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Gyroscopic Wireless Mouse

An anonymous reader writes "This is a must for any game player. Gyration has introduced a working wireless gyroscopic mouse. The $119.95 price tag is a little steep but it works with Linux and it doubles for an optical mouse if placed on the desktop. There is an article about it at Linux Journal." We mentioned an earlier version a year or two ago.

12 of 295 comments (clear)

  1. Lag time? by wedding · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I thought one of the main complaints of hardcore gamers was the millisecond lag in wireless would get them killed.
    Did I miss something that changes all this? Every rig from Alien, etc all use wired mice.

  2. Re:FOR GAMING? by DigitaLunatiC · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Not if you could actually hold the thing like a gun. If you were to jump around a corner in CS and actually point and aim like a real gun, that would be pretty helpful.

  3. A thought... by Cyno01 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I've tried gyroscopic mice and havn't been impressed, a handheld wireless trackball is just as good, but would it be possible to make an optical mouse that didn't need any surface. A sensor with a focus of more than 2mm that could make it work like a normal mouse, but in the air... Is this possible or would some sort of auto focus introduce to much lag to make it usable for normal circumstances (not gaming).

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  4. Re:FOR GAMING? by nacturation · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Unless you attached it to your head and used mouse-look in a first-person shooter.

    Does this mean you already have the monitor strapped to your head?

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  5. He's not kidding =) by Andorion · · Score: 5, Insightful

    You don't realize how much the edges of your palm resting on the desktop help you move your mouse where you want to move it - a little downward pressure and your hand stops immediately, a little anchored rotation and you can navigate pixel by pixel. The muscle memory is in many joints in your hand, wrist, and arm.

    Holding the mouse in the air eliminates the benefits of resting your hand on the table.

    ~Berj

    1. Re:He's not kidding =) by wankledot · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Which is nearly impossible. Supporting your entire arm in the air with just your fingertips on the mouse is not realistic, and nearly impossible for any extended period of time. It's perfectly acceptable to rest part of your arm/wrist/hand on the desk, the angle at which it rests, and making sure you are not bending your wrist excessively from side to side is more important.

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  6. Re:FOR GAMING? by gilmet · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I agree. It would be very difficult to push the buttons down without changing the tilt of the mouse. If you've used a laser pointer before, or tried to aim a gun or anything else without something supporting your arm or wrist, then you'd think twice before using this mouse for gaming.

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  7. Re:Cool, but you still need to type... by kundor · · Score: 2, Insightful
    I always type with my keyboard in my lap...

    it began because of the astounding lack of space in my dorm room, where the monitor was more than the width of the desk. Once I had to start, though, it's my most comfortable typing position.

    Ergonomics are where you find them

  8. QUAKE by jjshoe · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Now what i am suprised i havent seen yet is one of these mice chopped up and put on a toy gun. The end of the toy gun would have a laser pointer on the end to help you line up with your cross hairs initialy. Coupled with a projector you could have a lot of fun!

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  9. Re:FOR GAMING? by Lord_Dweomer · · Score: 2, Insightful
    Which is why you would set the ratio such that a slight movement of the head equalled a much larger movement of the screen. Similar to how you don't have to move the mouse the full distance of your screen to move the cursor from one side to another.

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  10. Re:Line of Sight? by YrWrstNtmr · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Cause you just know that's a useful feature for your mouse!

    Actually, it can be quite useful. Don't have to worry about walking around in a conference room, and having something block the receiver.

  11. Gorilla Arm by maggard · · Score: 2, Insightful
    Will this trope never die?

    Every few years we hear of another nifty free-space manual input. Again and again folks learn: GUI's and the human body aren't well suited for these, at least not within the contraints of a high efficiency/low physical labor/space constrained way.

    Light pens, touch screens, ultrasonic rangefinders, tracker cameras, gyroscopic whatevers - all ignore the fundamental issue of "Gorilla Arm". Simply put nobody wants to be holding out their arms making little precise motions for any length of time.

    Keyboards, as awfully designed as they usually are, at least allow one's arms to hang down. The same for mice - there's a reason your typing and mousing surfaces are typically 2' lower then your worktop. Ask any craftsperson - they use worbenches precisely to avoid their arms stretched out in front of them all day.

    So unless you're into interpretive dance and don't mind the slowness of big gestures (and are up for the cardio) this whole category of technology is innapropriate for extended use. Particularly for the sedentary cubed masses. Invest in some good ergo furniture and input devices, get some decent lighting, and leave the hand-waving to the PHB's.

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