Ergonomic Software Eliminates Mouse Clicking

ThinSkin writes "GentleMouse is an ergonomic software program that eliminates the need to click the mouse by translating cursor movements into mouse actions, providing an easy way to perform mouse actions without manually pressing buttons or scrolling. ExtremeTech's review of the GentleMouse provides an in-depth look of this unusual software and was quite pleased with its "intuitive interface, execution, and software options" but the software "cannot overcome issues in certain apps where clicking a mouse is essential, such as when gaming or designing graphics." Here's a video tutorial of the GentleMouse in action."

Comments

How about no mouse clicks at all?

[mynickwastaken]

Have a look here: http://www.dontclick.it/

Re:Great, now only 4 fingers to go

[Anonymous Coward]

While I agree with you, I think this could be rather interesting for palmtops and such.
The thing that annoys me with those touch pens is being able to do a click and try not to break the screen at the same time.

Re:Great, now only 4 fingers to go

[an.echte.trilingue]

The problem with the typical user-computer interface paradigm is that we have to use a mouse at all (save game playing and graphics design). Moving my hand from the home position every time I need the precision of a mouse pointer is a huge annoyance and waste of time and effort. More so than pushing my index finger down. Every DE I know of of allows for pretty fast keyboard maneuver around the screen. The fact that so few people bother to learn to use it speaks volumes in favor of the utility of a mouse, I think.

It is an ingrained thought process in humans to see, reach and grab. The mouse translates this to the computer interface: we see something we want, we "reach" to it with the pointer, and we "grab" by clicking on it. I think it works pretty well, except for those unfortunate enough to have a physical disability such as arthritis.

The solution more complex that the problem?

[asadodetira]

Nice, but the motion seems more complicated than just clicking.
In my opinion the perfect input device should not have moving parts, just two microphones. Here's a description of a purely acoustic keyboard.
http://nanoquimica.awardspace.com.nyud.net:8080/So undkey.htmLINK

Re:The solution more complex that the problem?

[swilver]

Costly to design and manufacture

They can't be serious... I use keyboards which cost me $5, costly? My ass. These keyboards will last for years, and basically I dispose of them when I cannot be bothered to clean them anymore. I don't buy into the wireless crap, or the crap keyboards with 15 extra buttons and an integrated calculator I don't need.

Furthermore, this system has the same problems as voice-input -- it can do silly things if other stuff is going in the room. It doesn't seem to allow for you to "move" the keyboard (as it then wouldn't know anymore which key you are pressing). There's no feedback from the keys... and best of all: how does it know I'm holding down a key? Sure, tapping makes noise, but lifting my finger doesn't.

I also find it highly amusing this "technology" is patented, and yet again, there's no working prototype.

RSI?

[PresidentEnder]

I've never experienced aches or pains from a mouse. Then again, I'm 19. Still, carpal tunnel, arthritis, and RSI seem much more reasonable from the motions necessary to press the keys on the old-style clicky keyboard that I use than the miniscule mouse-click movement. Not that I'm trying to troll; I'm curious. Has anyone here ever gotten repetitive-stress injuries from clicking a mouse? Wouldn't typing the y, h, and d keys kill your finger much quicker?

Re:RSI?

[Peganthyrus]

Back around 2000 or 2001, my right index finger decided 'clicking is bad'. I put part of the blame on me starting to use Flash back then: the easiest way to get into a symbol to tweak it is to double-click on it. This is a common task, so my double-clicking went up a lot. Or it may have just been years of mousing around coming home to roost; I dunno.

I tried more 'ergonomic' mice for a while and the pain I'd feel every time I clicked lessened. Four buttons mapped to click, double-click, click-toggle, and right-click helped. But it still hurt to use my right index finger to click.

Eventually I got a small Wacom tablet (since I'm an artist, a pen was a desierable thing anyway) and pretty much swore off mice. On the rare occasions I use one - using someone else's computer - my right index finger will start complaining very shortly. If I keep going that tendon might start complaining all the way at the other end, up in the elbow, as well.

I'm not a touch-typist; I mostly type with the second and third fingers of my hands. The week I swapped my keyboard to Dvorak and tried to learn to touch-typing was a week of constantly rising wrist pain. I listened to my body and went back to letting my hands float loosely across the keyboard!

Computers are really, really horrible for your hands, and anything that tries to encourage you to spend less time exerting force through wrists constricted by being turned ninety degrees is a very good idea.

Oh great...

[Anonymous Coward]

So now you jerk the mouse around instead of slightly depressing a button with your finger?

I click my mouse thousands of times per day and that's hardly a problem for my wrists. I get much more pain from typing, reading books or MOVING THE MOUSE AROUND.