I've often thought that computer mice would be useful pre-made input devices for movement, and button sensors, so this is just a start to collecting information about them.

Potential uses for computer mice:

• Rotary optical encoders using mechanical mice roller wheel sensors
  • eg robot motion (direction and distance) feedback
  • eg wind speed indicator
  • eg dynamometer
  • eg speed measurement
• Use the whole mouse (either mechanical or optical) as a position tracking sensor that supplies motion X-Y info

• Sensors used by different mice
• Philips twin eye sensor
• Cody's Robot Optical Motion Sensor #1 (CROMS-1)
• Interfacing an optical mouse sensor to your Arduino
  • Optimouse
• Nslu2 wind sensor
• Turn an Old Mouse into a Logging Dynamometer
• Measure Projectile Velocities with an Old Computer Mouse
• How to scavenge a mouse for parts
• BTC Optical Mouse Hack
  • Interface to Optical Mouse Sensor
  • Using the Avago ADNS-2610 Optical Sensor

• Twin-eye laser sensor

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