Microsoft Research Shows Off Multi-Touch Mouse Prototypes 137
Engadget has snagged some of the details behind a bunch of multi-touch mouse prototypes from Microsoft Research. The prototypes range from the wacky to the extreme, but at least they are thinking outside the mouse trap. "Each one uses a different touch detection method, and at first glance all five seem to fly in the face of regular ergonomics. The craziest two are probably "Arty," which has two articulated arms to cradle your thumb and index finger, with each pad housing its own optical sensor for mission-critical pinching gestures, and "Side Mouse" which is button free and actually detects finger touches in the table immediately in front of the palm rest. Of course, there's plenty of crazy in the FTIR, Orb Mouse and Cap Mouse (pictured), which rely on an internal camera, orb-housed IR camera and capacitive detection, respectively. Of course, there's no word on when these might actually see the light of day"
Open source game? (Score:5, Interesting)
How do they think we hold a mouse? (Score:5, Interesting)
I move the mouse with a combination of movements including the use of my ring-finger (holding onto the mouse), my thumb (holding onto the mouse), and, to a lesser extent, my wrist which rests on a gel pad.
Why? Because my fingers are much more dexterous than my wrist and thus it's better for moving around multiple links, playing an FPS, or doing any kind of visual editing.
And yet... they seem to think I want a touchpad on a bump.
Microsoft Trackball Explorer (TBE) (Score:2, Interesting)
They had such a good idea with the Trackball Explorer - I just cannot understand why they won't produce more. There's a large, passionate community surrounding the TBE, with fan websites, forums and continuing write-in petitions (pleas) to MS.
Market demand usually speaks for itself:
A new-in-box TBE goes for $500+ on ebay - 10x its original retail price; a good refurbished one will go in the $250 range.
I personally have 2, and I will honestly cry when they go out.
External trackpad? (Score:4, Interesting)
What about a simple, largish, multitouch trackpad instead of a mouse? Ever since I switched to a MacBook I've been wondering about that. I tried a mouse on my MacBook (the unibody thing) a few times but I hardly ever used it at all. The MacBook trackpad ist just too good. Then I've tried to buy an large external trackpad to use with an external keyboard (it makes no sense to wear out a notebook keyboard when you're sitting at your desk) but to no avail.
So, why there isn't a large, USB-connected trackpad to use with a keyboard? These things should be simple and cheap, but try to buy one!
This looks VERY bad. (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Multiple interfaces, MULTIPLE METHODS! (Score:3, Interesting)
Multi-touch is fantastic for a handheld mobile computing device, smart phone, etc.
I don't think touch screens, multitouch interfaces, or anything else will supplant the keyboard and mouse on a workstation.
Touchtyping accurately and quickly is extremely difficult on a virtual keyboard with no tactile feedback.
Not saying it can't be done, just saying I don't know anyone that would want to do that all day at work.
that said, multitouch is the killer app for things like the multifunction kitchen computer, or information kiosk, kids computers, mobile devices, smart phones, tablets, etc.
Maybe even gaming but the bottom line is our fingers are big old meat sticks.
Try editing a photo with a touchscreen.
There's a reason we have things like pencils, pens and paintbrushes, the resolution of a finger is very low.
there will always be a new way of interacting with computers but I think that until we get implants and can think our commands, the keyboard and mouse will stay the defacto standard way of interacting with our workstations.
Both because of the entrenched nature of the technology as well as physiological reasons.
Re:Finally (Score:4, Interesting)
"More buttons" isn't necessarily the solution either. I've had mice with tons of buttons but never have I used more than left, right, and the scroll wheel. Having tried the others and gaining nothing from the experience I'm really forced to wonder why we feel the need to "innovate" or otherwise alter a perfectly usable paradigm -- the two-button, scroll-wheel mouse.
Unless and until our style of interacting with computers changes in a very fundamental way, it seems to be just a complete waste of time, with a few people adopting the "new" methods, but most going back to the reliable, simple mouse -- because it works.
Re:Leave it to Microsoft... (Score:3, Interesting)
I have the same problem with the mighty mouse. It is too easy to click the 'wrong' side of the mouse, and it was just a little to vague for lack of a better term. The track ball was excellent, as was the precision, but I just couldn't use it.
I actually like the Mac touch pad. I would have never dreamed I would say such a thing as touch pads, in general, are right up there with root canal in my book. I actually found the Macbook Pro's multi-touch pad very sensitive, with perfect acceleration and excellent precision for tiny movements like renaming a file extension. Things like the three-finger functions are a little odd at first, but after about an hour I learned to love the thing. It's one of the few touch pads I could actually use rather than struggle with.
Grip Improvement (Score:3, Interesting)
I didn't invent this mouse grip technique, but it really helps. The fingers gripping the sides of the mouse(*) should also be in full contact with the mouse pad. That way you can get fine mouse movements just by rolling your gripping fingers left and right. Your gripping fingers are thus anchored by the mousepad and can exert very fine amounts of push on the mouse.
(*) For me these are thumb and pinky, but I suppose you could use thumb and ring finger.