Computer mouse: Difference between revisions

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[[Mickey (unit)|Mickeys]] per second is a unit of measurement for the speed and movement direction of a computer mouse,<ref name="int33h" /> where direction is often expressed as "horizontal" versus "vertical" mickey count. However, speed can also refer to the ratio between how many pixels the cursor moves on the screen and how far the mouse moves on the mouse pad, which may be expressed as [[pixels]] per mickey, pixels per [[inch]], or pixels per [[centimeter]].

The computer industry often measures mouse sensitivity in terms of counts per inch (CPI), commonly expressed as dots per inch (DPI){{spaced en dash}}the number of steps the mouse will report when it moves one inch. In early mice, this specification was called pulses per inch (ppi).<ref name="hawley" /> The mickey originally referred to one of these counts, or one resolvable step of motion. If the default mouse-tracking condition involves moving the cursor by one screen-pixel or dot on-screen per reported step, then the CPI does equate to DPI: dots of cursor motion per inch of mouse motion. The CPI or DPI as reported by manufacturers depends on how they make the mouse; the higher the CPI, the faster the cursor moves with mouse movement. However, software can adjust the mouse sensitivity, making the cursor move faster or slower than its CPI. {{As of|2007|post=,}} software can change the speed of the cursor dynamically, taking into account the mouse's absolute speed and the movement from the last stop-point.<ref>{{Cite Injournal most|last=Müller software,|first=Jörg an|date=26 exampleFeb being2018 the|title=Dynamics Windowsof platforms,Pointing thiswith settingPointer isAcceleration named "speed", referring to "cursor precision"|url=https://inria.hal.science/hal-01717219/document However,|journal=IFIP someConference operatingon systemsHuman-Computer nameInteraction this(INTERACT) setting|pages=475-495 "acceleration", the typical Apple OS designation. This term is incorrect. Mouse|quote=[Pointer acceleration] infunctions most mouse software refers toincrease the changemouse ingain speedwith of the cursor over time while theincreasing mouse movement is constantvelocity.{{Clarify|reason=conflation of speed and acceleration—they need to be distinguished and explained better|datevia=April 2020}}{{citation needed|date=April 2020|reason=prove that 'acceleration' is incorrect word usageHAL}}</ref>

For simple software, when the mouse starts to move, the software will count the number of "counts" or "mickeys" received from the mouse and will move the cursor across the screen by that number of pixels (or multiplied by a rate factor, typically less than 1). The cursor will move slowly on the screen, with good precision. When the movement of the mouse passes the value set for some threshold, the software will start to move the cursor faster, with a greater rate factor. Usually, the user can set the value of the second rate factor by changing the "acceleration" setting.