Is the computer mouse about to enter in to a mid-life crisis - complete with a red convertible? Quite possible, as the device is celebrating (however gadgets celebrate) it’s fortieth birthday!

Now the mouse has seen a lot in its forty years on this earth, from the early days of Macintosh to the trials of Windows Vista, but little has really changed with the device itself. Sure, the ball is often replaced by a laser, and they come cordless and even ergonomic these days, but those are minor changes compared to what most electronics go through.

The real question on this fortieth mark should be, will the mouse see another forty years, or will new touch-screen technology pave the way for other devices to replace our old friend? Or will this technology somehow be integrated into the humble mouse? Time will tell, but my thought is, “Mouse” will see many more significant changes in the next forty years than it did in those prior. Hopefully it survives them.