Microsoft's 5 computer mouse concepts Created 15 years ago2009-10-06 00:38:38 UTC by Tito

Microsoft shows off five multitouch computer mouse concepts:

Microsoft is apparently looking into expanding its multitouch support, as it's doing with Windows 7, but of course....the user needs a way to take advantage of that technology, obviously. So to that end, Microsoft is exploring another avenue to help proliferate multitouch: new computer mice.

The five designs you see in the video below aren't final products. They're concepts and show the direction Microsoft is going with the idea. The mice use everything from IR-sensitive cameras to capacitive-sensing electrodes.

Now, the one particular mouse that I and I am sure some of you here will find of interest, is the one called "Orb Mouse". On the YouTube video link below, there's a demonstration use of the Orb Mouse on a FPS game you just got to see, it's the 3rd mouse on the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3PZkpQThek&feature=player_embedded

Dear God. All of those mice were stupidly gimmicky and completely impractical, to put it lightly.

The person showcasing the mouse had noticeably less control over the cursor than a standard mouse. I could clearly see the user accidentally doing all kinds of mouse movements/actions that would just get in the way.

All that window and picture expanding, and pretty much everything else they showcased would be more user friendly and 10x more practical by just using a touch monitor. And as far as the game went, well hell the player had just about zero control over the game.

You'd be hard-pressed to find anything more practical than a touch monitor for interacting with any GUI, and these multi-touch monitors are already readily available.

I just see this as unnecessary in every aspect.

Your points are valid, World Crafter. After all, they are not being called experimental concepts for nothing, emphasis on "concepts"! Also remember, if Microsoft do indeed ever comes out with some type of an actual multitouch mouse for the retail market, it would most likely be designed exclusively to operate with Windows 7's multitouch interface, making it "practical" (supposedly, that is).

Me, Tito,....am not totally convinced. But I am opened to further testing, inventing and experimentations.....

I can feel the carpel tunnel already.. heh.

I agree with WC. It seems like an overly-complicated solution to a problem that has already been solved.

And I thought the Novint Falcon looked bad enough...

They all look crap.

Strider: I assume thats a mouse. Otherwise, what the hell is it?

It's "an entirely new type of game controller. Replacing your mouse or joystick, the Falcon is, essentially, a small robot that lets you experience true virtual touch unlike any controller in history".

Which is sales jargon for "plastic pile of useless crap".

I wonder if the technology from Nintendo's wiimote would translate well for PC use. But I guess for it to work, some technical adjustments will have to be done.

The Falcon is fun for FPS games but totally impractical for anything else.
Well, at least Novint Tech has pretty much flat out said that it was built with FPS in mind.