Laptop Mouse

[PouringRain]

I have a curiosity that maybe one of you techie-geeks can answer for me. How does the mouse-touch pad on the lap top computer work? Is it heat sensored for your finger touch? Or something?

I got a wicked paper cut today on my index finger (my mouse finger), and it was bleeding all over so I had to put a band-aid on it. Funny thing, my finger no longer makes the mouse work. So, I figure the mouse-touch pad thingy must be activated by something ore than simply touch. Otherwise the touch of my band-aid covered finger would work.

 

[stovebolts]

What happens when you use a different finger?

 

[PouringRain]

It works fine with other fingers. I am having to use my middle finger. LOL It only does not work with my band-aid finger.

 

[stovebolts]

I don't really know how they work But I'd say that your's doesn't work with a bandaid on your finger

Just kidding. I think that most are through conductivity and others are by pressure. I'm thinking that a bandaid isn't a very good conductor ;)

 

[Theofilus]

I got this off Wikipedia

Touchpads operate in one of several ways, including capacitive sensing and conductance sensing. The most common technology used as of 2010 entails sensing the capacitative virtual ground effect of a finger, or the capacitance between sensors. Capacitance-based touchpads will not sense the tip of a pencil or other similar implement. Gloved fingers may also be problematic.

 

[PouringRain]

StoveBolts, thanks for the attempted knowledge! It was quite accurate.

Theofilus, that sounds exactly what mine is like. I must have 2010 technology. LOL I tried a closed pen and it did not work either.

Capacitance........ so it's like an electrical charge? I suddenly feel like an X-man. :D Zzzaaaap!!! I was kinda sorta on the right track when I guessed maybe heat or something. LOL


My mouse-touch pad is different than most laptops I have seen. Mine does not have the recessed spot. Instead it is flush across with the bottom of the laptop-- same material. You can not tell where it begins and ends, except for judging by the buttons. Because of this, I often have a bad habit of resting my left hand at the bottom of my computer, and then I will be sitting there with my right finger trying to move the mouse and it won't go anywhere-- because it is held still by my left hand accidentally.