The possibilities with which an optical mouse can be applied to obtain scientific measurements are currently limited by the maximum
distance possible between the mouse and surface under interrogation. We demonstrate that a simply adapted optical mouse is able to
operate as a recording instrument in the digital speckle correlation mode; wherein greater distances between optical mouse and translating surface are possible. Linear (R2 > 0.98) and repeatable measurements in the x and y axis were obtained with the optical mouse
and translating surface separated at 300 mm. In both cases, the measurement resolution was 0.025 mm. Digital speckle correlation with
an optical mouse offers the ability to obtain measurements of displacement and deformation at a fraction of the investment in time and
cost of conventional setups.
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