Hand - Hard Drive - Articles about Computing

Your success with the computer depends to a great deal upon your ability to use your mouse well.

The mouse shouldn't really be part of the computer. It should have been left out. My feelings are that if the Al-Mighty wanted us to use the mouse then He would have given us a third hand. For this reason, I prefer to take whatever steps possible to use keyboard shortcuts, the replacement for the mouse. But that can't always be done, especially when working with graphics. You need to be able to use the mouse successfully and see what you're doing in order for it to be able to work.

We will do our best to understand how to relate to the mouse.

No keyboard ever has enough room for a mouse. A laptop keyboard sometimes has a replacement for a mouse, stable replacements, which are less convenient to use in general, but at least there is room for them. The standard mouse, which is next to the computer needs to have more room. A recommendation would be to set up an individual small etagere to be devoted exclusively to the mouse. This will help deal with some of the problems that are related to the use of a mouse such as RSI (repetitive stress injury), carpal tunnel syndrome, and various other injuries to the wrist, fingers, and elbow of your arm by using the mouse.

You still have to follow the general rules of ergonomics in order to prevent these problems, however those rules could include the recommendations from this page as well as other recommendations.

When using the mouse you should place your hand limply over the mouse and lower it gently over the mouse. There should be no tension in your hand as you're using it. Your right index finger should be on the left mouse button and the rest of the mouse should be grasped limply with your thumb and your ring finger, and pinkie. This way you will have the most control over your mouse. Any tension in holding the mouse or any tight grasp of the mouse will not help. You will not be successful and the mouse won't do what you want it to do.

Double clicking

Many computer users, especially those who are new at computers, have difficulty double clicking. The mouse slides all over the place when they want to double click.

There are various ways to overcome this problem. They are all related to relaxing rather than being under stress when using the mouse.

A double click can be intimidating. It's hard enough for a beginner to get the mouse to stay still for the first click and to make it land in the right place. The second click is all but impossible.

You can set the computer up using the control panel mouse so that all it requires is a single click. That can solve some of the problems. Alternatively, you can click once, and many people don't realize this, click once and then hit Enter and that will also accomplish the same thing as a double click in most cases. Of course, these are alternative ways of using the computer. The best way to do it is with the double click when a double click is required and a single click in its time. However, there certainly are alternatives, and these alternatives are useful mostly to help you relax when trying to use the mouse. After you are relaxed then you can switch to the best way to use it, which is a double click.

You can also play Solitaire, which is a game included with your Windows. Solitaire is possibly the best way to learn how to use the mouse because you think about the game rather than about the mouse. You relax and after a while you see that you are able to double click to make a card, an Ace pop up to the top row and you've learned how to use the mouse the proper way.