Microsoft patent application shows off wearable mouse concept

Wearable mice aren't exactly a new idea, but it seems that Microsoft thinks it can do things one better, with a recent patent application revealing its plans for a desk-defying device of its own. As you can see above, this one is designed to be worn even while your typing on a keyboard, with the cursor movement able to be switched on an off with a simple hand gesture. That pointing itself is handled by some gyroscopic sensors, with an accelerometer and a magnetometer apparently also employed for further gesture and position sensing. Needless to say, there's no indication of it becoming an actual product anytime soon but, unlike some of Microsoft's other patent applications, this one seems like it could well find its way off the drawing board sooner rather than later.

[Via istartedsomething]

[Jake E. @ Apr 17th 2008 12:22PM]

Weird, but hey the Wii looked weird at first, too. Look at it now....

[Tobi @ Apr 17th 2008 1:15PM]

Looks like my invention from about 5 years ago (and yes mine is patented):

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/2335069.stm

http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/index.cfm?newsid=2816

[buu700 @ Apr 17th 2008 4:40PM]

@Tobias

1337 points +1

[Jon Doe. @ Apr 17th 2008 6:36PM]

Tobi you are about to become a very rich man. Just be sure you answer the phone when Microsoft calls.

[blarvh @ Apr 17th 2008 12:25PM]

I, for one, would welcome a mouse that didn't need to be placed on a surface. Call it AirMouse and sell it for less than Logitechs alternative.

[emailtabs @ Apr 17th 2008 12:38PM]

Love the BSOD in your icon, brilliant work sire!

can't wait for some actual information on this devise!.

[NHAnimator @ Apr 17th 2008 1:20PM]

Or let's lose all of the physical interaction. A retina-based scanner (like they have played with in vehicles). Call it the iMouse. Orrrrrr... maybe not.

[blarvh @ Apr 17th 2008 1:55PM]

Why thank you.

Retina scanners, or mind reading?

And last but not least:
EDIT: didn't -> doesn't

[KC @ Apr 17th 2008 2:58PM]

no surface sounds cool, but I am not sure if I want to lift my hand in mid air and hold on to that position for too long

[Alex Padilla @ Apr 17th 2008 12:25PM]

Well, they did say that Windows 7 will be a whole new computing experience...

[NG @ Apr 17th 2008 1:02PM]

thats what they said for Vista too..

[SurKaz @ Apr 17th 2008 1:23PM]

Please.. don't say that word...

[daaper @ Apr 17th 2008 12:27PM]

Interesting concept...I guess I'll reserve judgment until I've tried it. It does make sense, in theory.

[WorldCTZen @ Apr 17th 2008 12:28PM]

As a separate component, this looks interesting - it's kinda like the 3D presentation mice.. not confined to the desktop. However, it seems it'd be more in the way, strapping across the middle of the palm.

I've always wanted a thumbball keyboard.. Put a trackball just below the space bar, with mouse buttons on either side. You could direct the trackball with your thumbs (either) and if you put matching mouse buttons to left and right, you could control it as either a right or left hander, without having to move your hands from the keyboard. Lousy for gaming, but perfect for generic interface usage (data entry, forms, browsing, etc.).

[mike @ Apr 17th 2008 12:37PM]

How bout a IBM TrackPoint?

[WorldCTZen @ Apr 17th 2008 3:36PM]

Nah, the little touchpads and eraserhead controllers are really meant as backups for when you don't have or can't use a mouse - i.e. laptop use in a chair. The thumbball would be meant as a primary mouse replacement. Some older laptops had this before the trackpads became popular, but I've never seen a desktop keyboard with a decent built in thumbball, but you can get them with the infuriating touchpads.. A thumbball you could operate with.. y'know.. yer thumb, which just happens to be sitting there waitin' to press the space bar. Nah, lets put a fiddly touchpad that you'll need to reposition your hand and use your index fingers to hope to control.. heh

[Alex Haas @ Apr 17th 2008 12:29PM]

DIGG!!
http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/17/microsoft-patent-application-shows-off-wearable-mouse-concept/

[MeAtyPi @ Apr 17th 2008 12:35PM]

Coming to iMacs in 2009, apple's latest revolutionary device....

[r3loaded @ Apr 17th 2008 1:17PM]

Behold, the new iMouse Air! The revolutionary new gyroscopic mouse. Only from Apple.

/sarcasm

[mike @ Apr 17th 2008 3:24PM]

Mighty Mouse Air*






*Mighty Mouse Air only works on MacBook Air

[gaforces @ Apr 17th 2008 12:39PM]

Ugh, this puts a whole new meaning to the sweaty palm syndrome ...

No thanks!

[Brian @ Apr 17th 2008 1:50PM]

It appears that this would prohibit other activities that involve your palms. Like..... handball, or tennis, or petting the cat.

I would if it will come with vibration. Oh, wait, not a console. Sorry... :(

[jb @ Apr 17th 2008 12:51PM]

reminds me of the twiddler
http://www.handykey.com/site/twiddler2.html
was a pretty cool device!

[BigDaddyM @ Apr 17th 2008 12:53PM]

ROCKETEER!
M

[Mark @ Apr 17th 2008 12:56PM]

it's nice.

[Gaz @ Apr 17th 2008 12:58PM]

I have no space there, its reserved for my heart. I'll wear my heart on my sleeve thank you very much!

[Dave @ Apr 17th 2008 12:58PM]

Your => of or relating to you or yourself or yourselves especially as possessor

You're => contraction of You are

[SugarDaddy @ Apr 17th 2008 12:59PM]

Seems like it would impede typing despite that little line drawing showing otherwise.

[required @ Apr 17th 2008 1:02PM]

I think Sun's Java ring would work better than this thongish mitten. Note to Sun, think about it.

[ITRanger @ Apr 17th 2008 1:09PM]

Ok, it had my attention for all of a second to evaluate it. However, there is a reason the mouse, like the qwerty keyboard is so successful.

So if it isn't broke then why fix it? Wasted money in my mind.

I think most people know that only reliable voice command and/or simultaneous gesturing without devices will be the only things to supplant the current input devices of mice and keyboard.

I admire the wii gadgets but they are for games and solve a different problem.

[Wwhat @ Apr 17th 2008 2:09PM]

gesturing? HAHAHA

[Benson @ Apr 17th 2008 2:16PM]

What reason? The reason the qwerty keyboard is still with us is because it is, as near as we can measure, as effective as it's main contender, the Dvorak layout. Not that there's no faults, but that nothing clearly better has been shown.

It's not clear that this can't be better, though if you have to flap your wrist wildly like a certain Gyrations mouse I've used, it will be too tiring for serious use as a primary pointing device. But in conjunction with a touch screen, I can see this being truly useful; you can make the occasional motion that needs to be precise, or when too far to reach the screen, and you've got alternate buttons available (with your thumb). And it doesn't use desk space to slide around on. The main trouble (aside from the shortage of touch-screens in use) is to make sure it can be donned and doffed quickly and easily; if it takes 5 seconds to buckle on, it's doomed.

But that can be managed, and I'll wait till I see the actual product (if any comes) before writing it off as not demonstrably better.

[kuade @ Apr 17th 2008 1:11PM]

Microsoft needs to get back to work on there software, this design should never see the light of day.

[Wwhat @ Apr 17th 2008 2:08PM]

their*

[ssuk @ Apr 17th 2008 2:19PM]

Yeah, 'cause Hardware and Software departments of Microsoft are one and the same.

[Tobi @ Apr 17th 2008 1:14PM]

Looks like my invention from about 5 years ago (and yes mine is patented):

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/2335069.stm

http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/index.cfm?newsid=2816

[jackcutts @ Apr 17th 2008 1:18PM]

Not so much...

[Blue Sunshine @ Apr 17th 2008 1:23PM]

"I love the wearable mouse, it's so bad"

::goes to play Rad Racer::

[Jason @ Apr 17th 2008 1:26PM]

What? Not one comment asking about a textured surface, waterproof buttons, force feedback during playback in Windows Media Player? I am shocked.

[kal326 @ Apr 17th 2008 1:33PM]

I for one want the keyboard from Figure 1. That looks like it would be great to type on.

[stp6435 @ Apr 17th 2008 1:59PM]

how am I supposed to use this while looking up nekkid girls on the internet?

[Wwhat @ Apr 17th 2008 2:07PM]

The other hand heh.

[Wwhat @ Apr 17th 2008 2:06PM]

I wonder how many products are never made because the people planning to market it found out it was MS that had the patent and they didn't even bother trying to pay the rights and go ahead, assuming the rules MS would lay out would be impossible and the company (MS) could not be trusted enough to commit a long term setup and large investment to.

[dqham @ Apr 17th 2008 2:35PM]

You are too late Microsoft!

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.2695

[BigD145 @ Apr 17th 2008 2:45PM]

Completely different products!!! You might as well say the Wii remote is the same as the NES controller.

[Jon Doe. @ Apr 17th 2008 6:42PM]

Epic FAIL in comparison. Not even remotely the same.

One requires a surface....the other doesn't.
One requires a laser...the other doesn't.
One requires you to move your hand off the keyboard...the other doesn't.
One is a big ass ring on your hand...the other one isn't.
And on and on and on.

[Prhime @ Apr 17th 2008 2:51PM]

add force feedback and you have targeted a niche consumer base.

[Mark @ Apr 17th 2008 3:01PM]

This is not new, my boss used a mouse like this right now. Next time I see her I will ask who makes it. MS is a little late on this one.

[fuma @ Apr 17th 2008 3:16PM]

does it vibrate?

[Sime @ Apr 17th 2008 3:57PM]

surf n' jerk!