Mouse mattery

As an essential piece of computer equipment the most under-rated item on our desktop must be the humble mouse mat.

Most of us give little thought to that flat slab of fabric-covered rubber valiantly fighting for space beside the keyboard. Often this battle for supremacy against a sea of coffee cups, telephones, notebooks and CD cases is a losing one.

Indeed, do we need mouse mats at all? Will not any spare real estate on our desk do the job just as well?

The answers to these questions are: usually, and no.

From a purely Health and Safety angle, all standard rubber ball-type mice should have their own dedicated mouse mat for ergonomic and RSI avoidance reasons. For computing reasons, the mouse mat gives far greater cursor control and reduces the likelihood of damaging the rubber ball and collecting dirt to clog up the insides.

While marketing people probably regard mouse mats in the same light as beer mats as promotional and sales giveaway merchandise, there are sound practical arguments for their use. The exception being optical mice which don’t need to move at all.

So let’s take a look at what you should look for in a mouse mat and how to use it.

Firstly, the mouse mat should be of a reasonable size in order to reduce the number of movements required. Something approaching A4 paper size is ideal. The reverse side should have a non-slip gripping surface to prevent the mat moving around your desktop.

Check the cleaning instructions. Most can be cleaned by immersion in warm soapy water and then left to dry. Some mats can even be placed in the dishwasher! (Quite what your colleagues would make of you taking your mouse mat home at night to give it a clean is another story.)

Another important aspect to consider is the mouse mat surface. A smooth surface that enables the mouse to glide evenly and freely is great for browsing and general computer work. However, you may prefer to go for a more rough and textured surface for added precision to your cursor movements particular for intricate work such as desktop publishing, graphics and, we daresay, gaming where aiming is vital…

Or you can have the best of both worlds – rough and smooth – with a reversible mouse mat. These, so I am reliably informed, are handy for local network ‘Friday afternoon half an hour before knocking off’ Quake sessions where team building goes out the window as the virtual body count goes through the roof.

Secondly, always plump for a mouse mat with a wrist rest as this will lessen the strain on your bones and muscles.

Now that we’ve nailed down the spec of our ideal mouse mat, where to put it?

Beside your keyboard in a position that you can reach easily may sound like a statement of the obvious. But take a look around any office and you’ll see plenty mouse mats jammed somewhere round the side of the monitor between multifarious desktop clutter. Inevitably the user is then twisting or stretching to get some purchase on the mouse mat.

If at all possible, the ergonomists tell us, the mouse mat should be placed adjacent to the keyboard in free space where the mouse can be manipulated without stretching or the cable snagging or getting impeded. If you are left-handed, or prefer mousing with your south paw, place your mouse mat on that side of the keyboard.

Set the mouse tracking to a speed that suits you. The velocity with which the cursor flies around the screen can be adjusted in the Control Panel (Start/Control Panel/Mouse).

And, finally, don’t hold onto the mouse when it’s not in use. Like your workload, it won’t run away.