Microsoft multitouch mouse prototypes in action (video)
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted October 7th 2009 4:52PM
posted October 7th 2009 4:52PM
This week the ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology (UIST) went down in British Columbia, and among all the pointing and the clicking the gang from Engadget Japanese were on hand to take a closer look at those wild and wooly multitouch mouse prototypes that Microsoft Research has been working on. Apparently Orb's hemispheric touch sensor supports a healthy helping of gestures (just the thing for point-and-shoot gaming), while Arty and FTIR certainly seem to know when you're clicking something. These are just prototypes, of course, but the video provides a fun look at some of the things you might soon see integrated into your computing experience. Peep for yourself after the break.
[Via Engadget Japanese]
[Via Engadget Japanese]
See more video at our hub!
Ouch.... my wrists hurt after watching that....
Agreed!
The mighty mouse sucks ballz... Sadly I own one. Now, I wouldn't get mad at apple for making a crappie mouse... It works alright for normal use, I used it an entire summer editing videos. Also, we all know that apple sucks hardcore for gaming. Not the computers necessarily, but the operating system. Games run slower in OSX on the same computer compared to when they've booted up in Windows. What annoys the hell out of me is that logitech and Microsoft don't make drivers available for OSX. Everybody hates the mighty mouse, everybody seems to be using logitech mice on their macs, but logitech doesn't write drivers for mac... Steermouse works well, but it keeps quitting on me, necessitating a relaunch.
Also, for gaming... in my opinion physical buttons are a must. even mice still "click", don't they? I don't think i could ever use a mouse that doesn't... trackpads are different for some reason, and I still use the click on the trackpad about 50% of the time.
From the video the Orb looks really interesting but in pictures it was my least favorite, will be interesting to see how these pan out
prolonged usage of desktop touchscreens will either give you gorilla arms (upright screen), or neck problems (horizontal screens like surface) :(
I think your deluded, I have used many of microsofts and logitechs poor mouse efforts over the years, they are pretty poor.
I don't see why these comments always end up having to compare MS & Apple but when it comes to traditional mouse offerings, the Mighty Mouse is the superior device, hand down, no argument, finito.
This particular multi-touch device looks awfully complicated to remember what your doing, I think in practice many people will simply find it too bewildering to use or simply so alien to what people are used to, they won't want to persevere with it.
Reminds me of that awful bent microsoft spilt keyboard monstrosity, hahaha.
However, I hear Apple are releasing some new mouse soon too, since they come up with the best idea's for user simplicity, like the gesturing pinch in & out, two finger swipe to scroll etc, perhaps this will show everyone how it should be done and everyone can benefit when the third parties jump on and copy it.