Mouse Activities
Computer Basics
for WIT 2001
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So. You want to use a computer! One of the basic tactics is to learn to control the mouse. You may feel this is too simple. It is simple, but not too simple for a little guidance!

Activity 1 -- Point that Pointer!

  1. Grip the mouse.
  2. Remember to always keep the "tail"of the mouse pointed away from your body
  3. Roll the mouse to the right and left
Does the arrow on the screen track your movements?

Just to make clear how important it is to keep the tail pointed away from your body, try this activity:

Activity 2 -- UpSideDown!

  1. Grip the mouse
  2. Turn the mouse so you point the tail toward your body
  3. Roll the mouse to the right and left
Do you see how arrow goes the wrong way! That's how stupid computers are! They do what you tell them and not what you mean!

Be sure to turn the tail back away from your body before you continue!

Activity 3 -- Looooooong Movements

Let's say you want to move the pointer (arrow) all the way across the screen. But you run out of space to roll the mouse. You do not have to roll over the monitor, down your leg or under the table! Since the mouse is just a stupid machine, you can just pick it up and put it down in a place where you'll have more room to roll it the way you want!

Knowing this you can control the pointer (arrow) the way you want with just a few inches of mouse rolling real estate, if it comes to that!

  1. Move the mouse so the pointer is against the right side of the screen.
  2. Pick the mouse up off the table / mouse pad and put it against the left edge of the table / mouse pad
  3. Try and roll the mouse to the left in order to move the pointer or arrow to the left -- you're out of room!
  4. Pick up the mouse and put it on the right edge of the table / mouse pad.
  5. Now you have room to roll it to the left and move the arrow across the screen
Note that while the mouse doesn't touch the table or mouse pad the arrow pointer doesn't move! That's because the mouse has this little ball that rolls against the table. Lift the mouse and the ball doesn't roll....

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