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RollerMouse Aims to Replace the Traditional Mouse
ThinSkin writes "Over at ExtremeTech, we have reviewed the RollerMousePRO, an ergonomic input device that claims to reduce pain and discomfort associated with repetitive mouse use while also increasing productivity. The idea behind the product is to have a fully functional docking station for your keyboard that allows you to navigate a cursor without much hand movement. There is an interesting Flash demo that illustrates how this works." Using a roller-bar beneath the keyboard may remind some people of the Outbound Macintosh-based laptop.
I love/use the TouchStream LP keyboard and iGesture pad from FingerWorks(.com). Not only does the Touchstream eliminate the reaching entirely, but it includes gestures which allow you to do simple things like cut, copy, paste, scroll, and many other things by doing finger motions. I got used to the gestures in minutes. The iGesture has the same gestures, but is a mouse-pad sized touchpad. Both recognize various gestures performed with multiple fingers at the same time, unlike any other touch device. The only downside (aside from the price), is that getting used to typing on the flat surface with no tactile feedback was tricky. After a couple of weeks, I was pretty much back to normal. I'd advise anyone to check out their forums and ask questions. You'll learn the good and the bad. For the most part, the users think it's the best thing since the study of ergonomics was invented. Yes, I RTFA. But I didn't like what I saw. Compared to the FingerWorks devices, this is like 20-year-old technology. Shawn
Milo
You've never heard of this?
Not a Twitter sockpuppet... but I wish I was.
Anatomy varies between individuals. Some people have an extra rib in the neck. Others have different clavicle widths than you do.
Depending on precisely where you mouse is, how you work, and how your body is built you can irritate the cushioning pads in the shoulder or compress the nerve bundle that controls the arm, leading to pain and numbness.
The conditions are startlingly serious. It's possible to completely lose the use of the arm. There's also a certain stigma, because externally the arm looks fine. People float somewhere between thinking the victim must be faking it to hoping they are because otherwise, you might be next.
The prognosis is pretty good if the victim takes it seriously right away. Unfortunately, the attitude tends to be "Oh, yeah, Sam. My arm gets tired too. Go home and ice it," rather than, "Hey Sam, I wonder if you might be doing permanent nerve damage. Do you think you should talk to a doctor about physical therapy?"
A related complaint that people often don't take seriously is ulnar nerve entrapment. Habitually leaning on one's elbow can incapacitate the ring and pinky fingers permanently, curling the hand into a half-useless claw. These nerve bundles are almost as crucial as the spine, but not so well protected.
Erm. No.
When I was writing my thesis I had severe problems with my wrist(s - I swapped hands after my right wrist became too painful). I developed three ganglion cysts (big lump on the wrist - big enough that people would point at it and ask what it was) which had to be drained by the doctor.
I work way saner hours now, but if I start putting in hours like that again, I start getting twinges. I would pay a *lot* for something that stopped that happening again.
And for the record, since I was working (effectively) for myself malingering wouldn't really make much sense, and not only was it fucking painful, but I had a big offensive swelling on my wrist. Hopefully this would convince even the most harden cynic that something was wrong.
what you want already exists: http://www.naturalpoint.com/
Mouses. Mice is the plural of the rodent, mouses of the pointing device.
How many people can read hex if only you and dead people can read hex?
Does anybody know where I could find a standard layout keyboard with a touchpoint?
:-) ...
:-P
;-)
Yes. I know where to find one!
What's that? I'm overdoing the smartassitude?
Bah. Okay.
I'll be nice.
Unicomp sells a keyboard called "On the Stick", which is a 101-keyboard with trackpoint goodness. Here's a link to the catalogue page.
As an added bonus, it will give you buckling spring goodness, as previously seen on keyboards like the IBM Model M.
I haven't tried the keyboard myself (I hate trackpoints, I'm a touchpad person myself), nor have I tried their specific implementation of the buckling spring mechanism, but my PC does have an IBM Model M keyboard connected to it. Type hard or go home!
Hope this helps.