Brian Cleveland, president and CEO of Percept Technology Labs, holds the wireless mice above the 'Mouse-inator' testing device that the company invented.

The next time you hear Microsoft boasting about its super cool wireless mouse, keep in mind that it's a little Boulder technology lab that gave the computer giant its bragging rights.

Percept Technology Labs developed a high-tech way — with a low-tech name — to let the folks at Microsoft know how long their new mice can last with normal use. The "Mouse-inator" is just one of the tests the labs perform on high-tech equipment for a range of companies.

Microsoft selected Percept to test its new wireless mice against competitor Logitech's wireless mice.

"Microsoft believed their circuitry increased the battery life, but they needed validation," CEO Brian Cleveland said. Untethered mice are a much easier way to navigate a computer, but when the batteries go out, they're useless.

Microsoft thought their mice would last 6 months with regular use on regular AA batteries. Percept wrote a computer program that would manage a mouse like people do, including movement and lengthy pauses.

In the end, the lab tested 132 mice.

"They provided data to us, and we challenged some of their assumptions," Cleveland said.

In the end, though, the Microsoft mice beat the Logitech mice, lasting three times as long.

Testing engineer Michael Suzuki shows off Percept's "Mouse-inator" by flipping a switch. Two mice face off as Formica wheels move, then pause, then move beneath them. The wheels are designed to mimic a computer user's use, and wires attached to the mice feed data into a computer system that monitors their lifespans.

"It was a great project," Suzuki said. "Challenging."

In addition to competitive performance testing, Percept performs compliance testing and certification, and reliability tests. High-tech manufacturers need the tests for everything from showing that they meet government standards and regulations, to offering appropriate warranties.

Percept was founded in 1996, growing from a basement-bound one-man shop to a facility with several testing labs and a dozen engineers. Customers are on the rise — the firm has diversified its tests — but 2003 was a bit of a disappointment revenues-wise, Cleveland said.

He is optimistic that will look up as firms are expected to spend more on technology this year.

Tom Hoenig, the president of the 10th District Federal Reserve Board, said this week that business spending is expected to increase this year — in part because corporate profits are improving.

In town this week for the CTEK Forecast Fair in Broomfield, Hoenig said the profits improve both the companies' abilities to pay for new goods and services, but also their attitudes — which leads to even more spending.

Companies like Percept are banking on it.

"CES (the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas) was like the Comdex of old; people were really optimistic," Cleveland said.

Contact Erika Stutzman at stutzmane@dailycamera.com or (303) 473-1354.

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