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Optical mouse

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  • R Offline
    R Offline
    Rob Philpott
    wrote on last edited by
    #1

    The first optical mouse I ever used was alarmingly 22 years ago, at University and came married to a mat with a matrix of fine dots covering it. Poor thing was plugged into an 'Amiga'. I can't remember when it evolved into not needing the mat, but have been aware ever since that that the light on the bottom illuminates the surface it's on at an acute angle - the reason for which I have convinced myself I just didn't need to know and was a matter of 'optics'. I grew dissatisfied with this two days ago an embarked upon a bit of micro-research about optical mice, one conclusion of which is that the American Patent system is wholly absurd. Anyway, here's why (it’s obvious). Rather than capture an image of a grainy surface, by shining the light at the angle you can capture the shadows of a grainy surface which makes for better input into you motion logic. Cool huh? I've got a nasty feeling anyone reading this knew that already. And how many times does it compare shadows? Up to a thousand times per second. There you go, two facts you can use next time you’re in the pub.

    Regards, Rob Philpott.

    N M C B V 6 Replies Last reply
    0
    • R Rob Philpott

      The first optical mouse I ever used was alarmingly 22 years ago, at University and came married to a mat with a matrix of fine dots covering it. Poor thing was plugged into an 'Amiga'. I can't remember when it evolved into not needing the mat, but have been aware ever since that that the light on the bottom illuminates the surface it's on at an acute angle - the reason for which I have convinced myself I just didn't need to know and was a matter of 'optics'. I grew dissatisfied with this two days ago an embarked upon a bit of micro-research about optical mice, one conclusion of which is that the American Patent system is wholly absurd. Anyway, here's why (it’s obvious). Rather than capture an image of a grainy surface, by shining the light at the angle you can capture the shadows of a grainy surface which makes for better input into you motion logic. Cool huh? I've got a nasty feeling anyone reading this knew that already. And how many times does it compare shadows? Up to a thousand times per second. There you go, two facts you can use next time you’re in the pub.

      Regards, Rob Philpott.

      N Offline
      N Offline
      Nagy Vilmos
      wrote on last edited by
      #2

      Rob Philpott wrote:

      There you go, two facts you can use next time you’re in the pub.

      Only two facts you need for the pub: #0. Mines a pint. #1. You're buying. Simples.


      Panic, Chaos, Destruction. My work here is done. Drink. Get drunk. Fall over - P O'H OK, I will win to day or my name isn't Ethel Crudacre! - DD Ethel Crudacre I cannot live by bread alone. Bacon and ketchup are needed as well. - Trollslayer Have a bit more patience with newbies. Of course some of them act dumb - they're often *students*, for heaven's sake - Terry Pratchett

      OriginalGriffO 1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • N Nagy Vilmos

        Rob Philpott wrote:

        There you go, two facts you can use next time you’re in the pub.

        Only two facts you need for the pub: #0. Mines a pint. #1. You're buying. Simples.


        Panic, Chaos, Destruction. My work here is done. Drink. Get drunk. Fall over - P O'H OK, I will win to day or my name isn't Ethel Crudacre! - DD Ethel Crudacre I cannot live by bread alone. Bacon and ketchup are needed as well. - Trollslayer Have a bit more patience with newbies. Of course some of them act dumb - they're often *students*, for heaven's sake - Terry Pratchett

        OriginalGriffO Offline
        OriginalGriffO Offline
        OriginalGriff
        wrote on last edited by
        #3

        Nagy Vilmos wrote:

        #0. Mines a pint.

        Of Gin!? :omg:

        If you get an email telling you that you can catch Swine Flu from tinned pork then just delete it. It's Spam.

        "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
        "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt

        N 1 Reply Last reply
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        • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

          Nagy Vilmos wrote:

          #0. Mines a pint.

          Of Gin!? :omg:

          If you get an email telling you that you can catch Swine Flu from tinned pork then just delete it. It's Spam.

          N Offline
          N Offline
          Nagy Vilmos
          wrote on last edited by
          #4

          Why thank you. I have drunk pints of G&T [and V&T] in the past or a four-be-two as it was called. Four shots and double tonic.


          Panic, Chaos, Destruction. My work here is done. Drink. Get drunk. Fall over - P O'H OK, I will win to day or my name isn't Ethel Crudacre! - DD Ethel Crudacre I cannot live by bread alone. Bacon and ketchup are needed as well. - Trollslayer Have a bit more patience with newbies. Of course some of them act dumb - they're often *students*, for heaven's sake - Terry Pratchett

          J 1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • N Nagy Vilmos

            Why thank you. I have drunk pints of G&T [and V&T] in the past or a four-be-two as it was called. Four shots and double tonic.


            Panic, Chaos, Destruction. My work here is done. Drink. Get drunk. Fall over - P O'H OK, I will win to day or my name isn't Ethel Crudacre! - DD Ethel Crudacre I cannot live by bread alone. Bacon and ketchup are needed as well. - Trollslayer Have a bit more patience with newbies. Of course some of them act dumb - they're often *students*, for heaven's sake - Terry Pratchett

            J Offline
            J Offline
            jim lahey
            wrote on last edited by
            #5

            We always do G&T by ratio. 1:1 and 1:2 mainly, or 1:3 if you're pregnant, underage, at work, in hospital or driving.

            D N 2 Replies Last reply
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            • J jim lahey

              We always do G&T by ratio. 1:1 and 1:2 mainly, or 1:3 if you're pregnant, underage, at work, in hospital or driving.

              D Offline
              D Offline
              Dalek Dave
              wrote on last edited by
              #6

              1:1 is a proper G&T 1:2 is a Light G&T 1:3 is Flavoured Water

              --------------------------------- I will never again mention that I was the poster of the One Millionth Lounge Post, nor that it was complete drivel. Dalek Dave CCC Link[^]

              1 Reply Last reply
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              • J jim lahey

                We always do G&T by ratio. 1:1 and 1:2 mainly, or 1:3 if you're pregnant, underage, at work, in hospital or driving.

                N Offline
                N Offline
                Nagy Vilmos
                wrote on last edited by
                #7

                The perfect ratio is of course ∞ : 0 gin to tonic.


                Panic, Chaos, Destruction. My work here is done. Drink. Get drunk. Fall over - P O'H OK, I will win to day or my name isn't Ethel Crudacre! - DD Ethel Crudacre I cannot live by bread alone. Bacon and ketchup are needed as well. - Trollslayer Have a bit more patience with newbies. Of course some of them act dumb - they're often *students*, for heaven's sake - Terry Pratchett

                OriginalGriffO 1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • N Nagy Vilmos

                  The perfect ratio is of course ∞ : 0 gin to tonic.


                  Panic, Chaos, Destruction. My work here is done. Drink. Get drunk. Fall over - P O'H OK, I will win to day or my name isn't Ethel Crudacre! - DD Ethel Crudacre I cannot live by bread alone. Bacon and ketchup are needed as well. - Trollslayer Have a bit more patience with newbies. Of course some of them act dumb - they're often *students*, for heaven's sake - Terry Pratchett

                  OriginalGriffO Offline
                  OriginalGriffO Offline
                  OriginalGriff
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #8

                  Nagy Vilmos wrote:

                  The perfect ratio is of course ∞ : 0 gin to tonic.

                  Hmmm...

                  Nagy Vilmos wrote:

                  I have drunk pints of G&T [and V&T] in the past or a four-be-two as it was called. Four shots and double tonic.

                  If you get an email telling you that you can catch Swine Flu from tinned pork then just delete it. It's Spam.

                  "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
                  "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt

                  N 1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

                    Nagy Vilmos wrote:

                    The perfect ratio is of course ∞ : 0 gin to tonic.

                    Hmmm...

                    Nagy Vilmos wrote:

                    I have drunk pints of G&T [and V&T] in the past or a four-be-two as it was called. Four shots and double tonic.

                    If you get an email telling you that you can catch Swine Flu from tinned pork then just delete it. It's Spam.

                    N Offline
                    N Offline
                    Nagy Vilmos
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #9

                    I know they may contradict each other, but I don't actually give a flying cheesecake. :laugh:


                    Panic, Chaos, Destruction. My work here is done. Drink. Get drunk. Fall over - P O'H OK, I will win to day or my name isn't Ethel Crudacre! - DD Ethel Crudacre I cannot live by bread alone. Bacon and ketchup are needed as well. - Trollslayer Have a bit more patience with newbies. Of course some of them act dumb - they're often *students*, for heaven's sake - Terry Pratchett

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • R Rob Philpott

                      The first optical mouse I ever used was alarmingly 22 years ago, at University and came married to a mat with a matrix of fine dots covering it. Poor thing was plugged into an 'Amiga'. I can't remember when it evolved into not needing the mat, but have been aware ever since that that the light on the bottom illuminates the surface it's on at an acute angle - the reason for which I have convinced myself I just didn't need to know and was a matter of 'optics'. I grew dissatisfied with this two days ago an embarked upon a bit of micro-research about optical mice, one conclusion of which is that the American Patent system is wholly absurd. Anyway, here's why (it’s obvious). Rather than capture an image of a grainy surface, by shining the light at the angle you can capture the shadows of a grainy surface which makes for better input into you motion logic. Cool huh? I've got a nasty feeling anyone reading this knew that already. And how many times does it compare shadows? Up to a thousand times per second. There you go, two facts you can use next time you’re in the pub.

                      Regards, Rob Philpott.

                      M Offline
                      M Offline
                      Marc Clifton
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #10

                      Ah, thanks for reminding me that I should get another pack of AA batteries. I'm using my last one currently.

                      Rob Philpott wrote:

                      I've got a nasty feeling anyone reading this knew that already.

                      Nope. Very, ah, illuminating! Marc

                      Reverse Engineering Legacy Applications
                      How To Think Like a Functional Programmer
                      My Blog
                      Computational Types in C# and F#

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • R Rob Philpott

                        The first optical mouse I ever used was alarmingly 22 years ago, at University and came married to a mat with a matrix of fine dots covering it. Poor thing was plugged into an 'Amiga'. I can't remember when it evolved into not needing the mat, but have been aware ever since that that the light on the bottom illuminates the surface it's on at an acute angle - the reason for which I have convinced myself I just didn't need to know and was a matter of 'optics'. I grew dissatisfied with this two days ago an embarked upon a bit of micro-research about optical mice, one conclusion of which is that the American Patent system is wholly absurd. Anyway, here's why (it’s obvious). Rather than capture an image of a grainy surface, by shining the light at the angle you can capture the shadows of a grainy surface which makes for better input into you motion logic. Cool huh? I've got a nasty feeling anyone reading this knew that already. And how many times does it compare shadows? Up to a thousand times per second. There you go, two facts you can use next time you’re in the pub.

                        Regards, Rob Philpott.

                        C Offline
                        C Offline
                        Casey Sheridan
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #11

                        Rob Philpott wrote:

                        I've got a nasty feeling anyone reading this knew that already

                        This is actually the first time I've thought about it. That's pretty cool! :thumbsup:

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • R Rob Philpott

                          The first optical mouse I ever used was alarmingly 22 years ago, at University and came married to a mat with a matrix of fine dots covering it. Poor thing was plugged into an 'Amiga'. I can't remember when it evolved into not needing the mat, but have been aware ever since that that the light on the bottom illuminates the surface it's on at an acute angle - the reason for which I have convinced myself I just didn't need to know and was a matter of 'optics'. I grew dissatisfied with this two days ago an embarked upon a bit of micro-research about optical mice, one conclusion of which is that the American Patent system is wholly absurd. Anyway, here's why (it’s obvious). Rather than capture an image of a grainy surface, by shining the light at the angle you can capture the shadows of a grainy surface which makes for better input into you motion logic. Cool huh? I've got a nasty feeling anyone reading this knew that already. And how many times does it compare shadows? Up to a thousand times per second. There you go, two facts you can use next time you’re in the pub.

                          Regards, Rob Philpott.

                          B Offline
                          B Offline
                          Big Daddy Farang
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #12

                          The first optical mouse I used was back in 1986 or so. It too had its own special mouse pad but it had lines printed on it running both directions. Looked like graph paper but with very small squares. Actually they were not square. I tried rotating it 90 degrees to fit on the desk better and it stopped working. The pad had to be landscape rather than portrait. Could you have imagined a less interesting reply? :)

                          BDF I often make very large prints from unexposed film, and every one of them turns out to be a picture of myself as I once dreamed I would be. -- BillWoodruff

                          I 1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • R Rob Philpott

                            The first optical mouse I ever used was alarmingly 22 years ago, at University and came married to a mat with a matrix of fine dots covering it. Poor thing was plugged into an 'Amiga'. I can't remember when it evolved into not needing the mat, but have been aware ever since that that the light on the bottom illuminates the surface it's on at an acute angle - the reason for which I have convinced myself I just didn't need to know and was a matter of 'optics'. I grew dissatisfied with this two days ago an embarked upon a bit of micro-research about optical mice, one conclusion of which is that the American Patent system is wholly absurd. Anyway, here's why (it’s obvious). Rather than capture an image of a grainy surface, by shining the light at the angle you can capture the shadows of a grainy surface which makes for better input into you motion logic. Cool huh? I've got a nasty feeling anyone reading this knew that already. And how many times does it compare shadows? Up to a thousand times per second. There you go, two facts you can use next time you’re in the pub.

                            Regards, Rob Philpott.

                            V Offline
                            V Offline
                            Vark111
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #13

                            Rob Philpott wrote:

                            one conclusion of which is that the American Patent system is wholly absurd.

                            Rob Philpott wrote:

                            I've got a nasty feeling anyone reading this knew that already.

                            Yes, Most are aware of this fact. The bits about the mouse was news to me, though.

                            J 1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • V Vark111

                              Rob Philpott wrote:

                              one conclusion of which is that the American Patent system is wholly absurd.

                              Rob Philpott wrote:

                              I've got a nasty feeling anyone reading this knew that already.

                              Yes, Most are aware of this fact. The bits about the mouse was news to me, though.

                              J Offline
                              J Offline
                              JeremyBob
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #14

                              :-D you get a +1 from me

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • B Big Daddy Farang

                                The first optical mouse I used was back in 1986 or so. It too had its own special mouse pad but it had lines printed on it running both directions. Looked like graph paper but with very small squares. Actually they were not square. I tried rotating it 90 degrees to fit on the desk better and it stopped working. The pad had to be landscape rather than portrait. Could you have imagined a less interesting reply? :)

                                BDF I often make very large prints from unexposed film, and every one of them turns out to be a picture of myself as I once dreamed I would be. -- BillWoodruff

                                I Offline
                                I Offline
                                Isfeasachme
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #15

                                I can. See the above tl;dr digression about gin. Yours was interesting.

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • R Rob Philpott

                                  The first optical mouse I ever used was alarmingly 22 years ago, at University and came married to a mat with a matrix of fine dots covering it. Poor thing was plugged into an 'Amiga'. I can't remember when it evolved into not needing the mat, but have been aware ever since that that the light on the bottom illuminates the surface it's on at an acute angle - the reason for which I have convinced myself I just didn't need to know and was a matter of 'optics'. I grew dissatisfied with this two days ago an embarked upon a bit of micro-research about optical mice, one conclusion of which is that the American Patent system is wholly absurd. Anyway, here's why (it’s obvious). Rather than capture an image of a grainy surface, by shining the light at the angle you can capture the shadows of a grainy surface which makes for better input into you motion logic. Cool huh? I've got a nasty feeling anyone reading this knew that already. And how many times does it compare shadows? Up to a thousand times per second. There you go, two facts you can use next time you’re in the pub.

                                  Regards, Rob Philpott.

                                  P Offline
                                  P Offline
                                  patbob
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #16

                                  So.. when are you going to read out the image?

                                  We can program with only 1's, but if all you've got are zeros, you've got nothing.

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