How Optical Mice Works
It seems that the revered wheeled mouse has become an endangered species as well. Today, many people prefer the newer pointing and clicking consumer electronics—the optical mouse.
This recent leap in technology uses a very small camera in taking 1,500 images per second. It could work on virtually all kinds of surfaces. It has a tiny red LED that reflects light from a surface onto a so-called complimentary metal-oxide sensor. This sensor sends every picture for analysis to a digital signal processor. The latter determines the movement of the mouse and sends coordinate positions to the computer. This process happens about a hundred times per second, with the cursor appearing to move smoothly.
It is worth noting though that there is actually another optical mouse that has existed for more than a decade now. The LED-based one is a fairly recent technology. The former bounces light off a reflective pad. This was not so easy to use because it required the user to hold it at the right angle so that the sensor and light beam are aligned. Worse, damage to the tablet renders the device useless until a new pad is purchased.
Compared to the wheeled mice, the optic ones have several benefits. First, there is a lower chance of wear and failure because they do not possess moving parts. Second, you need not worry about dirt getting inside them and interfering with the tracking sensors. This is great for having better tracking resolution and smoother response. Finally, they do not need a special surface like a pad. Indeed, the more recent LED-based optic mice are more reliable and user-friendly consumer electronics than their predecessor.