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Smartfish Engage keyboard automates ergonomics, is finally available
It's been two years in the making, but Smartfish has finally released its opus into the world: the Engage keyboard. It's been known as the Pro:Motion and ErgoMotion over the years, but now it's got a new moniker, a classy all-black look, and a $150 pricetag. Outside of the tilted design and large palm rests, the keyboard has an internal motor that moves the position of the two halves of the keyboard based on your typing frequency. The periodic position adjustments help fight off fatigue, an approach developed in conjunction with The Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. We'll try to play around with the keyboard at CES -- last year's prototype wasn't terribly impressive -- but if it's anything as good as the Smartfish Whirl Mini Notebook Laser Mouse, we might have a new carpal tunnel warrior in our arsenal. %Gallery-112482%
Smartfish Whirl Mini Notebook Laser Mouse review, now on sale for $50
Back when we first locked eyes with the Smartfish ErgoMotion Mouse at CES we knew there was something totally unique about it. No, it didn't have a touch strip or 18 buttons, but thanks to its "pivot system," it did tilt in every which-way. Created by a former chiropractor, the laser mouse tilts in all directions, but not with the aim of moving the cursor or controlling anything on screen as one would think. It wobbles for one reason and one reason only: to relieve arm tension and reduce the risk of Repetitive Stress Injury (RSI). Today the company's releasing a smaller, more mobile version of ErgoMotion, now called the Whirl Mini, for $49.95. So, is it what the doctor ordered? Or is it just another odd looking peripheral to add to the collection? We've been using it as our primary mouse for the last week, so you'll want to hit the break to find out. %Gallery-108053% %Gallery-108054%
Smartfish ErgoMotion Keyboard fingers-on
The crew at Smartfish have been working overtime on their world hunger-ending, carpal tunnel-killing, and totally innovative peripherals, and they're finally ready to introduce the complement to its ErgoMotion mouse: the ErgoMotion keyboard. We got to lay our overworked, underfed fingers on a prototype on display at Digital Experience, and although it's certainly nifty, we can't say we're rushing to buy one. Our key presses felt somewhat shallow, but we'll cut the crew a little slack because it's still a prototype. The selling point here is the fact that the keyboard itself is segmented in two, and is programmed to reconfigure itself periodically -- a phenomenon that definitely takes some getting used to. The movements, although subtle, are definitely noticeable, but see for yourself in the videos after the break. %Gallery-81888%
Smartfish ErgoMotion Mouse fights off RSI with a bit of wobble
After a long period of incubation, Smartfish is at last ready to start shipping the first of its "ErgoMotion" devices. The ErgoMotion Mouse is a pretty straightforward wireless laser mouse, with large right and left click buttons, a nice big scroll wheel, and its own little USB wireless dongle. What makes it different is a truly odd raised platform that allows the mouse to tilt in all directions -- apparently providing for more natural motion. We tried it out for a bit, and while it certainly provides a fresh method of using the mouse, the very fact that it's working out more arm muscles simultaneously means that there will probably be a bit of fatigue at the outset. The ErgoMotion Mouse is available today for $50, and you can check out some video of it in action after the break.
Smartfish Pro:Motion Keyboard prevents carpal tunnel syndrome, bops 'round your desk
Take it from us, kids. Computer use -- with its carpal tunnel-wrecking input devices, spine-bending office chairs and eye-straining displays -- can wreak havoc on the body of even the healthiest young blogger. And even though there are a million products out there to help us work in a more ergonomically correct fashion, many of them seem just plain silly. If you're looking for something that actually looks like it belongs on a desk, however, be sure to check out the Smartfish Pro:Motion Keyboard. Pretty standard gear, except that it's outfitted with motors that subtly shift the keyboard's angle throughout the day -- ostensibly eliminating the cause of repetitive stress injuries. If this weren't enough, the device can track your typing speed and self-adjusts its angle and separation according to your needs. There have been no clinical trials for the device yet, but if you're desperate for relief -- or feeling daredevilish -- you're not gonna let that stop ya, right?[Via Everything USB]Read: Pro:Motion Peripherals [caution: PDF]
