mouse ahead

The point-and-click analog of "type ahead". To manipulate

a computer's pointing device (almost always a mouse in this

usage, but not necessarily) and its selection or command

buttons before a computer program is ready to accept such

input, in anticipation of the program accepting the input.

Handling this properly is rare, but it can help make a WIMPenvironment much more usable, assuming the users are familiar

with the behaviour of the user interface.

[Jargon File]

(1994-12-05)