Computer Mice or Mouses?

[Ben Zimmer]

On Wed, Mar 21, 2012 at 3:46 PM, Ben Zimmer wrote:
>
> Snippet view for these, but they look OK.
>
> * "mouses"
> _Proceedings of the Summer Computer Simulation Conference, Part 1_ (1973)
> http://books.google.com/books?id=nHxQAAAAMAAJ&q=mouses
> The following represent methods of interacting with the data base which is
> being graphically displayed: (1) Joysticks, (2) Mouses, (3) Graphic Tablets,
> (4) Keyboards, (5) Light Pens.
>
> * "mice"
> _Proceedings of the 1978 International Computer Music Conference: Volume 1_
> (1979)
> http://books.google.com/books?id=1rg5AQAAIAAJ&q=mice
> These include light-pens, "joy-stick" controllers, tracker-balls, touch
> sensitive panels, digitizing tablets, and mice (tracker balls mounted in a
> small housing enabling them to be used much like a digitizing tablet).

More snippet view, but probably legit (give or take a year or two):

* "mouses"
_Australian computer journal, Volumes 2-3_ (1970?)
http://books.google.com/books?id=jEdVAAAAMAAJ
A number of graphic input devices are currently being used with terminals
employing DVBS. These include Joysticks, Tracker Balls, Mouses, Graphic Tablets
and others.

* "mice"
_Darshana international: Volume 10_ (1970?)
http://books.google.com/books?id=jfwWAQAAIAAJ
It is becoming commonplace to communicate graphically with lightpens, joysticks,
displays, and "mice".

--bgz

--
Ben Zimmer
http://benzimmer.com/

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