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Message Mouse In 1987, the three companies that would later form IDEO worked together with Microsoft to create the world’s first ergonomically designed mouse. IDEO’s human factors research suggested a small but significant change: moving the location of the mouse ball forward, from under the palm to under the fingertips, enabled more precise control and resulted in measurable performance differences compared with earlier models. The industrial design effort examined and tested dozens of shapes in comfort and aesthetic studies that led to the famous “Dove Bar” form, a significant advance over the boxy mice prevalent at the time. Extending the size of the two buttons all the way to the device’s edges added to both the beauty and the functionality of the mouse. To signal its more frequent use, the left button was given a defining ridge and made slightly larger than the right. A glossy finish provides a durable and easily cleaned surface. IDEO’s mechanical engineers collaborated with Microsoft’s Japanese partners to establish a set of component and manufacturing specifications to allow the mouse to be made to high quality standards. The mouse also incorporated innovative manufacturing methods. The Microsoft logo was double-shot molded to avoid the inevitable fading that would occur with pad printing. Instead of the optical sensors used in previous models, mechanical sensors decreased power consumption to allow the mouse to be used with a number of computers—a separate adaptor box and multiple cables were also provided for universal connections. The resulting clean appearance, enhanced control, and improved reliability created enormous consumer appeal that replaced all earlier versions and sold more than two million units in its first two years. http://www.ideo.com/work/mouse-for-microsoft/