Logitech Makes 1 Billionth Mouse

Swiss company Logitech is celebrating the shipment of it's one billionth mouse while analysts are predicting the demise of the device within 5 years. "It speaks volumes to the success of the mouse that they (Logitech) have produced a billion and good luck. But past performance is not a guarantee of future success. "The world has changed and the nature of machines has changed. The multi-touch interface I believe really does seal the coffin of the mouse," says Gartner analyst Steve Prentice. Mean while Logitech's General Manager Rory Dooley says "The fundamental functionality of the mouse has not changed for 40 years and that is one of the keys to its success. We do not envisage unlearning all those years of learning but that doesn't mean to say there will not be a place for touch interfaces. "Touch will augment the things you can do today with the mouse and keyboard interface,"

BBC Story here.

Are The Mouse's Days Numbered?

Gartner thinks that the computer mouse is near it's end of life after nearly 40 years of tracking around screens, clicking, and dragging, according to this BBC report. "The mouse works fine in the desktop environment but for home entertainment or working on a notebook it's over," says analyst Steve Prentice. Taking it's place will be gestural computing like touchscreen and facial recognition interfaces. "You even have emotive systems where you can wear a headset and control a computer by simply thinking and that's a device set to hit the market in September." "This" says Prentice, "is all about using computer power to do things smarter."

On the flip side of the coin however is Rory Dooley senior vice president and general manager of Logitech's control devices unit, who obviously has a great stake in the survival of the mouse. Dooley says "The death of the mouse is greatly exaggerated," and that "The devices we use have been modified for our changing lifestyles but it doesn't negate the value of the mouse,"

Personally, I'm inclined to think that the mouse has a few more years in it. While there are plenty of new touch machines headed our way, the mouse doesn't leave your monitor with icky finger smudges... though I'm sure it's days are numbered.