computer mice existed long before the Mac, as well as many of the old 8-bit computers had some software application that might utilize a mouse. These mice had spheres as well as quadrature encoders. While converters to turn these old mice into USB gadgets exist, going the other method isn’t so common. [Simon] has established the response to that issue in the type of SmallyMouse2. It turns a USB mouse into something that can be utilized with the BBC Micro, Acorn Master, Acorn Archimedes, Amiga, Atari ST as well as more.

The style of the SmallyMouse2 utilizes an AT90USB microcontroller that supports USB gadget as well as hold mode, as well as enables for a few GPIOs. This microcontroller effectively converts a USB mouse into a BBC Micro individual port AMX mouse, generic quadrature mouse, as well as a 10-pin growth header. The firmware utilizes the LUFA USB stack, a typical option for these strange USB to retrocomputer projects.

The job is totally open Source, as well as all the data to replicate this job from the KiCad job to the firmware are offered on [Simon]’s GitHub. If you have one of these traditional retrocomputers sitting in your attic, it may be a great time to inspect if you still have the mouse. If not, this is the ideal job to delve into to the traditional GUIs of yesteryear.