by Colonel Possum
Member since:
January 27, 2006

What if a Computer Mouse were a Cat?

July 11, 2006 02:34 AM EDT (Updated: July 11, 2006 02:36 AM EDT)
views: 64 | comments: 32

In 1985 I saw Brazil, a bizarre and not particularly successful movie by Hollywood standards. Apparently, Brazil has somewhat of a cult following on the Internet to this day. I don't intend to recount the plot but one of its intriguing features was a technologically evolved society that has, in comparison to ours, a lot of really bad technology. Phones have all sorts of wires (no wireless world here!) and computer screens are viewed through cumbersome magnifying glasses. These are only two of many other examples in the movie.

A comment by a reader to the picture attached to this article somehow triggered memories of Brazil and a strange late night thought. What if, by some technological twist of fate, the thing we push around to make the computer work were a "cat" instead of a "mouse"? Would it have an independent mind and only do our bidding when it wanted? I bet it would take hours to read only a few e-mails.

I thought it might be fun to toss this question out to the members of Gather for your thoughts (especially since many of you have everyday experiences with both cats and computers!).

Cheers,

Colonel Possum
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Comments: 32

Manette S. Jul 11, 2006, 2:59am EDT
Actually, I have a computer cat. She sits her big and charming behind right on the wire of my ordinary mouse.... thus maken any mouse movement inpossible. I wish I could add a photo; but unfortuntely, I aint got one
Kathryn E. Jul 11, 2006, 3:51am EDT
So, Colonel, I would click the cat? If so, I click the cat and the cat howls, for i clicked her tail. I click the cat and the cat bites me, for I clicked her belly. I click the cat and the cat purrs, for I clicked her belly. I click the cat and she rubs her ass in my face, because she knows how much I love it?
Leah Christensen Jul 11, 2006, 4:56am EDT
I wouldn't be able to eat KFC with my left hand and "cat" (as opposed to "muse") with my right, because the CAT would ignore the computer and try to eat my chicken.
Mariana T. Jul 11, 2006, 7:07am EDT
Colonel - isn't it funny how late at night we get these thoughts about technology! Well, if the mouse were a cat...hummm...It's much too early in the morning to really come up with a decent answer. The sun is trying to bust through a grey sky and I'm having coffee. Maybe later I shall have a decent comment. In the meantime, I loved Manette, Kathryn and Leah's funny comments! Salud,
George Corneliussen Jul 11, 2006, 8:17am EDT
colonel,
Actually, a few years ago there was such a thing as a cat instead of a mouse. I just recently threw mine away.
It was an unsuccessful idea someone had that would have us scan the bar code of products with a little plastic cat that was pulgged into a computer with a Y cord that plugged into the mouse port. Once the bar code was scanned, the computer would automatically go to the home page of the product.
The best laid plans of mice and men, per se.
Stephen Schneider Jul 11, 2006, 9:19am EDT
If my mouse were a cat, my dogs would have a blast.
Colonel Possum Jul 11, 2006, 10:32am EDT
Manette,

Isn't it funny cats do such things and then act so nonchalant? It is all part of a greater design to extract maximum attention and treats!

Thank you,

Colonel Possum
Colonel Possum Jul 11, 2006, 10:35am EDT
Kathryn!

I think you have it all down! This could almost be the executive summary in the lengthy manual that comes with such a device!

Cheers,

Colonel Possum
Colonel Possum Jul 11, 2006, 10:38am EDT
Leah,

Another downside to this idea! Hmmm...I'm hungry, may I have a drumstick?

Cheers,

Colonel Possum
Colonel Possum Jul 11, 2006, 10:41am EDT
M.T.

I bet if there were such a thing you would have a whole room full of computer cats with long wire tails and fuzzy "cat pads." Hmmm...that's a thought...Did anyone bother to empty the cat pad last night?

Cheers,

Colonel Possum
Colonel Possum Jul 11, 2006, 10:48am EDT
George!

What a cool idea. I'm a little surprised that you threw this away. It would have been cool in the Corneliussen "Technology of Yore" museum. It could go right beside solar powered LP turntables!

Cheers,

Colonel Possum

P.S. I understand the solar powered turntables never caught on because the LPs warped in the sun!
Colonel Possum Jul 11, 2006, 10:51am EDT
Stephen,

So good to hear from you! Missed you at the party but I kept some steak from the barbie in the OHC walk-in refrigerator...hmm...maybe I better give it to the dogs and cats, it's been in there a while now!

Cheers,

Colonel Possum
Colonel Possum Jul 11, 2006, 10:55am EDT
Wilhelmine,

We're all a little older but it sure is fun to remember my tomcat days! Thank you!

Cheers,

Colonel Possum
George Corneliussen Jul 11, 2006, 12:23pm EDT
" P.S. I understand the solar powered turntables never caught on because the LPs warped in the sun! "

"I might get burned up by the sun,
But I had my fun."

"Time Has Come Today" -The Chambers Brothers-
0000-dashiell5-0000 Jul 11, 2006, 1:23pm EDT
What a dog it'd be having a cat for a mouse.
Colonel Possum Jul 11, 2006, 1:54pm EDT
George,

You ARE the Master for remebering Rock Music lyrics that can be used in emergency to make a point in casual discourse!

By the way, I achieved a pesonal milestone to day. I can spell your last name with my eyes shut. Here's how: I think of "Cornell" University with only one "L", I remember an "IOU" withouht the "O", I borrow an "ss" pair from "possum" and end with an "end" without the "d". Ta-ta!

Cheers,

Colonel Possum
Colonel Possum Jul 11, 2006, 2:00pm EDT
KR,

Would it be the cat's pajamas to have a dog for a mouse? Just think, a dog is always there and waits faithfully for its master to give the next command!

Cheers,

Colonel Possum
Carolyn Madden Jul 12, 2006, 5:55am EDT
Colonel, we'd just need to keep an open can of toona by the compooter. The cat would always be available then to do our bidding. Wil's right, you're thinking's weird but in a good way, right? ;)
Kathryn E. Jul 12, 2006, 6:10am EDT
Stephen, why don't Boopy and Buddy write about it?
Colonel Possum Jul 12, 2006, 11:06am EDT
Upside Down Pixie,

Great idea! This would limit time on the compooter because once the tuna is gone the little arrow on the screen stops moving! This will give you and your cat more time to play outside.

BTW I love your Pixie icon!

Cheers,

Colonel Possum
Colonel Possum Jul 12, 2006, 11:08am EDT
Kathryn,

Great idea, I haven't heard from Boopy or Buddy in a long time!

Cheers,

Colonel Possum
Aileen F. Jul 12, 2006, 11:32am EDT
I would much prefer a dog than a cat. My dog anticipates my needs, my cat ignored them.
Auntie Smedley Jul 12, 2006, 4:53pm EDT
Every time you dusted your computer the "cat" would try to eat the feather duster...
Colonel Possum Jul 12, 2006, 5:18pm EDT
Aileen!

You've got it! "An anticipatory" mouse,...ah "dog", that would be opening your morning e-mails while you fixed your coffee, in much the same way that dogs used to fetch the morning paper!

Cheers,

Colonel Possum
Colonel Possum Jul 13, 2006, 12:21am EDT
Auntie Smedley (whoa, I like that name!),

That's a good point. Of course here at the OHC, the dust has felt pretty save for many moons...

Cheers,

Colonel Possum
Jude Cowell Jul 13, 2006, 8:25pm EDT
One cat here loves to sleep on top of my old monitor--still kickin' and 17" of color perfection...the monitor, not the cat--so that she covers the vents--not good.

She also loves to stand on buttons and play messages which she then forgets to save...fortunately her spelling is terrible so she stays off the keyboard for the most part and has yet to be offended by the 'mouse'!
Colonel Possum Jul 13, 2006, 11:47pm EDT
Jude,

Joey loves to tip toe through the keyboard keys and I think he loves the warmth of a (old time) monitor too!

Thank you!

Cheers,

Colonel Possum
Leah G. Jul 14, 2006, 11:06pm EDT
My cat Maximus (a tuxedo tabby that thinks he's a dog) makes sure to hop up on the desk and back into my face ass-first if he thinks he's being ignored. First he'll empty his toy basket and bring up the toys. There's a lot of *jingle* *jingle* *thump* during each day I work at home.

The ass in the face works each time to divert one's attention from the computer to the cat.
Mariana T. Jul 15, 2006, 5:47am EDT
Leah - I'm laughing right now cause my cats are famous for doing that especially early in the morning! Good one...Hey Colonel P. I love all your articles - this one was good - lots of really funny comments! SAlud,
Colonel Possum Jul 15, 2006, 11:43am EDT
Leah,

Maximus is a great name! I'm so glad someone else indulges their animals with lots of toys. The dogs probably enjoy the toys the most but Joey has a bell because he is deaf and I need a way to find him when he's not camped on the computer.

Thanks!

Colonel Possum
Colonel Possum Jul 15, 2006, 11:48am EDT
M.T.

Thank you! This one was easy to write. I starting to wonder if I am the only one out there to see "Brazil." I know it wasn't a real box office draw, but I'd be interested in someone else's review.

Cheers,

Colonel Possum

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