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.

Comments

iXMicro?

[BWJones]

iXMicro had a wireless gyroscopic mouse, what, about seven or eight years ago? It was called the Gyropoint and was absolutely perfect for presentations on my Powerbook. Unfortunately it ran about $200 as I recall, but was well worth it if you presented often allowing one to stand away from the laptop. It also had the additional benefit of working out well for RSI issues, but ate batteries too quick to use it routinely. However, this version doubling as an optical mouse is pretty cool. So, why has it taken so long to get these out to a wider audience?

hehehehe....

[Tsali]

So if I tip my TV tray/laptop stand, my mouse position would stay in place? Sweet!

Great for airplanes!

Difficult

[deputydink]

I have one of these i use with a big plasma in my boardroom. Its great for powerpoint but utterly useless for much else unless you've gotten accustomed to it. However, its a great toy and a better conversation piece.

In my mind the best thing about it watching my partners try to navigate their hotmail inboxes during presentation with it.

Mice are so 20th Century

[Proneax]

I want to see a 'pointer' device that is a glove with a gyroscope, and it has sensors on each finger as well so you can map complex hand and finger movements to different operations.

For Example:

1. Grab an icon and crush it to delete
2. Twist an icon to open it
3. Flick my finger to minimize the window
4. Like mouse gestures in mozilla? Try hand gestures
5. Think two handed manipulation
6. Possibly integrate keyboard function into them for mobile apps
7. Think application-specific like photoshop functions, word processing etc.
8. Think 3d cad manipulation with your hands
9. Drawback: probably not good for gaming, but as the technology matures who knows? /me runs to USPTO to file.

Mouse Accuracy is a Big Issue

[Anonymous Coward]

I have used one of these for the "gaming" that the poster spoke of, and personally, I found the mouse to be extremly inaccurate when using the gyroscopic method, and wasn't all that great when on the desktop using the optical sensor. The mouse just doesn't seem to be that responsive: blame it on the fact that it isn't wired, or the design isn't great, or whatever. Furthermore, the ergonomics of the mouse are absolutely horrible: I couldn't stomach using the thing on my own computer for much more than basic desktop use, let alone when playing a game that requires repeated motions and accuracy. It looks kind of cool, but the design really doesn't conform well to the hand of the user, although YMMV.

Works with Linux

[rjamestaylor]

Why shouldn't a mouse work with Linux? Or would it not use a standard mouse interface?

move_mouse(x,y)

Wooo works with Linux.

Almost as amazing as ads that proclaim their TouchScreens "work with Linux!!" -- er, a touchscreen is a mouse, or so thinks your computer. Or "Our keyboard wedge barcode scanner works with Linux!!!"; its a hardware trick that mimics keyboard input, so of course it does.

Be sure to pay extra for Linux compatibility!

Re:He's not kidding =)

[photonX]

I've had extensive cervical spine surgery, and find it impossible to work on a desktop that doesn't have room to rest my entire arm, never mind the wrist. So as far as ergonomics go, individual user requirements can vary.

On the other hand, raving schizophrenic maniacs can now look perfectly normal! All they have to do is strap on a headset and carry a cordless mouse around, and they'll look like they are hard at work.