Slashdot Mirror
MIT Researchers Develop Wireless Trackpad For Your Thumbnail
itwbennett writes: Called NailO, the prototype trackpad is similar to the stick-on nails sometimes used as a fashion accessory. It attaches to the user's thumb and can be controlled by running a finger over its surface. The processor, battery, sensing chip and Bluetooth radio are included on a circuit board that sits under the capacitive trackpad. The two are connected via a small ribbon cable, which means the trackpad is not quite as thin as a stick-on nail, but reducing the size is one of the aims of the researchers.
Cuz, you know, style.
in those Lincoln commercials.
They nailed it!
I think I'll wait for the computer with the nontouch 'mouse' that determines what I want to do without using another device.
Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
Next up: the sensor that attaches to your willy so you don't need to take your hand off of your joystick to control the mouse.
I can see the fnords!
That's like the most uncomfortable place ever, i cringe from just looking at how the user's hand is crimped
A far more natural position would be to have it on the index finger and point with thumb, or the reverse of how they position it on the thumb and point with index finger.
You won't get spiffy "thumbnail" names but your users won't get carpal tunnel on their thumbs.
...but wake me up when they can graft a Trackpoint onto my hand. That's something I'd be excited about!
'The Economy' is a giant Ponzi scheme whose most pitiable suckers are the youngest among us and the yet-unborn.
Why not a bluetooth accelerometer and click area on the end of your index? I use my thumb too much.
Mycestro actually developed and released a product like over a year ago. It works and it's fun, but the tracking is a little finnicky so it hasn't replaced the good old mouse for me yet. https://www.kickstarter.com/pr... http://www.mycestro.com/
Gimme an IBM / Lenovo Thinkpad "nipple" mouse, that's Bluetooth. You could literally just stick it in your pocket or push it back on the machine when you're done with it and it would miniscule. Bluetooth chips are tiny now. Stick a sticky pad or other anchor of some kind on the bottom (or even a soft ring to go on your finger that tucks away).
If you could stick it on the side of your first finger, you could thumb it to control it like a mini-joystick with a click-down action for mouse-clicks.
https://xkcd.com/243/