• Laser Mouse

    From john larkin@21:1/5 to All on Tue Apr 16 12:06:19 2024
    If you have an Ikea desk and your LED optical mouse doesn't work right (something about the optics of the varnish) this should fix it:

    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CRZ85DZ

    It was really annoying to be tweaking a PCB layout and having the
    cursor wander around, or get stuck.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Joe Gwinn@21:1/5 to john larkin on Fri Apr 19 10:43:16 2024
    On Tue, 16 Apr 2024 12:06:19 -0700, john larkin <jl@650pot.com> wrote:

    If you have an Ikea desk and your LED optical mouse doesn't work right >(something about the optics of the varnish) this should fix it:

    <https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CRZ85DZ>

    It was really annoying to be tweaking a PCB layout and having the
    cursor wander around, or get stuck.

    Probably the varnished wood has too little fine texture for
    correlation tracking to work.

    What I have been using with success is a "3M Precise Mouse Pad
    Enhances the Precision of Optical Mice at Fast Speed, 9 in x 8 in
    (MP114-BSD1)" for $8 from Amazon:

    .<https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00L2AN9PK>

    Joe Gwinn

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From John Larkin@21:1/5 to All on Fri Apr 19 07:58:12 2024
    On Fri, 19 Apr 2024 10:43:16 -0400, Joe Gwinn <joegwinn@comcast.net>
    wrote:

    On Tue, 16 Apr 2024 12:06:19 -0700, john larkin <jl@650pot.com> wrote:

    If you have an Ikea desk and your LED optical mouse doesn't work right >>(something about the optics of the varnish) this should fix it:

    <https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CRZ85DZ>

    It was really annoying to be tweaking a PCB layout and having the
    cursor wander around, or get stuck.

    Probably the varnished wood has too little fine texture for
    correlation tracking to work.

    What I have been using with success is a "3M Precise Mouse Pad
    Enhances the Precision of Optical Mice at Fast Speed, 9 in x 8 in >(MP114-BSD1)" for $8 from Amazon:

    .<https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00L2AN9PK>

    Joe Gwinn

    There must be a Mouse Pad Museum somewhere.

    A pad would be clumsy on my desk. I tried sanding the varnish a bit
    but that didn't help.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Joe Gwinn@21:1/5 to jjSNIPlarkin@highNONOlandtechnology on Fri Apr 19 12:06:30 2024
    On Fri, 19 Apr 2024 07:58:12 -0700, John Larkin <jjSNIPlarkin@highNONOlandtechnology.com> wrote:

    On Fri, 19 Apr 2024 10:43:16 -0400, Joe Gwinn <joegwinn@comcast.net>
    wrote:

    On Tue, 16 Apr 2024 12:06:19 -0700, john larkin <jl@650pot.com> wrote:

    If you have an Ikea desk and your LED optical mouse doesn't work right >>>(something about the optics of the varnish) this should fix it:

    <https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CRZ85DZ>

    It was really annoying to be tweaking a PCB layout and having the
    cursor wander around, or get stuck.

    Probably the varnished wood has too little fine texture for
    correlation tracking to work.

    What I have been using with success is a "3M Precise Mouse Pad
    Enhances the Precision of Optical Mice at Fast Speed, 9 in x 8 in >>(MP114-BSD1)" for $8 from Amazon:

    .<https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00L2AN9PK>

    Joe Gwinn

    There must be a Mouse Pad Museum somewhere.

    I have a pile somewhere. Does that count?


    A pad would be clumsy on my desk. I tried sanding the varnish a bit
    but that didn't help.

    Not enough contrast at high spatial frequencies. Newer mouse probably
    has higher resolution optics, so it sees the wood grain better, and
    maybe the sandpaper frosting a little.

    Does the old mouse work OK on a mouse pad? Or on a piece of white
    paper? If so, what could work would be a random pattern of little
    paint dots in or on the varnish. Like from an airbrush too far away.

    Joe Gwinn

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From John Larkin@21:1/5 to All on Fri Apr 19 10:59:43 2024
    On Fri, 19 Apr 2024 12:06:30 -0400, Joe Gwinn <joegwinn@comcast.net>
    wrote:

    On Fri, 19 Apr 2024 07:58:12 -0700, John Larkin ><jjSNIPlarkin@highNONOlandtechnology.com> wrote:

    On Fri, 19 Apr 2024 10:43:16 -0400, Joe Gwinn <joegwinn@comcast.net>
    wrote:

    On Tue, 16 Apr 2024 12:06:19 -0700, john larkin <jl@650pot.com> wrote:

    If you have an Ikea desk and your LED optical mouse doesn't work right >>>>(something about the optics of the varnish) this should fix it:

    <https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CRZ85DZ>

    It was really annoying to be tweaking a PCB layout and having the >>>>cursor wander around, or get stuck.

    Probably the varnished wood has too little fine texture for
    correlation tracking to work.

    What I have been using with success is a "3M Precise Mouse Pad
    Enhances the Precision of Optical Mice at Fast Speed, 9 in x 8 in >>>(MP114-BSD1)" for $8 from Amazon:

    .<https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00L2AN9PK>

    Joe Gwinn

    There must be a Mouse Pad Museum somewhere.

    I have a pile somewhere. Does that count?


    A pad would be clumsy on my desk. I tried sanding the varnish a bit
    but that didn't help.

    Not enough contrast at high spatial frequencies. Newer mouse probably
    has higher resolution optics, so it sees the wood grain better, and
    maybe the sandpaper frosting a little.

    Does the old mouse work OK on a mouse pad? Or on a piece of white
    paper? If so, what could work would be a random pattern of little
    paint dots in or on the varnish. Like from an airbrush too far away.

    Joe Gwinn

    The old Logitech LED mouses are fine on anything but the Ikea desk.

    My desk would look very Non-Presidential with freckles. The laser
    mouse works.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Jeff Liebermann@21:1/5 to john larkin on Sat Apr 20 19:07:42 2024
    On Tue, 16 Apr 2024 12:06:19 -0700, john larkin <jl@650pot.com> wrote:

    If you have an Ikea desk and your LED optical mouse doesn't work right >(something about the optics of the varnish) this should fix it:

    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CRZ85DZ

    It was really annoying to be tweaking a PCB layout and having the
    cursor wander around, or get stuck.

    I think that's called "hunting". This might help explain what's
    happening:

    "Optical vs Laser Mouse" <https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/optical-vs-laser-mouse-explanation/#dt-heading-comparison-optimal-surfaces>

    "...both methods use the irregularities of a surface to keep track of
    the peripheral’s position. But a laser can go deeper into the surface
    texture. This provides more information for the CMOS sensor and
    processor inside the mouse to juggle and hand over to the parent PC."

    "This makes laser-based mice better for glass tables and
    highly-lacquered surfaces..."

    "The problem with laser-based mice is that they can be too accurate,
    picking up useless information such as the unseen hills and valleys of
    a surface. This can be troublesome when moving at slower speeds,
    causing on-screen cursor "jitter," or what’s better known as
    acceleration."

    I've done a little tinkering with both types of mice. I used a
    drawing program to draw a 1 pixel wide line. The optical mouse drew a
    fairly "sharp" edged line. The laser mouse drew a tiny sawtooth
    waveform (jitter). It can be cleaned up with averaging and damping,
    but that increased response time, which was deemed highly undesirable
    by the gamers in attendance. It was also possible to see building,
    motor, and machinery mechanical vibrations along the line. That
    disappeared for both types of mice when I used a rubber backed mouse
    pad or installed rubber "carpet protectors" under the desk legs.

    No advice. Just try a few different mice and use whatever works best.

    --
    Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
    PO Box 272 http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
    Ben Lomond CA 95005-0272
    Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From John Larkin@21:1/5 to All on Sun Apr 21 07:38:39 2024
    On Sat, 20 Apr 2024 19:07:42 -0700, Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com>
    wrote:

    On Tue, 16 Apr 2024 12:06:19 -0700, john larkin <jl@650pot.com> wrote:

    If you have an Ikea desk and your LED optical mouse doesn't work right >>(something about the optics of the varnish) this should fix it:

    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CRZ85DZ

    It was really annoying to be tweaking a PCB layout and having the
    cursor wander around, or get stuck.

    I think that's called "hunting". This might help explain what's
    happening:

    "Optical vs Laser Mouse" ><https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/optical-vs-laser-mouse-explanation/#dt-heading-comparison-optimal-surfaces>

    "...both methods use the irregularities of a surface to keep track of
    the peripheral’s position. But a laser can go deeper into the surface >texture. This provides more information for the CMOS sensor and
    processor inside the mouse to juggle and hand over to the parent PC."

    "This makes laser-based mice better for glass tables and
    highly-lacquered surfaces..."

    "The problem with laser-based mice is that they can be too accurate,
    picking up useless information such as the unseen hills and valleys of
    a surface. This can be troublesome when moving at slower speeds,
    causing on-screen cursor "jitter," or what’s better known as
    acceleration."

    I've done a little tinkering with both types of mice. I used a
    drawing program to draw a 1 pixel wide line. The optical mouse drew a
    fairly "sharp" edged line. The laser mouse drew a tiny sawtooth
    waveform (jitter). It can be cleaned up with averaging and damping,
    but that increased response time, which was deemed highly undesirable
    by the gamers in attendance. It was also possible to see building,
    motor, and machinery mechanical vibrations along the line. That
    disappeared for both types of mice when I used a rubber backed mouse
    pad or installed rubber "carpet protectors" under the desk legs.

    No advice. Just try a few different mice and use whatever works best.

    I don't freehand draw lines as such, but I'm sure some people do.
    Schematic entry and PCB layout make straight lines that are quantized
    to a grid, or move parts and traces on the grid, and the LED mouse on
    the Ikea desk made it hard to do that.

    I was talking yesterday to Mo about drawing, in a cafe with cool
    watercolors of city scenes on the walls. She can draw. She said "you
    draw too" and I noted that I only do it with straight lines on a
    rectangular grid. Well, rarely, a circle.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)