A Mouse That Made History

Today, Logitech is one of the world's leading manufacturers of computer peripherals. However, few know that the origin of this success story lies in Switzerland – specifically at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL). There, in the late 1970s and early 1980s, one of the first optical computer mice was developed: the Dépraz Digimouse, later known as the Logitech P-4.

The beginnings: A groundbreaking idea

At that time, computer mice mostly used a ball mechanism for movement detection. However, André Guignard and Prof. Jean-Daniel Nicoud, researchers at EPFL, had a different vision: an optical mouse that worked with a specially developed grid pad instead of mechanical components. This technology promised higher precision and less wear – a real advancement in the computer world.

From research to company

Parallel to the development of this mouse, a young entrepreneur named Daniel Borel encountered the EPFL innovation. Borel recognized the potential of this technology and founded the company Logitech in 1981 together with Pierluigi Zappacosta and Giacomo Marini. The goal: to develop and market high-quality input devices for computers.

The Dépraz Digimouse became one of the company's first commercial products and was designated the Logitech P-4. It laid the foundation for Logitech's future business and proved that innovations from research could be transformed into successful products.

The beginning of an era

Although the Logitech P-4 did not become a mass product, it was an important step in the evolution of computer mice. Logitech quickly realized that the future lay in even more user-friendly and affordable peripherals. In the following years, the company developed increasingly powerful and cheaper mice – a recipe for success that Logitech still follows today.

The Dépraz Digimouse / Logitech P-4 is a fascinating example of Swiss engineering and innovation. What began as a research project at EPFL led to the founding of one of the world's most well-known tech companies. Today, Logitech sells millions of mice worldwide – but it all started with a small, visionary invention from Switzerland.