Mouse 2.0 via Microsoft
Though the images above may not be much to look at, what they represent is actually interesting on a couple of levels.
With multitouch input being all the rage, and the occasional musing on the mouse being dead as an input method, it appears that Microsoft Research has turned conventional thinking on it’s head with 5 new prototype mice, each with it’s own twist on the venerable input device. The antennae on the Arty for example are individually articulated touch surfaces. By the way, if you’re wondering what FTIR stands for, it’s ‘Frustrated Total Internal Reflection’.
In the past, 3D input devices were relegated to the expensive, such as the SpacePilot PRO, Novint Falcon and other objects that would look right at home on the set of a generic sci-fi horror film. After watching the video below, I couldn’t help but think how some of these would actually be effective in various creative endeavours, such as 3D modelling.
Though the prototypes clearly aren’t much to look at, seeing them in action is another story, which you can see if you
[…] which is likely the most innovative non-announcement of the day. Conjuring up memories of Mouse 2.0, the entire surface is multitouch and gesture-based, requiring no trackball or […]