Mousepad

Details of a mousepad designed by Armando M. Fernandez were published in the Xerox Disclosure Journal in 1979 with the description:[5] CRT Cursor Control Mechanism Pad To assist the operation of a cathode ray tube pointer 10 wherein a metal ball is rolled on a hard surface, the disclosed pad may be utilized.

Moustrak signed licensing deals with Disney, Paramount, and LucasFilm, and advertised in magazines including MacWorld.

A secondary benefit was keeping the desk or table surface from being scratched and worn by continuous hand and mouse rubbing motion.

Another benefit was reduction of the collection of debris under the mouse, which resulted in reduced jitter of the pointer on the display.

After the steel mouse ball was given a silicone rubber surface, the popular fabric-surface mousepad was found to be the most appropriate.

Early types of optical mice have the problem of not working well on transparent or reflective surfaces such as glass or highly polished wood.