Solar-powered "Sole Mio" mouse goes into testing phase

While the mouse is far from the biggest power hog when it comes to computer peripherals, a team of Dutch researchers seem out to prove that every little bit helps, and they're now putting their solar-powered mouse to the test. Dubbed the "Sole Mio," the mouse is designed to be placed near a window when it's not in use, which the researchers hope will give it enough juice to keep it from running dry during a busy workday. While there's no word on when it might actually see a commercial release, the researchers seem to be fairly confident in it, even going so far as to include the Dutch Minister of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment in their initial test group.

[Via The Raw Feed]

[Mikey Pizano @ Aug 6th 2007 9:56PM]

WOW! Whats next a wind turbine mouse? I'll keep my VX Revolution thanks...

[chris @ Aug 6th 2007 10:45PM]

anyone realize that when you use the mouse you put your hand over it? or have i been using a mouse backwards this entire time...

[dave @ Aug 6th 2007 10:10PM]

Its a sad sad sign of our culture. 4 years of research funding and all these people can find to agree on between the political, student, funding and academic bodies is a 1 day prototype that is photogenic.

A commodity product that shouts greenwash from the highest peaks. They propose they want to test whether want to put a mouse on their windowsill to charge. Well done, thats a miniscule amount of energy saved in comparison to the pc screen its navigating or the pc, or the table it sits on (weight, shipping distance, volume of natural resources).

Design like you give a damn - these people DO give a damn, just bound by the system. Time to shake it up.

[fernando @ Aug 6th 2007 10:25PM]

Ask yourselves: when was the last time you used a mouse?

[Yojimbo @ Aug 6th 2007 11:18PM]

Right now when I clicked, "vote this comment down"

[fernando @ Aug 7th 2007 2:15AM]

Have fun at your cubicle tomorrow

[Clayton @ Aug 6th 2007 10:34PM]

can't they just make a mouse that sucks the life force out of the user? seems a lot more efficient than wasting precious lumens on our mice.

[fernando @ Aug 7th 2007 2:14AM]

Have fun at your cubicle tomorrow.

[chernann @ Aug 6th 2007 10:37PM]

Umm... if you really wanted to save power, use a wired mouse? The transmission power on the PC end isn't free, and it's less hassle than putting the mouse next to the window everyday.

[chris @ Aug 6th 2007 10:46PM]

The Dutch should stick with growing weed.

[KLai @ Aug 6th 2007 10:50PM]

Uhh... Don't most people use the mouse during the day and leave the office at night? You know, when its dark outside. So exactly when are people going to find the time to leave it on the windowsill to charge?

[roman.kim @ Aug 6th 2007 11:31PM]

I have a VX, and I don't think replacing 1 AA battery every 3 months is at all bad.

[booger62 @ Aug 7th 2007 12:19AM]

yea, just great for us mccube farm folk. I don't have a friggin window.

[nikster @ Aug 7th 2007 9:40AM]

You must understand that in the Netherlands, labor laws mandate a window for every worker. So they can charge their solar mouses.

Seriously - a mouse is a silly place to put a solar panel. Also, the mouse is not powered by solar alone, there's got to be some recharging mechanism inside, like a rechargeable battery. Which needs to be replaced after 300 charge cycles or so.

I have cheapo solar garden lamps. The only problem is they were so cheap that the battery is gone on half of them. Environmentally friendly? I think not.

[david @ Aug 7th 2007 1:46AM]

That's one small step for a mouse, one giant leap for mankind!

[Peter R. @ Aug 7th 2007 1:58AM]

A solar powered mouse, good to see efforts to save energy, but in a PC mouse!!! There are some things wrong with that idea. First off most people use their computers during the day, so they wouldn't have time to charge it. Second, a mouse doesn't use all that much energy anyway, so it isn't really needed. Even if people could find time to charge it, not everyone has access to a window during the work day(cubicle workers). Some people still use wired mice so maybe the solar solution should be on the PC end. I'm sure gamers world-wide use immense amounts of energy, while spending hours on high-end PCs playing Halo, World of Warcraft, etc.

[Hawk @ Aug 7th 2007 4:13AM]

hey see the new customizable mouse from logitech they are specially designed for geek gamers see here they dynamic looks of this mouse http://tinyurl.com/29rxo8