Microsoft Reveals ''Mouse 2.0'' Prototypes

[10TaTioN]

Isn't it about time our trusty mouse gets a facelift? Microsoft Research seems to think so, and has developed five peculiar prototypes deemed as "Mouse 2.0." Of course, the prototype designs aren't final, and they rather look like dirty old droids pulled out of the Sandcrawler trunk by local Jawas (that's a Star Wars: ANH reference). But the company's intentions are clear: it's moving into multi-touch computing land using various touch sensing techniques, form factors, and "interactive affordances."

Source & more: TomsHardware

 

[AsRock]

OOH YUK. One looks like a bed pump while another looks like a door stop.. Nice. :shadedshu



Although thanks for the amusement so early in the morning.

 

[Deleted member 3]

They don't look very comfortable, but I guess they did some research and are fine for at least some people.
I'll just stick to my MS basic optical mice for now.

 

[Triprift]

10/10 for effort but then again they look bizarre all of em. =/

 

[Mussels]

all of them look terrible

 

[1Kurgan1]

This looks like some Apple invention that tries to look modern, almost makes me want to feel smitten, I don't like it.

 

[HossHuge]

all of them look terrible

HossHuge agrees.

 

[Munki]

Wow what a waste of valuable time. They not only look disturbing but that also look so very uncomfortable. Shouldn't they be working on something a little more useful? Like testing Windows 7 over and over and over again. I swear if it comes out acting ANYTHING like Vista im going to cry. Id move to another OS but I like my games too much for all that.

On a side not the thrid one from the right looks a lot like one of those novelty massagers.

 

[Master]

10/10 for effort but then again they look bizarre all of em. =/

thats because you think of them asif they are going to function in the sameway the old mouse 1 functions! i think these mouse 2 designs are particularly designed to let us have a new experience ! suppose it provides new stuff !
if it doesn't! then! that terribly bizarre to me too

 

[Kenshai]

Wow what a waste of valuable time. They not only look disturbing but that also look so very uncomfortable. Shouldn't they be working on something a little more useful? Like testing Windows 7 over and over and over again. I swear if it comes out acting ANYTHING like Vista im going to cry. Id move to another OS but I like my games too much for all that.

On a side not the thrid one from the right looks a lot like one of those novelty massagers.

Have you tried 7 yet? It's a great experience, Vista had a bad name from the start.


I expect these mice to work differently than we're used to, but I honestly think that any change is going to be touch screen stuff.

 

[Mussels]

i want big mousepads, which are made of MS surface

that'll be mouse 2.0

(surface will never take over the precision and speed of mice - the mouse will be a gamers choice for a long long time)

 

[phanbuey]

I can't imagine playing an FPS using touchscreen... well, I can but that screen wouldn't last very long after I end up slugging it.


Not to mention, those little b****** are expensive.

ahhh microsoft. they do so well when they copy people - but so poorly when they try to make something original.

 

[Lazzer408]

I'd rather see an optical touchpad.

$.02

 

[Mussels]

as morpha pointed out to me, you really do need to watch the video on the below link to really understand these mice

http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/microsoft-research-shows-off-multitouch-mouse-prototypes/

 

[phanbuey]

That video seems like it makes things more complicated than they are. Most of the "ooh I squished my fingers together and it made the image smaller" is something that can easily be done with a scroll wheel.

 

[Mussels]

That video seems like it makes things more complicated than they are. Most of the "ooh I squished my fingers together and it made the image smaller" is something that can easily be done with a scroll wheel.

true.

you could also do all of it with a keyboard, or by typing commands into DOS - its just slower.


eventually, devices like this will find uses that a conventional mouse just isnt as good at, and they'll take off.

Admittedly, i kept seeing them use the mice, looking at the camera, and thinking a mousepad (oversized touchpad) style device is a far better idea. one finger can be used for the 'cursor' movement, and it would be easy to see double click, left click, right click, diagonal 'zooming' and so on as possible.

its simple, intuitive, no moving parts - works for laptops (small built in square/rectangle) and desktops (mousepad sized, powered by USB)

 

[KainXS]

The Idea is sound, but those mouses are ugly and as long as they stay ugly, they won't sell.

 

[2wicked]

Multi-finger action! lol
The gestures do seem a little complicated for average users.

 

[A Cheese Danish]

I think I'll stick with my current mouse and mice of the like, kthx

 

[Triprift]

thats because you think of them asif they are going to function in the sameway the old mouse 1 functions! i think these mouse 2 designs are particularly designed to let us have a new experience ! suppose it provides new stuff !
if it doesn't! then! that terribly bizarre to me too

It would give us a new experience a very uncomfortable one. =/

 

[Mussels]

It would give us a new experience a very uncomfortable one. =/

eh, its time the mouse got an overhaul.

 

[Wile E]

If you have a multitouch cell phone, like the iPhone, a lot of these gestures are already second nature to you.

I think some of these are great ideas, they just need to make them not as ugly. lol.

 

[Triprift]

The G9 is pretty fuggly as well so maybe we shoudnt be judging by the fuggly covers.

 

[The Haunted]

This just look like a bad April fool joke.

 

[Scrizz]

meh, would be bad for fps
lol