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geekhack Community => Input Devices => Topic started by: microsoft windows on Thu, 18 June 2009, 13:31:02

Title: The world's first trackball
Post by: microsoft windows on Thu, 18 June 2009, 13:31:02

Take a look at this. It's the world's very first trackball, made with a bowling ball by Canadian scientists in the 1950's.
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/ab/DATAR_trackball.jpg)

Title: The world's first trackball
Post by: Rajagra on Thu, 18 June 2009, 13:39:05

I've often thought a bowling ball would be perfect in a trackball. Just like the monster ones that used to be in the arcades (or was I just smaller?)
Where did we go wrong and start using today's puny little excuses instead?

Title: The world's first trackball
Post by: IBI on Thu, 18 June 2009, 15:06:28

Quote from: Rajagra;97438

I've often thought a bowling ball would be perfect in a trackball.

Except that it'd have a tendancy to drift to the side.

Title: The world's first trackball
Post by: chimera15 on Thu, 18 June 2009, 16:06:50

Yeah I saw that, pretty interesting considering it predates the mouse by like 13 years or so.

Title: The world's first trackball
Post by: microsoft windows on Tue, 30 November 2010, 20:14:04

I learned that the original mouse wasn't based at all on the trackball. It turns out that the bottom just had two wheels (one for vertical movement and another for horizontal movement) and no ball. I got to wonder when mice with tracking balls really caught on.

Title: The world's first trackball
Post by: bettablue on Tue, 15 February 2011, 10:03:10

Quote from: ripster;97436

I blame the Canadian Navy for trackballs every day.  Funny looking things.

Bigger IS better though.

Show Image

(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=2324&stc=1&d=1240420121)

I can see why you like this one.  The question I have is this: is the 8 ball like a standard billiard ball?  This looks like a great pointer to sit alongside my model M.

Title: The world's first trackball
Post by: mr_a500 on Tue, 15 February 2011, 10:15:45

Quote from: microsoft windows;97433

Take a look at this. It's the world's very first trackball, made with a bowling ball by Canadian scientists in the 1950's.

Show Image

(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=2697&d=1245349848)

Ha! You can tell it was invented by Canadians because that's a 5-pin bowling ball. 5-pin bowling was also invented by Canadians. (and played mainly in Canada)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5-pin_bowling (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5-pin_bowling)

(Wikipedia entry even shows the trackball)

Title: Re: The world's first trackball
Post by: microsoft windows on Fri, 25 July 2014, 11:55:32

I wonder if any trackball enthusiast has taken the time to try and replicate this early pointing device.