MIT Researchers Develop Wireless Trackpad For Your Thumbnail

itwbennett writes: Called NailO, the prototype trackpad is similar to the stick-on nails sometimes used as a fashion accessory. It attaches to the user's thumb and can be controlled by running a finger over its surface. The processor, battery, sensing chip and Bluetooth radio are included on a circuit board that sits under the capacitive trackpad. The two are connected via a small ribbon cable, which means the trackpad is not quite as thin as a stick-on nail, but reducing the size is one of the aims of the researchers.

But will it match my lipstick?

[kwiqsilver]

Cuz, you know, style.

So that's what Matthew McConaughey was doing

[Antibozo]

in those Lincoln commercials.

Waiting

[TWX]

I think I'll wait for the computer with the nontouch 'mouse' that determines what I want to do without using another device.

Joystick Joystick

[bughunter]

Next up: the sensor that attaches to your willy so you don't need to take your hand off of your joystick to control the mouse.

Yaah, that's cool and all...

[jenningsthecat]

...but wake me up when they can graft a Trackpoint onto my hand. That's something I'd be excited about!

Swing and a miss

[jimmydevice]

Why not a bluetooth accelerometer and click area on the end of your index? I use my thumb too much.

Re:

[wonkey_monkey]

Why not a bluetooth accelerometer and click area on the end of your index?

How would you not use it?

Already Been Done

[Armored Ear]

Mycestro actually developed and released a product like over a year ago. It works and it's fun, but the tracking is a little finnicky so it hasn't replaced the good old mouse for me yet. https://www.kickstarter.com/pr... [kickstarter.com] http://www.mycestro.com/ [mycestro.com]

IBM nipples.

[ledow]

Gimme an IBM / Lenovo Thinkpad "nipple" mouse, that's Bluetooth. You could literally just stick it in your pocket or push it back on the machine when you're done with it and it would miniscule. Bluetooth chips are tiny now. Stick a sticky pad or other anchor of some kind on the bottom (or even a soft ring to go on your finger that tucks away).

If you could stick it on the side of your first finger, you could thumb it to control it like a mini-joystick with a click-down action for mouse-clicks.

The Clit-O

[jcfandino]

https://xkcd.com/243/ [xkcd.com]