Microsoft Research Shows Off Multi-Touch Mouse Prototypes

Engadget has snagged some of the details behind a bunch of multi-touch mouse prototypes from Microsoft Research. The prototypes range from the wacky to the extreme, but at least they are thinking outside the mouse trap. "Each one uses a different touch detection method, and at first glance all five seem to fly in the face of regular ergonomics. The craziest two are probably "Arty," which has two articulated arms to cradle your thumb and index finger, with each pad housing its own optical sensor for mission-critical pinching gestures, and "Side Mouse" which is button free and actually detects finger touches in the table immediately in front of the palm rest. Of course, there's plenty of crazy in the FTIR, Orb Mouse and Cap Mouse (pictured), which rely on an internal camera, orb-housed IR camera and capacitive detection, respectively. Of course, there's no word on when these might actually see the light of day"

Comments

Re:Multiple interfaces, MULTIPLE METHODS!

[peragrin]

because the mouse while decent can be made better. easier to use, and with more functions. personally artie with a scroll wheel would be great for standard desktop applications that require multiple zoom and scroll like modern mapping software. Google earth can use some 4 axis's for input. yet a mouse is limited to three at best. x,y and z with a wheel. Gestures help fill in some of the gaps, but inputting gestures on a vertical surface is a pain. using a mouse outside of it's normal 2 axis limit is a pain.

We need more axis's available Just because your mind is limited to a 2D world I much prefer more dimensions. preferable at least 3 and 4 D.