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New Logitech Dark Field Mice Operate On Glass

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the data-goes-in-here dept.

Slatterz writes "Logitech has introduced new mice that use two lasers rather than one to work on a variety of previously unusable surfaces. The first laser picks out imperfections in the surface of a tabletop while the second laser focuses on microscopic imperfections highlighted and uses those to direct the cursor. The technique, dubbed dark field microscopy, allows mice to be used on almost any surface, including glass (as long as it is more than 4mm thick)."

11 of 225 comments (clear)

  1. Umm... by adolf · · Score: 5, Informative

    Didn't Logitech make a mouse that worked on "any surface" about five fucking years ago?

    *puzzle*

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    Kid-proof tablet..
  2. Re:how's this compare to BlueTrack? by Trepidity · · Score: 2, Informative

    Replying to my own post, it looks like BlueTrack specifically disclaims working on glass. However, a different mouse already claimed to work on glass two years ago.

    I suppose what I most want is a bit of an overview of what current mouse tech we have and what they're good for.

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    10 PRINT CHR$(205.5+RND(1)); : GOTO 10
  3. More than 4mm thick by Hadlock · · Score: 3, Informative

    What consumer glass tables are more than 4mm thick? Yeah designer stuff and commerical furniture that has glass surfaces use 5-10mm glass, but this will still be useless on consumer grade furniture. Chances are, if you're a consumer using a consumer grade mouse, you'll be using it on consumer grade glass furniture.

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    moox. for a new generation.
    1. Re:More than 4mm thick by maxume · · Score: 5, Informative

      Any time I have ever encountered anything resembling a glass table, it has always been a freaking slab of glass, not 4mm of it.

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      Nerd rage is the funniest rage.
    2. Re:More than 4mm thick by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      No. I have a glass top on my cocktail table and it was priced just about equal to wood top and tile top cocktail tables. The glass is 0.25" thick which is 6.35 mm. It's 2'x4' and only cost a couple hundred bucks; certainly not designer.

    3. Re:More than 4mm thick by quenda · · Score: 2, Informative

      What consumer glass tables are more than 4mm thick?

      All of them. 4mm is the thinnest glass you will find in a house - e.g. windows, cabinet doors.
      Coffee tables around here use 5mm, and larger tables are thicker.
      Unless you mean supported glass, like a mirror or a glass sheet over a wooden table-top.

    4. Re:More than 4mm thick by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      Are you fucking high? 4mm is about 1/8 inch. I wouldn't set a keyboard on that, much less a monitor.

    5. Re:More than 4mm thick by KazW · · Score: 2, Informative

      What consumer glass tables are more than 4mm thick? Yeah designer stuff and commerical furniture that has glass surfaces use 5-10mm glass, but this will still be useless on consumer grade furniture. Chances are, if you're a consumer using a consumer grade mouse, you'll be using it on consumer grade glass furniture.

      Just measured the thickness of the glass on my IKEA desk, 5mm. I think that IKEA is a would be a good "standard" to go by what a lot of home and office users would have. I wouldn't classify IKEA as "designer" or "commercial" either, even though they do commercial sales for office furniture, it's the same products as those sold to a home consumer.

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      Geeks don't grock information, they grep it.
    6. Re:More than 4mm thick by maharb · · Score: 2, Informative

      BS, I am sitting at a desk bought from office depot. It and all the ones ones I looked at there are well over 4mm. I just measured the glass in mine and it is 7mm/8mm thick. Double what you are claiming is the max.

  4. Re:Dark Field Microscopy... by Dachannien · · Score: 5, Informative

    In case anyone cares, "dark field" refers to an imaging technique which uses a light beam to illuminate a surface, but positions the sensor such that specular reflections (i.e., direct reflections which occur when light strikes a fairly smooth surface) are not picked up by the sensor. Instead, scattered (diffuse) reflections are picked up by the sensor, which highlights bumps and nicks in the surface.

    Compare this to "bright field" which refers to a technique where the specular reflection is received directly by the image sensor. The specular reflection is typically much brighter than any diffuse components which also happen to strike the sensor, so a simple threshold is able to filter out the diffuse components.

    Both techniques are used in, e.g., inspection of objects for defects, such as integrated circuits and masks, PCB soldering, etc.

  5. Re:But Five blades really is better. by CrashandDie · · Score: 2, Informative

    If it takes you half your shave to notice the blade is blunt, you're doing it wrong.