IEEE History of Computing - Dissecting a Mouse
The invention and evolution of the computer mouse are critical events in the history of computing and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). For this activity students will break into groups of 3 - 4. The objective is to take apart a computer mouse in order to catalog its components and to determine how it works. Historians are sometimes called upon to do this with historical artifacts, for the purposes of both revelation and reconstruction.
This is a single class period activity intended to not only give students an opportunity to "do" history, but also to work productively in teams. Student teams will elect a "secretary" who will submit a form identifying the members of the team and documenting the activity at the end of class.
Activity
https://tryengineering.org/teacher/lesson-plans/history-computing-eeeek-mouse/
Engineering Design Process
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YVGm8cOSdA
History of the Computer Mouse
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPuC2dqdd_8&t=98s
The Computer Mouse - Computer History Museum
https://www.computerhistory.org/revolution/input-output/14/350
Instructions for "dissecting" a Mac mouse
https://www.instructables.com/How-To-Completely-Disassemble-a-MAC-Mouse-Clean/
Components of Apple's Mighty Mouse
https://arstechnica.com/uncategorized/2005/08/dissect/
Introduction of the Mac Pro Mouse, MacWorld NY 2000
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6leRFZrzBg
Apple Pro Mouse Patent Application
https://appleinsider.com/articles/12/10/02/apple-awarded-patent-for-touch-sensitive-mouse
Exploded View of an Apple Trackball Mouse
https://web.stanford.edu/dept/SUL/sites/mac/primary/images/dayton1.html
301 student team's model of Douglas Englebart's design for a computer mouse from the "Mother of All Demos" (1968)