Microsoft Patents Foot Computing

theodp writes "Microsoft Research has made it possible for a mother to surf the web while nursing her newborn, thanks to its newly-patented 'foot-based user interface' (FUI?). 'In addition to causing health problems,' explains Microsoft in the patent, 'the traditional keyboard and mouse interface can be simply inconvenient in certain situations as well. In one instance, a mother with a baby in her arms is unable to easily perform simple tasks, such as checking email, on a computer.' Users of the 'Foot-Based Interface for Interacting With a Computer,' however, will be able to move their feet and step on the floor a la DDR to execute various commands, such as deleting email or scrolling down the screen. Due to the usual foot-dragging on the part of the USPTO, the patent — filed for in 2006 — was essentially obsolete by the time it was issued on Tuesday, a week after Microsoft's Kinect launch."

Comments

Kinesis Foot Switch

[Compaqt]

Forgot about these?

Savant Elite Programmable USB Foot Switches

http://www.kinesis-ergo.com/fs-savant-elite.htm

Prior Art! Eudaemonic Pie

[at10u8]

There is prior art for foot-based interfaces

Old idea is old

[MrEricSir]

Sorry Microsoft, but this has been around for over a decade.
http://www.footmouse.com/

Re:If you just gotta....

[Anonymous Coward]

Do you know how insanely boring it is to sit in a rocking chair and stare at a wall for 8 hours a day to breastfeed your baby? I've gotten quite far in Angry Birds on my iPhone in the 10 weeks since my son was born. I would kill for a full computer I could operate without my hands.