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.

Comments

beware... learn from my experience

[DNSjunkie]

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!

Bad idea

[bonzoesc]

This would not be good in most FPS games, because of something I call "confused immersion" - in game, if you hear a sound to the left, and you turn your head left, the enemy is right in your crosshairs. What if the phone to your left rings? You turn to get it, and... "KABOOM!! Terrorists win!" Stick with your hand-held mouse for games. And don't get me started on whiplash in the workplace cases.

Tell me what makes you so afraid
Of all those people you say you hate

Stoned Girl

[BitchAss]

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.

how do you see what you are pointing at?

[techmuse]

If you have to turn 180 degrees to point behind you, then how could you see the monitor? ;)

It's not for gaming but for disabled ppl!

[ghoti]

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!

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 ...