Are 12000 dpi laser mice overpowered for the human wrist?

Question

So I've seen laser mice become more and more powerful over time, with newer models supporting increasing levels of "DPI". The latest ones I've seen support up to 12000 dpi.

But what does this mean? Are humans with their wrists and hands actually able to place a mouse in 12000 different positions over an inch? Are humans able to move their wrist 2/12000 of an inch to the right and know they have not moved it 1/12000 of an inch to the right or 3/12000 of an inch?

Assuming that I am correct that no, humans are not able to do these things, why do mice manufacturers keep making mice more and more powerful?

To contrast with the approach Apple has taken with its ppi on its screens, it claims that its "retina display" technology is overpowered for the capabilities of the normal human eye and it packs only 220 pixels per inch (see http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5266). The approach mice manufacturers are taking seems to have taken a break from the physical capabilities of the human form.

Answer 1

There are two studies suggesting you are correct. This one and this one. From the first study: " this raises the question of whether, for non-experimental purposes, there is any benefit beyond marketing for the 5700 dpi mouse we used." From the second study: "Though other reasons may prevail, the quest for mouse resolutions above 10000 CPI does not seem worth pursuing from a useful resolution perspective." –

Answer 2

Firstly, if you are interested in mouse technology and how it works this article does a great job of it: An Overview of Mouse Technology

To answer the first question, cpi (the correct term, but often confused with dpi) is pushed higher on mice for a number of reasons, but the tricky part is balancing out the different variables so that errors don't occur, or that too much of a compromise in one area isn't detrimental to the overall performance of the sensor.

More cpi will give you a higher resolution image from which to track movements but that can - and will, the further you push - introduce problems with the maximum tracking speed, accuracy, and the overall stability of the cursor. 12000cpi for instance is a mathematical fabrication as no sensor has that resolution natively, and many times is a very undesired setting as it is very unstable.

The emphasis on lots of dpi on a mouse is a pure marketing ploy designed to get you to be impressed with a product and buy, where practically speaking you'll never need more than 3000cpi in any situation whatsoever (including when 4k monitors are more common).

As for the minute changes that is possible with the wrist, there absolutely is a threshold from which you will not be able to properly control your cursor but this largely depends upon how developed your motor skills with 'mousing' are in the first place (think of the motor control differences between a pianist or painter vs a normal person).

Answer 3

I think its not made for the user wrist instead it is made for the better synchronization with high resolution games, or graphics, to give better experience while playing high resolution games or making high resolution graphics.

Edit

Consider if you have a high resolution monitor with high graphics, but you mouse is having low dpi. so when you move your mouse(8000 dpi) it will not point to exact point(dot) of your monitor as the mouse with (12000 dpi) so definitely it will increase efficiency of the mouse pointer.

And I think efficiency is most important to graphics designers or game players who are playing high graphics game.