|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
Nagy Vilmos wrote: #0. Mines a pint.
Of Gin!? 
If you get an email telling you that you can catch Swine Flu from tinned pork then just delete it. It's Spam.
|
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
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[ ^]
|
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
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 know they may contradict each other, but I don't actually give a flying cheesecake. 
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
|
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
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! 
|
|
|
|
|
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 can. See the above tl;dr digression about gin. Yours was interesting.
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
 you get a +1 from me
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
General 
News 
Suggestion 
Question 
Bug 
Answer 
Joke 
Praise 
Rant 
Admin 
Submit an article or tip
