Geek Tested:

Microsoft Research Demos Five Next-Gen Input Prototypes

Posted 10/06/09 at 08:40:04 AM by Paul Lilly

Microsoft's Applied Sciences Group plans to present a paper on five different touch-sensitive mice prototypes during this week's User Interface Software and Technology Conferences in British Columbia, Canada.

With Windows 7 touting mutlitouch capabilities, this could be Microsoft's way appealing to the majority of users who don't own a touchscreen display. But don't expect to see all five designs come to fruition - it's much more likely that the five prototypes would end up being whittled down to one or two products.

FTIR (Frustrated Total Internal Reflection) Mouse

This prototype uses the principle of frustrated total internal reflection and has a built-in-camera to sense user's touches on top of an arc-shaped piece of acrylic.

Orb Mouse

Utilizes a hemispherical surface with an IR-sensitive camera for multitouch capabilities. Microsoft says the design allows for an easy to grip form-factor that remains comfortable, particularly for the fingers.

Cap (Capacitive) Mouse

Tracks the position of multiple fingers on its surface though the use of a flexible matrix of capacitive-sensing electrodes under the top of the surface. This is the most compact prototype of the five listed. It's also low on power consumption.

Side Mouse

Designed to rest under the user's palm and allow the fingers to touch the table surface in front of the device. The mouse then senses the proximity of the user's fingers as they touch the table instead of the mouse. Has the potential for two-handed input.

Arty (Articulated) Mouse

Probably the most other-worldly design of the bunch, the Arty Mouse builds on the Side Mouse design with a base for the palm of the hand to rest and two arms that can be freely and independently moved on the table by the thumb and index finger. Microsoft says this allows for a high-resolution optical mouse sensor to be placed under two of the user's fingers for high sensitivity computing.

Image Credits: Microsoft

COMMENTS:9

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take a look at the video
Submitted by adamjy12345 on Wed, 10/07/2009 - 1:42pm

take a look at the video might change the way you think about these mice!

http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/07/microsoft-multitouch-mouse-prototypes-in-action-video/

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needs a better transition
Submitted by YoshiHNS on Tue, 10/06/2009 - 10:16am

I don't think the mouse is going to go anywhere for a good while yet. I can't see everything being done with touchscreen. The mouse is far more accurate and precise than current touch-sensitive inputs.

Something more on the line of a clear surface that you could overlay on the monitor or even just a surface on a desk along with your mouse and keyboard would seem like a good transition. I know on my laptop I use the touchscreen at least half the time for quick clicks and scrolling. Start with simple, useful,and familiar.

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I think the last one looks
Submitted by worm8199 on Tue, 10/06/2009 - 8:49am

I think the last one looks and sounds more useful than the rest at least for graphics work. And to the guy commenting about none of them working for gaming, I'd say that depends on the type of gaming you are doing but not every innovation in computers has to do with gaming. I game too but I also use computers extensively at work and gaming equipment isn't always the best fit! But just as a consolation, I do use my old MX510 gaming mouse on my workstation because the dinky little junk they had attached to it would have given me carpal tunnel in no time!

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Call me crazy, but...
Submitted by zstadt on Tue, 10/06/2009 - 7:13am

It doesn't really seem like any of these would be good for gaming. Admittedly, MS most likely isn't focusing particularly on gamers, but on a personal level, I think I'll stick with my G5 for now :D

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What?
Submitted by McChief on Tue, 10/06/2009 - 6:53am

What is wrong with just plain old touch screen? How could you get anything better then a touch sensitive surface? Maybe a motion sensing input, but those things look and sound goofy.

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About touch display
Submitted by cdfrey on Tue, 10/06/2009 - 8:21am

One thing that is wrong with them is with the current state of affairs, you have to hold your arm up to the screen all day.These devices are a more likely solution until displays are designed to work solely with touch input.

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Holding your arm up is bad?
Submitted by McChief on Tue, 10/06/2009 - 11:45am

That might not be such a bad thing for some people to hold their arm up. It might be the only calories they burn all day. Besides, if they are spending so much on research why not spend more on perfecting touch technology? people can augment touch with a mouse. Besides, non of the ideas are really going to help someone with 6 30in displays running at the same time. If I actually had that many running together I would much rather just be able to touch my screens as to follow a stupid arrow.

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I don't think the arm
Submitted by blip2004 on Tue, 10/06/2009 - 11:09am

I don't think the arm holding thing is such a big deal. It gets easier the more you do it. The big problem that I see everyday with touchscreens (In a work setting) is that they are just too easy to break. either the screen gets sticky or a calibration error makes it so you can't press buttons. Or the screen just doesn't register touches in areas because people jab their finger into the screen hard enough to break it. And if the menu's and buttons aren't scaled properly or their is a problem mapping the screen to their images it makes it impossible to use. And at least with a mouse if it doesn't work you can replace it cheaply rather than buying a new monitor or having the screen sent out to be fixed.

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