Are Vertical Mice The Next Ergonomic Trend?

ThinSkin writes "Devoid of kookiness like many of its ergonomic counterparts, the VerticalMouse 2 is shaped like an ordinary mouse, only turned 90 degrees so that your arm is in a natural 'handshake position.' ExtremeTech's review of the VerticalMouse 2 suggests that its horsepower and familiar feel make it a worthy candidate to replace a horizontal mouse. Some of the drawbacks include its $75 price tag and difficulty to pick up in 3D gaming scenarios."

Comments

A step backward

[TripMaster Monkey]

If you compare the design of the VerticalMouse 2 with the Quill Mouse, you can see that they're virtually identical...with one important difference. The Quill Mouse is equipped with a shelf where the edge of your hand rests. The VerticalMouse 2 has no such shelf. Without a support for your hand, you'll have to support the weight of your hand by:

• resting it in an abnormal position on top of the VerticalMouse 2, thereby completely negating the advantages of a vertically oriented mouse,
  
• the use of your arm muscles, leading quickly to fatigue and muscle strain,
  or,
  
• clinging to the vertical surface of the mouse with your fingers and/or thumb, again leading to fatigue and muscle strain.

Now add to all this the discomfort the large-handed will suffer as the edge of their hands develop friction burns against their desktops.

Any way you slice it, this product is a bad design and a non-starter. Save your money.

Re:A step backward

[jgc7]

Is it just me or am I the only person in the world who wrests their wrist on the mousepad and moves the mouse with my fingers. With this new mouse it looks like I would have to operate the mouse like a toddler and move my entire arm. The shelf design seems to only exacerbate the problem.

Dr. Benway perhaps?

[rueger]

A main driver for this is the desire to reduce the risk or pain associated with carpal tunnel syndrome and other RSI disorders ... The idea is to allow your arm to control the mouse in a more natural position, with the thumb up, in a hand-shaking position. Doctors who specialize in ergonomics consider this position preferable.

I have to ask, did anyone at ExtremeTech actually talk to a doctor who specializes in such things, or were these comments lifted from an Evoluent press release?

The reality of RSI is just so, so much more complex than these simple solutions would suggest.

Although how can you argue with a review like this:

Gained all the votes in terms of comfort and facility of use, of "look", colour and sympathy: the panel as a whole totally adhered to this new product.

The next big thing?

[Andrew Aguecheek]

Basically, no they're not. No more than we are ever going to drive our cars using joysticks or keyboards. People like what they're used to. This is a gimmick. Move along, nothing to see here.