The computer mouse was invented by Douglas Engelbart and Bill English at the Stanford Research Institute (SRI) in the early 1960s, with the first prototype built in 1964, and the patent filed in 1967 and issued in 1970. 

Here's a more detailed look at the invention:

Motivation:

Engelbart and his team at SRI were exploring ways to improve human-computer interaction, leading to the development of the mouse as a pointing device. 

Early Design:

The first prototype, built in 1964, was a wooden box with two wheels and a single button, designed to translate the movement of the mouse into cursor movement on the screen. 

The "Mouse" Name:

The device was named "mouse" because of its shape and the long cable that trailed behind it, resembling a mouse's tail. 

Demonstration:

Engelbart and his team demonstrated the mouse and other innovations, including networked personal computing and graphical interfaces, at the "Mother of All Demos" in 1968. 

Patent:

Engelbart was named the inventor on the basic patent for what was then called the “X-Y Position Indicator for a Display System.” The patent was filed in 1967 and issued in 1970. 

Evolution:

The mouse evolved from the early wheel design to the ball mouse, and later to optical and wireless mice.