LG's XM-900 4D mouse could enable time travel

LG just announced its new XM-900 mouse for Korea. Besides featuring an adjustable 800 or 1600 dpi sensitivity this mouse also features a "4D" scroll wheel with touch sensor. A quick swipe of which allows you to navigate the space-time continuum, presumably. Well worth ?18,240 (about $20) or any price, really.

[Jason @ Dec 13th 2007 2:25AM]

I dunno.. they probably hook ya with a monthly space-time travel fee.

[Dan @ Dec 13th 2007 2:26AM]

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.

[DWells55 @ Dec 13th 2007 3:10AM]

I suppose I could try, but I'm not going to even pretend that I understood that.

[Dan @ Dec 13th 2007 3:31AM]

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.

[Chris Aubeck @ Dec 13th 2007 5:59AM]

Oh I get it now.

He is there!
On the land!
On the sea!
In the air!

[John @ Dec 13th 2007 6:08AM]

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.

[Maff @ Dec 13th 2007 8:55AM]

M-theory suggests there are 11 distinct dimensions...

[Ghen @ Dec 13th 2007 9:21AM]

you said "willy nilly"

[Jonathan Bergeron @ Dec 13th 2007 10:03AM]

?

[tstan @ Dec 13th 2007 2:35AM]

Is this just like on the mighty mouse?
What other ways could you scroll?

[Nubaeus @ Dec 13th 2007 2:46AM]

Do you have to get it up to 88mph or does it not have a flux capacitor?

[Brandon L @ Dec 13th 2007 2:55AM]

They could have a time-release LSD scroll wheel button. That would explain everything.

[producerism @ Dec 13th 2007 3:08AM]

but then how am I supposed to fit that scroll wheel in my eye?

[Reader @ Dec 13th 2007 3:07AM]

Sorry, I'll hold out for 5D.

[Mike @ Dec 13th 2007 7:17AM]

I had one a few years back... wasn't all it was cracked up to be, sadly.

[Macona @ Dec 13th 2007 3:42AM]

Maybe it works with Apple's Time Machine software?

[Steven @ Dec 13th 2007 3:48AM]

Brilliant!! Who Woulda Thought It

[josh @ Dec 13th 2007 4:13AM]

i can finally get around to drawing that hypercube....

[Jonathan @ Dec 13th 2007 8:41AM]

Yahtahhhh!

[Fahad @ Dec 13th 2007 8:58AM]

maybe its powered by an artificial black hole like at the heart of the TARDIS . . .

[Jonathan Bergeron @ Dec 13th 2007 9:59AM]

Why does it have a cord on it? I thought the whole idea with technology is to go forward, not backward.

[slotsky @ Dec 13th 2007 11:02AM]

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.

[DrMUR @ Dec 15th 2007 2:44PM]

My thoughts exactly. I actually came in here to post the same thing. =P

[Trent @ Jan 10th 2008 11:38PM]

That would be 2 dimensions.

[slotsky @ Dec 14th 2007 1:35PM]

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.