LG's XM-900 4D mouse could enable time travel
By Thomas Ricker 
posted December 13th 2007 2:14AM
posted December 13th 2007 2:14AM
posted December 13th 2007 2:14AM
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I dunno.. they probably hook ya with a monthly space-time travel fee.
It is entirely possible to have four linear dimensions of input on a mouse. Nowhere does it state that these dimensions are orthogonal, linearly independent directions in space, or that one of them goes into the future.
I suppose I could try, but I'm not going to even pretend that I understood that.
I kinda made a mash of it. You know how people say that there are 3 dimensions of space and 1 dimension of time? (Well physics theories may say otherwise, but at least the world that we see around us has 3 dimensions of space and 1 dimension of time.) To be more accurate, what they really mean is 3 linearly independent dimensions of space and one independent dimension of time. All of these dimensions are orthogonal, meaning that you can move in one dimension and not have any affect on your position in another dimension. That 's what makes them the basic set of dimensions we understand.
You can draw an infinite number of vectors in 3d space willy nilly if you want. Just point in any direction and that is a dimension of space, but you can only make 3 linearly independent dimensions of space. 4 dimensions of space wouldn't be hard to define if they were inter-dependent. You can actually get 6 basic dimensions if you include pitch yaw and roll. And if you aren't talking about 3d space or time at all, (and it would be logical to assume that for extra inputs on a mouse) then a linearly independent dimension can just be any arbitrary input that you give it. A standard mouse or trackball has two dimensions of input. If you have somehow have two mouses hooked up to your computer, then you have 4 dimensions of input. A scroll wheel adds another dimension of input. Toss another scroll wheel in there and you have another dimension to play with.
Oh I get it now.
He is there!
On the land!
On the sea!
In the air!
what i think might clarify things is that you should not refer to them as dimensions, but rather degree's of freedom. Any given object in free space can have up to 6 degree's of freedom (translate/rotate in xy, xz, or yz planes), so they probably mean there are 4 degree's of freedom for the device. Calling it dimensions, however, is completely wrong.
M-theory suggests there are 11 distinct dimensions...
you said "willy nilly"
?
Is this just like on the mighty mouse?
What other ways could you scroll?
Do you have to get it up to 88mph or does it not have a flux capacitor?
They could have a time-release LSD scroll wheel button. That would explain everything.
but then how am I supposed to fit that scroll wheel in my eye?
Sorry, I'll hold out for 5D.
I had one a few years back... wasn't all it was cracked up to be, sadly.
Maybe it works with Apple's Time Machine software?
Brilliant!! Who Woulda Thought It
i can finally get around to drawing that hypercube....
Yahtahhhh!
maybe its powered by an artificial black hole like at the heart of the TARDIS . . .
Why does it have a cord on it? I thought the whole idea with technology is to go forward, not backward.
Good heavens. Obviously "4D" means "4 directions", not "4 dimensions" in this context. It's a mini touchpad that enables vertical and horizontal scrolling. Up, down, left, right. Enough of the astrophysics.
My thoughts exactly. I actually came in here to post the same thing. =P
That would be 2 dimensions.
Right. It's called the 4D scroll pad. Clearly it can't refer to 4 dimensions, but obviously to 4 directions. 2 Dimensions, 4 DIRECTIONS. UP DOWN RIGHT LEFT. 4D.
Oh, god.