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Toys Hardware

Gyroscopic Wireless Mouse 295

Posted by michael from the charge-me-up dept.
An anonymous reader writes "This is a must for any game player. Gyration has introduced a working wireless gyroscopic mouse. The $119.95 price tag is a little steep but it works with Linux and it doubles for an optical mouse if placed on the desktop. There is an article about it at Linux Journal." We mentioned an earlier version a year or two ago.
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Gyroscopic Wireless Mouse More

Gyroscopic Wireless Mouse

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  • FOR GAMING? (Score:5, Funny)

    by way2trivial ( 601132 ) on Tuesday March 02, 2004 @07:33PM (#8446874) Homepage Journal
    my hands shake enough in two dimensions thank you very much....

    seriously, if it moves based on tilting, that would suck for games.

    • Re:FOR GAMING? (Score:5, Funny)

      by Metallic Matty ( 579124 ) on Tuesday March 02, 2004 @07:36PM (#8446907)
      seriously, if it moves based on tilting, that would suck for games.

      Unless you attached it to your head and used mouse-look in a first-person shooter.

      • Re:FOR GAMING? (Score:5, Insightful)

        by nacturation ( 646836 ) <nacturation.gmail@com> on Tuesday March 02, 2004 @07:40PM (#8446953) Journal
        Unless you attached it to your head and used mouse-look in a first-person shooter.

        Does this mean you already have the monitor strapped to your head?
      • Great, so when some punk starts circle strafing around you, you snap your neck in half trying to track him. ;) Which of course ignores that when you turn your head to adjust the view you're now forces to watch the screen out of the corner of your eyes.

        However, it would be kinda neat if there was a 360 degree display and the mouse was hooked to a motor that spinned your chair around.

      • Use ducktape (Score:5, Funny)

        by after ( 669640 ) on Tuesday March 02, 2004 @07:46PM (#8447032) Journal
        Unless you attached it to your head and used mouse-look in a first-person shooter.

        Uh... you move your head to turn? What is the point of that? It doesnt make anything more real... I mean, its still you sitting there in your underwear playing games on your computer all day/night.

        If do that kind of crazy shit, then you might as well make yourself a portable computer [digitalfog.com] to enchance your gaming expereance.

      • God no... (Score:4, Funny)

        by Cyno01 ( 573917 ) <Cyno01@hotmail.com> on Tuesday March 02, 2004 @08:09PM (#8447261) Homepage
        I'd end up with neckstrain worse than when i started playing descent...

      • Re:FOR GAMING? (Score:5, Informative)

        by FrenZon ( 65408 ) * on Wednesday March 03, 2004 @12:13AM (#8449136) Homepage
        Unless you attached it to your head and used mouse-look in a first-person shooter.
        Doesn't work - I have a Gyration mouse, and I tried this when I was researching headtrackers - the problem is that the gyro is 2-axis, so it doesn't take into account rotation of your head around the z-axis (the one from your nose to the monitor). This wouldn't be a problem if users didn't tilt their head to the left or right when turning their head, as it results in vertical motion on the screen.

        This motion is not cancelled out when the user turns their head back, as they usually tilt their head in the opposite direction before turning, and so the vertical motion continues in the same direction.

        Therefore, turning your head left then right usually results in your viewpoint zig-zagging up or down the screen. In in the end, I wrote freelook [freelook.org], to accomodate my head-tracking needs.

    • Re:FOR GAMING? (Score:4, Insightful)

      by DigitaLunatiC ( 452925 ) <irish.dot@gma[ ]com ['il.' in gap]> on Tuesday March 02, 2004 @07:39PM (#8446939) Homepage Journal
      Not if you could actually hold the thing like a gun. If you were to jump around a corner in CS and actually point and aim like a real gun, that would be pretty helpful.

    • He's not kidding =) (Score:5, Insightful)

      by Andorion ( 526481 ) on Tuesday March 02, 2004 @07:42PM (#8446978)
      You don't realize how much the edges of your palm resting on the desktop help you move your mouse where you want to move it - a little downward pressure and your hand stops immediately, a little anchored rotation and you can navigate pixel by pixel. The muscle memory is in many joints in your hand, wrist, and arm.

      Holding the mouse in the air eliminates the benefits of resting your hand on the table.

      ~Berj

      • Re:He's not kidding =) (Score:4, Informative)

        by Trejkaz ( 615352 ) on Tuesday March 02, 2004 @07:44PM (#8447010) Homepage
        Of course any decent Occ. Health and Safety expert will tell you not to rest your wrist on the table when using a mouse.

        • Re:He's not kidding =) (Score:5, Insightful)

          by wankledot ( 712148 ) on Tuesday March 02, 2004 @07:59PM (#8447174)
          Which is nearly impossible. Supporting your entire arm in the air with just your fingertips on the mouse is not realistic, and nearly impossible for any extended period of time. It's perfectly acceptable to rest part of your arm/wrist/hand on the desk, the angle at which it rests, and making sure you are not bending your wrist excessively from side to side is more important.

          • Re:He's not kidding =) (Score:4, Interesting)

            by photonX ( 743718 ) on Tuesday March 02, 2004 @08:16PM (#8447322)
            I've had extensive cervical spine surgery, and find it impossible to work on a desktop that doesn't have room to rest my entire arm, never mind the wrist. So as far as ergonomics go, individual user requirements can vary.

            On the other hand, raving schizophrenic maniacs can now look perfectly normal! All they have to do is strap on a headset and carry a cordless mouse around, and they'll look like they are hard at work.

        • Re:He's not kidding =) (Score:5, Funny)

          by Tackhead ( 54550 ) on Tuesday March 02, 2004 @08:08PM (#8447257)
          > Of course any decent Occ. Health and Safety expert will tell you not to rest your wrist on the table when using a mouse.

          Any decent occupational health and safety professional will also tell you stuff like "go outside and exercise, rather than spend all night gaming."

          ...so now you know why we're not about to take gaming advice from one.

    • 6 degrees of freedom? (Score:5, Informative)

      by Atario ( 673917 ) on Tuesday March 02, 2004 @07:50PM (#8447095) Homepage
      Up/down
      Left/right
      Forward/backward
      Pitch
      Roll
      Yaw

      Could do it, but it doesn't sound like it. Would be pretty neat for 3-D model design work, I'd think.
      • They have some research kit [gyration.com] that sells for $450 that includes 3 gyros.
        If the assumption that they have 3 seperate gyros in each mouse is correct you could get your 6 degrees of freedom from the device?
        But then, that would mean your mouse is a poorly documented research kit with inconvenient packaging.

      • Re:6 degrees of freedom? (Score:5, Informative)

        by Jaysyn ( 203771 ) on Tuesday March 02, 2004 @07:59PM (#8447176) Homepage Journal
        This [joy-stick.net] had 6 degrees of freedom waaaay back in `98. Didn't sell real well, bout the only game I could actually sit thru the learning curve on was Mechwarrior III. It could have been nice for another input device (3D CAD) but I could never get it working how I thought it should, & there was very little support for Win2k & up.

        Jaysyn

      • Re:6 degrees of freedom? (Score:5, Informative)

        by Carnildo ( 712617 ) on Tuesday March 02, 2004 @08:03PM (#8447208) Homepage Journal
        Up/down
        Left/right
        Forward/backward
        Pitch
        Roll
        Yaw

        Could do it, but it doesn't sound like it. Would be pretty neat for 3-D model design work, I'd think.

        There are a number of devices that do this, usually called wands or space mice.

        Yes, they are nice for 3D model design, especially when used with something like an Immersive Workbench or CAVE display system.

      • Re:6 degrees of freedom? (Score:5, Informative)

        by paradesign ( 561561 ) on Tuesday March 02, 2004 @08:05PM (#8447224) Homepage
        Youve seen these right?

        Spaceballs [3dconnexion.com]

        The CAD guys i used to work with swear by them. A spaceball for their left hand and a mouse for their right. I found them a lil twitchy though, but i guess thats something you can adjust to or just adjust.

    • Re:FOR GAMING? (Score:2, Insightful)

      by gilmet ( 601408 )
      I agree. It would be very difficult to push the buttons down without changing the tilt of the mouse. If you've used a laser pointer before, or tried to aim a gun or anything else without something supporting your arm or wrist, then you'd think twice before using this mouse for gaming.
    • Actually it doesn't. (Ok, it does in the air, but I still can usually do decently when I have tried it as an experement) On a surface it becomes the best optical cordless mouse I have used (every other one either skips or the precision sucks)

      Of course for $80 (+keyboard & reciever) I better get a damned good mouse (honestly the best I have come across to date.)

    • We have one of these at work. It's totally inappropriate for gaming, the control isn't that immediate and precise. What it is for is presentations, sort of like a laser pointer that controls the mouse cursor. (The one I've used might no longer be the latest model, so ymmv).
    • my hands shake enough in two dimensions thank you very much....
      In point of fact, that's exactly the problem I have with gyroscopic mice. I just can't hold the thing steady enough to point at something on the screen. But then, I suck at video games anyway, and for the same reason -- no physical coordination. I would think most people would do better.

  • iXMicro? (Score:5, Interesting)

    by BWJones ( 18351 ) * on Tuesday March 02, 2004 @07:33PM (#8446878) Homepage Journal
    iXMicro had a wireless gyroscopic mouse, what, about seven or eight years ago? It was called the Gyropoint and was absolutely perfect for presentations on my Powerbook. Unfortunately it ran about $200 as I recall, but was well worth it if you presented often allowing one to stand away from the laptop. It also had the additional benefit of working out well for RSI issues, but ate batteries too quick to use it routinely. However, this version doubling as an optical mouse is pretty cool. So, why has it taken so long to get these out to a wider audience?

  • old ? (Score:5, Informative)

    by upil ( 709693 ) on Tuesday March 02, 2004 @07:33PM (#8446880)
    I tought this is an old product. Friend of mine has it. Fry's electronics carries it.

    • Re:old ? (Score:5, Informative)

      by El Pollo Loco ( 562236 ) on Tuesday March 02, 2004 @07:37PM (#8446920)
      This is a newer version. Apparently the older version had a range of 25 ft. Although this version only had a 30 ft range, but hey, that extra 5 feet could be good. Also, there's a 100 ft version as well. It'll set ya back $180 bucks though.

      • Just bought one of each... (Score:5, Informative)

        by Goldenhawk ( 242867 ) on Tuesday March 02, 2004 @09:51PM (#8448204) Homepage
        Just bought one of each of these (Gyration Ultra) for our church - for remote presentation. Bought the 100 foot "Pro" version and the 30 foot version, for two differently sized rooms. Basically, they work exactly as advertised - tilt and yaw motions control the cursor. If you don't hold down the "trigger" on the bottom, nothing happens when in midair. That is good, because you can release the trigger and use just the buttons for forward/back slide control in PowerPoint, without moving the cursor around.

        You can also use it on a desk as an optical. Shape's a little ackward for that - rather a tall but narrow mouse to accomodate the recess for the trigger underneath. Otherwise, works great. Even has a scrollwheel.

        Surprisingly, it takes very little getting used to - as they state in the ads, you just move your hand naturally and the cursor follows your motions. But it is prone to overcontrol because moving your hand in midair is less precise than the tiny motions on the desktop (in my case, I move the desktop mouse about 3" for full left/right tracking).

        Another couple points - it's got a recharging stand, so it doesn't eat batteries; both versions come with a second battery pack; the Pro version also has a separate charger for the backup battery, and the Pro version also includes a AA-battery pack for emergencies. And both include a USB-powered receiver. Finally, the things worked out of the box with WinXP - no drivers to install. Really a pleasure to hook up and use in seconds.

        So really, it works like it's advertised - perhaps even better - which is a rarity these days!
      • Heh. When we origionaly started carrying them when i still worked retail (over a year ago) we could succesfully walk 150ft away and it would still work. The unit with a keyboard was $100
      • "Apparently the older version had a range of 25 ft. Although this version only had a 30 ft range, but hey, that extra 5 feet could be good."

        Parents point exactly, how is this new? Why does adding 5 feet to the range make this worth posting on the front page?

      • Re:old ? (Score:3, Interesting)

        by sydlexic ( 563791 )
        I had one for my home theater PC and it was really great until the keyboard died one week out of warranty. Now it's a $100 brick.

    • Re:old ? (Score:5, Informative)

      by fleener ( 140714 ) on Tuesday March 02, 2004 @07:47PM (#8447055)
      Ya, I own one of these mice. I'm not clear on why this story is appearing again, or how this "new" mouse is new. For what it's worth, I cannot use the mouse for day-to-day use because the mouse is not wide enough for me. I quickly got hand cramps clutching it.
      • Which is supremely ironic. One big selling point of this thing is RSI injury avoidance from wrist movement. Yet the fact is, you have to grasp the thing for long periods of time in an uncomfortable way (for you, and likely lots of people)

    • Re:old ? (Score:3, Informative)

      by Wavicle ( 181176 )
      I have one. Have had it for months. Why it is news that it should support Linux makes no sense to me - it's a USB device. The really nice thing about the mouse is that it's RF so you don't have to worry about whether the mouse is pointed correctly at the receiver.

      It's really cool using this thing with some MAME games though. Particularly star wars... you wave your arm around like some mad fool trying to shoot tie fighters.

    • Re:old ? (Score:2, Funny)

      by Total_Wimp ( 564548 )
      "I tought this is an old product. Friend of mine has it. Fry's electronics carries it."

      Did your friend use Linux? Did he write about it in a Linux publication? How on Earth can you expect Slashdot to notice it if it wasn't used for Linux?

      *** brand new device that lets you move from one place to another IN THE AIR!!***

      Yes folks, this new device called an "airplane" was actually used by a member of the Linux Today staff. "You can buy a ticket online using your Linux operating system and your Mozilla web
      • BTW, I've had one of these for more than a year now. My company had it's predecessor for more than 2 years before that. The fact that it works with Linux should not be much of a surprise for anyone who realizes that Linux does, and pretty much always has, supported mice on the PS/2 port.

        TW

  • hehehehe.... (Score:5, Interesting)

    by Tsali ( 594389 ) on Tuesday March 02, 2004 @07:34PM (#8446886)
    So if I tip my TV tray/laptop stand, my mouse position would stay in place? Sweet!

    Great for airplanes!

  • Is it just me, or is this unastounding. This mouse has been around (with a ball) for over 4 years. Now they've replaced the ball with an optical mechanism. Wow. Never would have seen that one coming.
    • Is it just me, or is this unastounding. This mouse has been around (with a ball) for over 4 years. Now they've replaced the ball with an optical mechanism. Wow. Never would have seen that one coming.

      So, Mr Ball, or should I be less formal and call you Crystal, I asume you hold the relevant patents on this obvious transition.

  • my job has one (Score:4, Informative)

    by sTalking_Goat ( 670565 ) on Tuesday March 02, 2004 @07:35PM (#8446899) Homepage
    people use it for presentations. Steady and accurate it is not. I can't think of a gamer who would use this.

  • Lag time? (Score:5, Insightful)

    by wedding ( 618458 ) on Tuesday March 02, 2004 @07:35PM (#8446902)
    I thought one of the main complaints of hardcore gamers was the millisecond lag in wireless would get them killed.
    Did I miss something that changes all this? Every rig from Alien, etc all use wired mice.

    • Re:Lag time? (Score:4, Funny)

      by c4Ff3In3 4ddiC+ ( 661808 ) on Tuesday March 02, 2004 @07:48PM (#8447067)
      I sucked at Enemy Territory with a wired optical. Then, I bought (for $60) a Logitech MX 700 wireless optical mouse.

      ... I still suck.

    • Re:Lag time? (Score:3, Informative)

      by Prof.Phreak ( 584152 )
      This is rated as "funny" so I'd just like to say that I play games, and I _do_ notice a wireless delay [with all wireless mice that I've tried] (that's the _only_ reason I'm still using a wired mouse).

  • Cool, but you still need to type... (Score:5, Funny)

    by gringo_john ( 680811 ) on Tuesday March 02, 2004 @07:36PM (#8446913) Journal
    Looking at the photo of the guy in the ad. It looks like he's pretty happy using the mouse.

    But he'll still have to put his feet down before he can type, unless of course he can type with his keyboard in his lap.

    He's got pretty good eyes too because the monitor is far enough away that the text on the page could be difficult to read.

    As a bonus, it looks like he'll get a good forearm workout using the mouse.

    • I always type with my keyboard in my lap...

      it began because of the astounding lack of space in my dorm room, where the monitor was more than the width of the desk. Once I had to start, though, it's my most comfortable typing position.

      Ergonomics are where you find them

  • Excellent (Score:5, Funny)

    by Kelz ( 611260 ) on Tuesday March 02, 2004 @07:36PM (#8446915)
    Now I can have a purpose for waving my hands in the air for no apparent reason!

    And they said I was mad....

  • Just like all the other one of a kind gyra-mice. (Score:4, Interesting)

    by Kenja ( 541830 ) on Tuesday March 02, 2004 @07:38PM (#8446931)
    This has been done before. In fact its still being done for less [gyration.com]. However, I wonder if these things are good for RSI.

  • Difficult (Score:4, Interesting)

    by deputydink ( 173771 ) on Tuesday March 02, 2004 @07:39PM (#8446945)
    I have one of these i use with a big plasma in my boardroom. Its great for powerpoint but utterly useless for much else unless you've gotten accustomed to it. However, its a great toy and a better conversation piece.


    In my mind the best thing about it watching my partners try to navigate their hotmail inboxes during presentation with it.

  • A thought... (Score:3, Insightful)

    by Cyno01 ( 573917 ) <Cyno01@hotmail.com> on Tuesday March 02, 2004 @07:40PM (#8446952) Homepage
    I've tried gyroscopic mice and havn't been impressed, a handheld wireless trackball is just as good, but would it be possible to make an optical mouse that didn't need any surface. A sensor with a focus of more than 2mm that could make it work like a normal mouse, but in the air... Is this possible or would some sort of auto focus introduce to much lag to make it usable for normal circumstances (not gaming).
    • would it be possible to make an optical mouse that didn't need any surface. A sensor with a focus of more than 2mm that could make it work like a normal mouse, but in the air... Is this possible or would some sort of auto focus introduce to much lag to make it usable for normal circumstances (not gaming).

      Me, I demand to be made able to use the NES light gun for powerpoint presentations.

      (aim)
      *CLICK*
      (aim)
      *CLICK*
  • ...that guy on the Gyration website looks just like... John Kerry!

    (insert political paranoid campaign conspiracy theories here)
  • "This is a must for any game player."

    Huh??? Every wireless input device I have ever used, both radio and infrared, have been horrible with respect to second to second reliability. That is the last thing I want in game input device, unless you're talking myst or mindsweeper.

    Anm
    • I agree, but I have to say that the bluetooth mice I use now are VERY impressive as far as responsiveness and reliability.

  • Mice are so 20th Century (Score:5, Interesting)

    by Proneax ( 609988 ) on Tuesday March 02, 2004 @07:43PM (#8447004)
    I want to see a 'pointer' device that is a glove with a gyroscope, and it has sensors on each finger as well so you can map complex hand and finger movements to different operations.

    For Example:
    1. Grab an icon and crush it to delete
    2. Twist an icon to open it
    3. Flick my finger to minimize the window
    4. Like mouse gestures in mozilla? Try hand gestures
    5. Think two handed manipulation
    6. Possibly integrate keyboard function into them for mobile apps
    7. Think application-specific like photoshop functions, word processing etc.
    8. Think 3d cad manipulation with your hands
    9. Drawback: probably not good for gaming, but as the technology matures who knows? /me runs to USPTO to file.
    • So you're talking about the "glove mouse" from Minority Report? If they can make an AH-64's guns/sensors move in synch with the pilot's helmet, they can probably do this. Put some IR sensors around the perimeter of your screen, and voila. But it would be expensive.

    • Emotive computing (Score:5, Funny)

      by tjwhaynes ( 114792 ) on Tuesday March 02, 2004 @08:03PM (#8447215)

      I want to see a 'pointer' device that is a glove with a gyroscope, and it has sensors on each finger as well so you can map complex hand and finger movements to different operations.

      Of course, you could also get your computer to recognise other important gestures and map them to some appropriate function.

      For example:

      1. Bunch your fist and that error message goes away.
      2. Bang your palm on the keyboard to fix that compilation problem.
      3. Raise your middle finger to the sky and watch your machine shutdown.

      Finally - a computer that responds to your emotions! :-)

      Cheers,

      Toby Haynes

    • Prior art (Score:4, Informative)

      by Carnildo ( 712617 ) on Tuesday March 02, 2004 @08:08PM (#8447250) Homepage Journal
      /me runs to USPTO to file.

      Fakespace beat you to it [est-kl.com]
    • Just attach a camera to your monit0r. For instance, you could select a file, then flip it the bird to delete it. Point at a file to open it. Stick a finger down your throat and making gagging motions to run MS Office. And, uh... it would be pretty obvious when you want to view your pr0n collection!
    • I want that! Without the extra keyboard/mouse my desk would look really clean too.

    • That would be cool... (Score:3, Informative)

      by Cyno01 ( 573917 )
      Didn't someone mod a powerglove to do something like this a while back, i remember something about it on here. Also a sibling post mentioned it, pair this with a projector and a piece of treated glass (i remember someone figuring out how to do this, but i cant find a link, anybody?) for a minority report like interface...
      found the /. link [slashdot.org] to the powerglove thing...
    • And what about the middle finger? Is that restart or something? Perhaps it would be like kill -9.
    • And the gesture I made at my Sunblade today because the SunOne Web Server wouldn't find the damn shared library that was right there would SU to root and rm -rf /.

      Maybe that wouldn't be such a good idea...

    • Coolness Factor: High

      Usefullness Factor: Low

      Do you really want to have to make a fist to delete something? Twist to open it? I know I don't, double clicking or whatever is plenty. Some stuff (CAD, as you said) might be improved, but for "everyday" wordprocessing etc. the current setup is, in my opinion, much more efficient and easier to use.

    • It's not a glove but this [fingerworks.com] does most of what you mentioned. They do have a two-handed version.

      I got mine about a month ago. There's a bit of a learning curve and it's hard to get single-pixel accuracy, but I really like it and don't think I'd choose to go back to a mouse. (Since I have a USB mouse and it's USB, they coexist under X nicely and I can switch to the mouse the few times I need to be that precise... or when my fingers are covered in oil from the snack food de jour).

      It will open files with a tw

  • I'm sticking with the Logitech cordless trackman. I've owned 4 trackman like devices, corded and otherwise, and I find that I really enjoy the stable platform and moving my thumb about as needed. I did prefer to some degree the layout on the Microsoft Optical Trackball, they don't make it anymore.

  • I've had mine for well over a year. In fact, I've even had time to break it, send it back, and have them ship me a new one gratis. I love it... it's a bit heavy but works quite well, and has a big Li-Ion battery that I charge every other night. I also have the mini keyboard, which kicks ass. Remind me to get a separate number pad though, for those rare times I need one. The multimedia buttons work under Linux too, just use $YOUR_FAVORITE_MM_KEY_APP ... I use Lineak and KLineakConfig.

  • Line of Sight? (Score:5, Funny)

    by theraccoon ( 592935 ) * on Tuesday March 02, 2004 @07:46PM (#8447034) Journal

    Extra long 30 foot radio range. Line of sight not required!

    Cause you just know that's a useful feature for your mouse!

    • Re:Line of Sight? (Score:3, Insightful)

      by YrWrstNtmr ( 564987 )
      Cause you just know that's a useful feature for your mouse!

      Actually, it can be quite useful. Don't have to worry about walking around in a conference room, and having something block the receiver.
  • The web site has it for $79.95? Is this a new variety of slashdot effect? (In which case prepare to get sued by the "red dot" people for violation of look and feel)

    Or am I looking at the wrong wireless optical gyro mouse?

  • Nice Wireless Keyboard too... Good for HTPC's (Score:3, Interesting)

    by nherc ( 530930 ) on Tuesday March 02, 2004 @07:48PM (#8447073) Journal
    As anyone with a HTPC or the need for a remote keyboard/mouse with a range more than 3ft. knows, they are difficult to come by. Gyration also appears to have the ticket in this regard with an advertised 100ft. range in their Media Center Remote & Keyboard [gyration.com]. Unforunately, it still may not be _my_ ticket because of the steep price-$179.95.

    Is this just an actual case of, you get what you pay for? Does a good ~100ft. wireless keyboard/mouse need components that costs over 50% of that price ($80) assuming 50% for mark-up, etc.,.? That's hard to believe.

    BTW, the mouse/keyboard combo noted in the article appear to have only a 30ft. range (which means MAYBE 15ft on a good moonless night).

  • And.. (Score:5, Funny)

    by kgayer ( 647331 ) <{bonglord} {at} {gmail.com}> on Tuesday March 02, 2004 @07:49PM (#8447084) Homepage
    you get to look like your whackin off [gyration.com]... Great!
  • Who decided that we should all be using mice to control our computer pointers? I believe (if tv doesnt lie) that it was AT&T or someone-or-rather in the late 60's, but why a mouse?

    HowStuffWorks says Mice first broke onto the public stage with the introduction of the Apple Macintosh in 1984 [howstuffworks.com], but there were heaps of video game consoles out before that, I would have thought that a joystick style controller would have been a logical choice. Mouses are really odd.

  • Wireless Mice for gaming (Score:3, Interesting)

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 02, 2004 @07:51PM (#8447106)
    For the most part, wireless mice have sucked for gaming because of their sample rate.the technologies exsist now that lets then be just as fast as any usb/ps2 mouse on the market. the Logitech Mx700 is a perfect example of this. it has the exact same sample rate of its wired counterpart the mx500. i use one everyday for gameing, and there is no one who could convince me its not the best gaming mouse out now

  • Mouse Accuracy is a Big Issue (Score:4, Interesting)

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 02, 2004 @07:53PM (#8447119)
    I have used one of these for the "gaming" that the poster spoke of, and personally, I found the mouse to be extremly inaccurate when using the gyroscopic method, and wasn't all that great when on the desktop using the optical sensor. The mouse just doesn't seem to be that responsive: blame it on the fact that it isn't wired, or the design isn't great, or whatever. Furthermore, the ergonomics of the mouse are absolutely horrible: I couldn't stomach using the thing on my own computer for much more than basic desktop use, let alone when playing a game that requires repeated motions and accuracy. It looks kind of cool, but the design really doesn't conform well to the hand of the user, although YMMV.

  • presentations and little else but maybe I'm missing something.

    Now this [evoluent.biz] seems better for you. Anybody owners care to comment on it? Not much info on Mac/Linux compatibility on the site. I note you have to _buy_ a driver for full compatibiliy on a Mac?! What kind of company advertises that?

  • multiple mice (Score:5, Informative)

    by forevermore ( 582201 ) on Tuesday March 02, 2004 @07:55PM (#8447143) Homepage
    You'd think that someone who writes for linux journal who can manually tweak an XF86Config file would know that it's pretty easy to set up and use two mice instead of "simply switch[ing] the # character on the two lines"

    I just set up my always-connected mouse "CorePointer" and my sometimes-connected one as "AlwaysCore"... Then they both work.

  • Easy Installation? (Score:2, Interesting)

    by Boba001 ( 458898 )
    Hehe - Yah, installing the thing on Linux couldn't be easier...

    From the review:

    Installing the mouse and keyboard couldn't be easier... I did have to edit several lines in my /etc/X11/XF86Config file so the Gyromouse would work with my 300MHz PII laptop, however. Specifically, I added an InputDevice section for the USB mouse.

    Section "InputDevice"
    Driver "mouse"
    Identifier "USB mouse"
    Option "ButtonNumber" "5"
    Option "Device" "/dev/input/mouse0"
    Option "Name" "AutoDetec

  • Ball mice 4ever (Score:2, Informative)

    by isaac ( 2852 )
    Serious gamers don't even use optical mice (with the exception of Logitech's dual-sensor models), to say nothing of gyroscopic wireless hoo-ha. Optical mice don't track well when you make lots of fast twitch movements.

    No, this thing is targeted squarely at the PowerPoint set. (Not that I'd turn one down; it'd be perfect for an HTPC setup.)

    -Isaac

  • Works with Linux (Score:4, Interesting)

    by rjamestaylor ( 117847 ) <rjamestaylor@gmail.com> on Tuesday March 02, 2004 @08:14PM (#8447301) Journal
    Why shouldn't a mouse work with Linux? Or would it not use a standard mouse interface?

    move_mouse(x,y)

    Wooo works with Linux.

    Almost as amazing as ads that proclaim their TouchScreens "work with Linux!!" -- er, a touchscreen is a mouse, or so thinks your computer. Or "Our keyboard wedge barcode scanner works with Linux!!!"; its a hardware trick that mimics keyboard input, so of course it does.

    Be sure to pay extra for Linux compatibility!

  • Two things (Score:2, Interesting)

    by The Bungi ( 221687 )
    1) This is old. Old, old old. And the fact that it runs on Linux (if that is the point of the article) is also old news. AFAIK the thing is recognized just like any other USB device and it works with X just fine. Unless this is just slashvertising. Oops, did I just say that.

    2) This is a stupid device to use with games. Phear me, I wield the Gyroscope!!! .... MOMOMOMONSTER KILL!!!!!! Give me a break. This is good basically for presentations, not for any sort of extended use. Certainly not for gaming. The b

  • They've sold these at CompUSA for a long time. I've owned one for almost a year already.

  • It is for presentations. It needs a laser pointer. Wouldn't cost much, and would solve a miner need in many presentations.

    Course if it could make presentations good and interesting that would be better, but I don't know how they could do that.

  • These things suck! (Score:2, Interesting)

    by Relifram ( 607656 )
    I have the unfortunate pleasure of working for a company that has a fair number of these things (~20) In the past year, we have had to return every single one of them due to some problem or another. Usually it is the batteries (ridiculous since they're less than a year old), but there have been other problems. Additionally, they are horridly inaccurate. Okay, to be fair, my hand is horribly inaccurate when it's not supported by something, but that doesn't make them any more useful.
  • They have the audacity to patent this? This is hardly a groundbreaking, original thought. These companies are really grabbing for straws when it comes to intellectual property. I guess they need something to show for the money they expand.

    But, c'mon. Don't they have such motion sensing in some higher grade virtual reality goggles?

    While they're at it, they should patent a contour, shaft-like device designed to fit comfortably in one's hand.

  • QUAKE (Score:3, Insightful)

    by jjshoe ( 410772 ) on Tuesday March 02, 2004 @10:00PM (#8448258) Homepage
    Now what i am suprised i havent seen yet is one of these mice chopped up and put on a toy gun. The end of the toy gun would have a laser pointer on the end to help you line up with your cross hairs initialy. Coupled with a projector you could have a lot of fun!

  • Tried it (Score:2, Interesting)

    by Chapium ( 550445 )
    Our university has had those for about 6 months now. Pretty cool I'd say, but not perfect, sometimes its difficult to get the pointer quite in the right spots. Great for pointing to things in presentations, not much else. Also, its really easy to hit the clicker by accident when you're holding down the button on the bottom for the gyro thing. Kinda annoying in powerpoints. However if I remember correctly it works just fine on flat surface like a normal mouse. Thats my .02

  • Strap It To A Headset (Score:4, Informative)

    by DynaSoar ( 714234 ) * on Tuesday March 02, 2004 @10:21PM (#8448394) Journal
    and put the buttons in the hand or on the table, better yet tie button press in with a command to voice recognition softare, and you've got a decent head pointer. Most other head pointers cost more (some far more) and require a reflective dot on your head and a camera to track it. There is a cheap hack of one at www.mousevision.com. But a good, cheap gyro head pointer would be greatly welcomed by the disabled.

  • killer argument (Score:3, Interesting)

    by Tom ( 822 ) on Wednesday March 03, 2004 @03:18AM (#8449964) Homepage Journal
    It doesn't have a 3rd button. No way I'm gonna buy it.

    How can people live without the 3rd button in X ???

    (and no, the wheel doesn't count. try clicking it repeatedly and reliably and you'll know why.)

  • Not even remotely new (Score:3, Informative)

    by edremy ( 36408 ) on Wednesday March 03, 2004 @08:55AM (#8451177) Journal
    WTF? I had one of these back in *1997*, and they weren't new then. (Well, it didn't have the optical pickup- it was gyro only)

    I've got a dozen of this exact model in classrooms across the campus- I put them there last summer. We've had older versions (ball mouse) in place for ~3 years. Those are more expensive and have a much longer (~100 foot) range, but this isn't exactly a new product.

  • Gorilla Arm (Score:3, Insightful)

    by maggard ( 5579 ) <michael@michaelmaggard.com> on Wednesday March 03, 2004 @11:04AM (#8452389) Homepage Journal
    Will this trope never die?

    Every few years we hear of another nifty free-space manual input. Again and again folks learn: GUI's and the human body aren't well suited for these, at least not within the contraints of a high efficiency/low physical labor/space constrained way.

    Light pens, touch screens, ultrasonic rangefinders, tracker cameras, gyroscopic whatevers - all ignore the fundamental issue of "Gorilla Arm [catb.org]". Simply put nobody wants to be holding out their arms making little precise motions for any length of time.

    Keyboards, as awfully designed as they usually are, at least allow one's arms to hang down. The same for mice - there's a reason your typing and mousing surfaces are typically 2' lower then your worktop. Ask any craftsperson - they use worbenches precisely to avoid their arms stretched out in front of them all day.

    So unless you're into interpretive dance and don't mind the slowness of big gestures (and are up for the cardio) this whole category of technology is innapropriate for extended use. Particularly for the sedentary cubed masses. Invest in some good ergo furniture and input devices, get some decent lighting, and leave the hand-waving to the PHB's.

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