Winn L. Rosch Hardware Bible, Sixth Edition

Protocols and Drivers

Mice convert the motions they detect into a digital code that can be processed or analyzed by your computer. The only loose end is what code the mouse uses. A standard mouse code would help software writers craft their products to better take advantage of mice. A standard mouse code would be so useful, in fact, that the industry has come up with four distinct standards, called mouse protocols, all of which were in use at one time. These standards were developed by four of the major forces in the mouse industry, and each bore its originator's name. These include Microsoft, Mouse Systems Corporation (for a period known as MSC Corporation), Logitech, and IBM Corporation. The first three were designed for individual mouse products ...