MS Research shows off multitouch mouse designs | The Coffeehouse

Ray7

…and some of them are just weird.

As with the Courier, these are just interesting prototypes and are unlikely to make it into production. It's interesting that MS chose to release the video a few days after Apple's new keyboard and mouse popped up in the FCC database.

By all accounts, the new Apple keyboard is even smaller than the previous one, so it's already a no go for anyone with hands bigger than a hobbit's.

RLO

I am not excited by any of these prototypes, and I don't think that combining multi-touch into a mouse form factor gives any benefits to the end user. It would be easier to have either a touchpad similar to laptops or a camera embedded in the monitor to give the same benefits. Adding a mouse form factor is overkill.

ManipUni
Proving QQ for 5 years!

In reply to RLO

#Oct 5th @ 11:31 AM

I have to agree with you here.

Although I think MS Research produced some interesting bits here. While a few of them might not be useful for designing better mice I can imagine some of them going into mouse pads or other interfaces. Still, producing concepts that are odd and original is the way to find something really awesome.

Mice haven't changed a great deal since they added a scroll wheel and back/forward buttons. Plus they still have serious health drawbacks.

exoteric
I : Next<I>

It actually looks pretty cool and useful, but it'll need trying out to determine usability. Nice music by the way!

Maybe a prototype that attaches an ultra-thin exo-skeleton to the underside of a hand and does motion capture instead.

Ray7

In reply to RLO

#Oct 5th @ 11:31 AM

I couldn't believe how uncomfortable they looked. Keeping the wrist stiff and rolling your fingers around like that.

Yes, why can't I just roll my fingers around a touch pad? Yes, it would need more room, but then you need quite a bit of room to roll a mouse.

magicalclick

IMO, Epic Fail. The mouse is still a mouse, it simply doesn't offer the same kind of expressiveness compare to Project Natal or Surface. What makes it worse is you have a multi-touch interaction inconssistant to what Surface and Natal (X360) can do. Lack of Expressiveness + Lack Flexibility + Lack Consistancy = Epic Fail.

Putting a patch on mouse is like making Win7 in a mini cell phone, that's just inappropriate.

dentaku

Any mouse that requires you to lift your fingers off the "buttons" to click isn't terribly useful.

Harlequin
http://twitter.com/TrueHarlequin

In reply to dentaku

#Oct 6th @ 7:31 AM

Geez guys, this is research...they're trying new things out for the sake of learning.

Ray7

In reply to Harlequin

#Oct 6th @ 7:38 AM

Exactly what I said when friends of mine ridiculed the scientist who discovered that ovulating lapdancers make better tips.

magicalclick

In reply to Harlequin

#Oct 6th @ 7:38 AM

I could say that do Vista refresh I guess Perplexed Sure it doesn't have a deadline like Vista, but going all direction on research is just like what Vista did. It would be just wasting money to hire people who thinks they are better than the rest of the world.

Ion Todirel
buuu

In reply to ManipUni

#Oct 5th @ 11:44 AM

And I don't think it'll ever change, what will change is the way we interact with computers, the mouse will be replaced by multi-touch displays and laptops on a common basis, but the mouse will still be used where precision is required, e.g. games. Well, at least lets hope.