Most computer mouse devices today are “optical;” they shine a light on the working surface (the desktop or a mouse pad) and use the reflected light to determine the speed and direction of the mouse’s motion. Earlier versions were mechanical, incorporating a trackball whose direction and speed of rotation was converted into electrical signals indicating the motion. (Mouse trackballs also had a habit of picking up dust and lint that interfered with the mouse’s operation. The optical mouse was a major improvement in this area.)