
Bell Labs
Stanford Research Institute
The first computer mouse was developed at the Stanford Research Institute (now SRI International) under the leadership of Douglas Engelbart. The prototype was part of research into human-computer interaction. SRI was known for several pioneering technology breakthroughs. .
Which system did Douglas Engelbart demonstrate the mouse with in 1968?
oN-Line System (NLS)
Mac OS
UNIX
Windows
Engelbart showcased the mouse as part of his oN-Line System (NLS) during the 1968 demonstration. NLS was an early hypertext and collaboration system designed to augment human intellect. It integrated many technologies that are now standard in personal computing. .
What nickname did Engelbart use to refer to his mouse invention in early documents?
X-Y Position Indicator for a Display System
Mouse-Point Control Device
Cursor Steering Knob
Digital Hand Controller
In his original patent, Engelbart referred to the device as an "X?Y Position Indicator for a Display System." The term "mouse" arose informally because of the cord looking like a tail. Over time, "mouse" became the universally accepted name. .
What is the US patent number assigned to Engelbart's mouse invention?
5,555,555
3,541,541
4,167,541
3,141,421
Douglas Engelbart's patent for the computer mouse was granted as US Patent 3,541,541 in 1970. It describes an X-Y position indicator for use in a computer display system. That document laid the legal foundation for later commercial mice. .
Which research center licensed the mouse technology from SRI for further development?
Xerox PARC
Apple Research Lab
Microsoft Research
IBM T.J. Watson
Xerox PARC (Palo Alto Research Center) licensed Engelbart's mouse technology in the early 1970s. PARC engineers refined the design, developing the ball-type mechanism used in many later models. Their work influenced both Apple and Microsoft in the decades that followed. .
Which company was first to include a mouse with a commercial personal computer?
IBM
Xerox
Microsoft
Apple
Apple was the first major manufacturer to include a mouse with a personal computer, starting with the Lisa in 1983. The Lisa's graphical user interface relied heavily on the mouse for user interaction. IBM and Microsoft included mice later with their systems. .
Which mechanism replaced Engelbart's tracking wheels in the early 1980s to detect motion?
Capacitive touch
Rubber-coated ball
Optical LED
Laser sensors
In the early 1980s, manufacturers replaced the twin-wheel mechanism with a single rubber-coated ball that rolled on two internal rollers. This design improved responsiveness and reduced mechanical complexity. Laser and optical LED sensors would not become mainstream until much later. .
What informal name is given to Engelbart's 1968 demo that introduced the mouse?
The Big Reveal
Mother of All Demos
Original Interface Showcase
Demo Day
Engelbart's December 1968 presentation is often called the "Mother of All Demos" because it introduced multiple revolutionary technologies in one session. Attendees saw hypertext, video conferencing, collaborative editing, and the mouse. Its impact on computing history is unmatched. .
Which feature was NOT part of the original 1968 mouse design?
Single-button interface
Two-axis tracking wheels
Right-click button
Wooden casing
The original mouse had a single button and two orthogonal wheels in a wooden casing. It did not include a right-click button, which was only introduced many years later. Right-clicking became standard in the late 1980s and early 1990s. .
Which early personal computer featured a three-button mouse configuration?
Xerox Alto
IBM PC
Apple II
Commodore 64
The Xerox Alto, developed in the early 1970s at PARC, shipped with a three-button mouse. The design allowed users to access multiple context-sensitive functions without keyboard commands. This configuration influenced later GUI systems. .
Which operating system popularized the graphical user interface alongside the mouse in the 1980s?
Windows 3.0
Mac OS
CP/M
MS-DOS
The original Macintosh, released in 1984, debuted Mac OS, which popularized the GUI and mouse-based interaction for home users. MS-DOS was command-line only, and Windows 3.0 appeared later in 1990. Mac OS's intuitive interface set the new standard. .
True or False: Engelbart's mouse was designed to operate on any smooth surface without a mouse pad.
False
True
Engelbart's original mouse required a relatively flat, textured surface - often a wooden board - to ensure the wheels could grip and track motion. It did not function reliably on very smooth or reflective surfaces without added friction. Modern optical mice can work on many surfaces without pads. .
Which ergonomic mouse design, introduced by Microsoft in 1996, featured a curved shape to better fit the hand?
IntelliMouse Explorer
IntelliMouse Optical
Natural Ergonomic Desktop mouse
Wireless Notebook Mouse
Microsoft's Natural Ergonomic Desktop mouse, released in 1996, introduced a pronounced curved shape to reduce wrist strain. It was one of the first mass-market ergonomic mice and influenced future peripheral design. The IntelliMouse series focused on optical tracking rather than hand shape. .
Which mathematical coordinate system influenced the two perpendicular wheels in Engelbart's mouse?
Spherical coordinate system
Cartesian coordinate system
Cylindrical coordinate system
Polar coordinate system
Engelbart's design tracked motion along two perpendicular axes - horizontal and vertical - mirroring the Cartesian coordinate system. Each wheel corresponded to one axis, allowing precise cursor movement on a 2D display. Other systems like polar coordinates were unsuitable for screen mapping. .
The original Engelbart mouse's wheels measured movement along how many axes?
Three
One
Two
Four
The first mouse used two perpendicular wheels to detect movement on the X (horizontal) and Y (vertical) axes. This two-axis approach became the universal standard for 2D cursor control. Modern 3D mice can track additional dimensions, but Engelbart's was strictly 2D. .
What factor was the biggest limitation in the longevity of early mechanical mice?
Wireless interference
Battery life
Accumulation of dirt on wheels
Software compatibility
Early mechanical mice with rubber-coated balls and internal rollers often accumulated dust and debris, causing erratic pointer movement. Regular cleaning was required to maintain performance. Optical and laser sensors removed this mechanical limitation entirely. .
What was the primary function of the third button on the Xerox 8010 mouse?
Left-click
Display context-sensitive menus
Scroll wheel activation
Double-click
The Xerox 8010 Star system's three-button mouse used the third button to bring up context-sensitive menus on screen. This allowed users to perform different actions without memorizing keyboard commands. The idea influenced modern context menu practices. .
Which Apple computer was the first to ship with a mouse as the standard input device?
Apple II
Lisa
Newton
Macintosh 128K
Apple's Lisa, released in 1983, was the first personal computer sold with a mouse as a standard input device. The graphical user interface was designed around mouse control. The Macintosh followed in 1984 with a simpler, lower-cost design. .
Who was awarded the first patent for an optical mouse sensor?
Steve Jobs
Richard F. Lyon
Bill English
Douglas Engelbart
Richard F. Lyon was awarded one of the earliest patents for an optical mouse sensor in 1989, working at Xerox PARC. His design used photodiodes to track surface movement without moving parts. This innovation paved the way for modern optical and laser mice. .
What computing concept did Engelbart aim to advance with his invention of the mouse?
Command-line interface
Batch processing
Augmentation of human intellect
Virtual memory
Engelbart's overarching goal was the "augmentation of human intellect," seeking tools to enhance collective problem-solving and creativity. The mouse was just one part of his system for intuitive interaction. His vision extended to hypertext, collaborative editing, and networked communication. .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand the origins of the computer mouse -

    Gain insight into the early development and the motivations that led to the creation of this essential computing device.

  2. Identify who invented the mouse -

    Recognize Douglas Engelbart's pivotal role in designing and building the very first computer mouse prototype.

  3. Recall key invention dates -

    Memorize when the mouse was invented and note significant milestones in its historical timeline.

  4. Analyze the mouse's design evolution -

    Explore how materials, shapes, and functionality changed from the original clicky device to modern ergonomic models.

  5. Evaluate the mouse's impact on computing -

    Assess how this simple accessory revolutionized user interfaces and influenced software interaction paradigms.

  6. Test your tech trivia skills -

    Challenge yourself with fun questions about the inventor of the computer mouse and related tech trivia facts.

Cheat Sheet

  1. The Inventor: Douglas Engelbart -

    Douglas Engelbart, a researcher at SRI International, is credited as the inventor of the computer mouse. His groundbreaking work on human - computer interaction began in the 1950s, culminating in the first prototype in 1964 (source: SRI International Archive).

  2. First Prototype & Name -

    The original mouse was a wooden shell with two perpendicular wheels, earning the technical term "X - Y Position Indicator." Remember the mnemonic "X and Y mean two wheels inside" to recall how it tracked movement (source: US Patent 3,541,541).

  3. "Mother of All Demos" 1968 -

    Engelbart publicly demonstrated the mouse during the famous 1968 ARPA demo, showcasing real-time editing and windowing - an event often called the "Mother of All Demos." This pivotal moment cemented the device's role in interactive computing (source: Stanford University GVU Center).

  4. Patent & Recognition -

    Engelbart filed for a patent in 1967 and was granted US Patent 3,541,541 in 1970, formally recognizing him as the inventor of the computer mouse. The patent details the mechanism behind the X - Y wheels and the click function (source: United States Patent Office).

  5. Evolution & Adoption -

    After its invention, companies like Xerox PARC refined the design, and Apple popularized the ball-based mouse in the 1984 Macintosh, followed by optical sensors in the 1990s. Use the phrase "Wood to Ball to Light" to remember the mouse's evolution path (source: ACM Digital Library).

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