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Head-Mounted Mouse
madburn writes "MacInTouch has a blurb about a device from Boost Technology called the Tracer. It appears to be an almost-affordable head-mounted "mouse" with the features and performance needed for serious use, including 360-degree field of view. It supports USB and PS/2. I wonder if this will make the Quake experience more immersive?" The girl in the picture looks kinda stoned, but I can imagine that this could be useful for the handicapped, and fun for someone looking for a different input device.
Also, the way I play Unreal Tournament and Quake III Arena this thing would be migraine and tumor inducing.
- I don't care if they globalize against free speech. All my best free thoughts are done in my head.
He also tried a knee-cursor, which was very popular with new users, as well as a foot-mouse, etc. He settled on a mouse and a 5-key chording keyset. NLS (aka AUGMENT) is an impressive thing in action.
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Make mine methylphenidate.
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> It seems like every six months these days, someone comes out with a head-motion pointer. They go way, way back.
Indeed, the first one I recall was a Mac pointer in 1985 or 1986. It was worn more like headphones than this thing, and it had a microphone with which you'd make a sound to click.
i have a really nasty RSI problem (repetitive stress injury; most people who claim to have, or are diagnosed with Carpel Tunnel, really have an RSI type issue). After a lot of research, I bought an expensive version of one of these head mice, the head tracker . Long story short, while it helped me pull through the harder times, and keep working, i would have been MUCH better off walking away. I've done serious damage to my neck (and my arms are still pretty bad). I've also tried foot mice - you damage your feet. Think about it - your neck (or your arms) for that matter weren't built for such fine motor movements, repeated thousands of times... word to the wise, they may help some people who have NO other way to access a computer, but I would be weary for others... we need a device that can read brainwaves... LEFT!!! no LEFT!!! god damn it! (click...) doh!
move it down your head a little and you'll look like Toucan Sam or Opus.
move it down your body even further and you can play Quake by performing Elvis gyrations.
I wonder if the continual head movement required to use this device might cause a Repetitive Strain Injury in your neck? Although it is pretty light, it is weighted off center to the front of your head. Especially since they have designed the rechargable batteries to be good for "over ten straight hours" of working at your computer.
Put 5 ounces on your forehead and move your head as much as you'd move your hand on a mouse working for 10 hours and see if your neck gets sore.
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Of all those people you say you hate
It seems like every six months these days, someone comes out with a head-motion pointer. They go way, way back.
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They're not even new to
Way back in the pre-ibmpc haze, Sage/Stride marketed one that required you to put a reflective dot on your forehead. Never took off.
This one looks real expensive, you can get a similar device for a lot cheaper HERE , for fifty bucks. Even has built in headphones.
This is just like television, only you can see much further.
Now playing virtual tennis would be just like watching real tennis!
left... right... left... right... left... right...
This device just isn't practical for serious user interaction. To click on something, you have to be very good at holding the mouse steady. My hand-eye coordination sucks, but I doubt if anybody has that kind of skill. Especially not someone with spinal injuries.
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Tell me what makes you so afraid
Of all those people you say you hate
The girl in the picture looks kinda stoned
umm...that's because she has Quadriplegia, Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, Multiple Sclerosis, ALS, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and any other disability where the user lacks the hand control to use a standard mouse but retains good head movement.
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If you have to turn 180 degrees to point behind you, then how could you see the monitor? ;)
This mouse is as useful for playing Q3 as a wheelchair. That's not what it was made for. So please stop bitching about bad control, this isn't meant for playing!
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This mouse can be used by people with disabilities that can't control their hands accurately enough (or at all) to operate a normal mouse. So this is certainly very useful for a rather small group of people. And that group is *not* Q3 players
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