Wireless Keyboard and Optical Mouse - Making Computing More Convenient for the Users

No one wants to be getting entangled in a maze of wires while getting his gadgets. Everyone wants to eliminate as much cords and wires as possible from his gadgets as their elimination greatly simplifies the connections between different devices. A keyboard that connects wirelessly offers great convenience to the users. One need not sit near one's computer to use it. One can use the keyboard from a position one feels is comfortable to him, like lying in the bed.
The keyboard can be used with a computer system that supports Bluetooth connectivity. Since the keyboard does not use any wires, it does not feature any ports for USB connections. Most such present day keyboards support two way transmissions of data through radio frequency (RF) for a distance of up to 100 ft. The keyboards come especially handy in situations where one's access to his or her computer is restricted due to space constraints. But one needs to install a supporting software in his or her computer to use such keyboards.
Microsoft has released a new combination of keyboard and mouse that connect without any wires with other devices. The combination is being marketed under the brand name Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000. The combination is the computer industry's first backlit keyboard. The gadget has specifically been designed for Media Centre PCs and can be used with both Windows Vista and Windows XP operating systems. The device features several buttons for use on Vista operating system. Many users of conventional keyboards may not know the exact functions of these buttons.
The keyboard has several dedicated buttons for multimedia control. The keyboard is backlit; it means one can also use it in areas which have dim or no light at all. There are many 'one touch' multimedia keys on the keyboard. For example, one can open up an internet browser or play a DVD on his computer with just a single touch of a multimedia key. Apple Inc. released its thinnest model of keyboard in August 2007 that can wirelessly connect to a computer. The keyboard is specifically designed for use on the company's Macintosh brand of computers. The device prevents accidental presses of Caps lock key. To activate the Caps lock function, one has to press and hold the Caps lock key for a while.
Let us now discuss some features of computer mouses as well. A computer or electronic mouse is basically a pointing device that detects motion in two dimensions relative to its position. The device's motion translates into a corresponding motion of a pointer on a display like a computer's monitor. The mechanical mouse was invented by Stanford Research Institute in 1963. The first ball mouse was developed in 1972 that used two oppositely moving rollers to detect the motion of the device. The wireless mouse was developed during 1980s.
A wireless mouse connects to the CPU of computers through Bluetooth technology. One need not keep the mouse near the computer's monitor to operate it. Nor does one need to stretch his or her hand to reach it. These mouses can work from a distance of up to 7 meters from the computer. Like other electronic gadgets, the device is susceptible to electrical and magnetic interferences. If there is a lot of electromagnetic interference in the vicinity of the mouse, its performance may be affected to a great extent.
The mouse detects its movement using photo diodes and light emitting diodes. Two versions of this mouse were released in 1980. Current models of the mouse use an optoelectronic sensor to picture its underlying surface. These mouses have special purpose image processing chips embedded in them. The chip allows the mouse to detect its motion relative to a variety of surfaces. The mouse illuminates the surface that it tracks over using a laser diode or a LED. The chip translates the movement of the mouse to a corresponding movement of a pointer on a display using an optical flow estimation algorithm.
A wireless mouse is better than optical mouse. Some more variants of electronic mouse like a laser mouse and tactile mouse are also available in the markets. Some manufactures have also developed mouses that have beenstylised to sense gestures of the users. For example, a quick movement of the mouse in "X" motion would delete a picture in a drawing program. The wireless keyboard and optical mouse have made it much comfortable to work on a computer system. Most present day high end computers come equipped with wireless keyboards and optical mouses. The devices have made it possible for users to easily interact with their computers from a distance.