Apple Patent Application For Button-less Mouse Design
A patent application by Apple, released today, indicates that the company is continuing to explore new ways for users to command their Macs.
Patent Application number 20070080945 details a mouse having a button-less pan and scroll switch. Apple details that instead of using a traditional scroll wheel (or scroll ball in the case of the Mighty Mouse), the mouse would sense different hand positions and act in different ways according to how it is being held.
Patent applications can provide interesting insight into what concepts or technologies Apple is working on in their labs, however readers are reminded that only a subset of these applications will make it into final shipping products.
Patent Application number 20070080945 details a mouse having a button-less pan and scroll switch. Apple details that instead of using a traditional scroll wheel (or scroll ball in the case of the Mighty Mouse), the mouse would sense different hand positions and act in different ways according to how it is being held.
In one embodiment, the first mode of operation of the mouse may be a cursor control mode and the first operations on the display screen may be cursor movements on the display screen. Additionally, the second mode of operation of the mouse may be a pan and/or scroll control mode and the second operations on the display screen may be scrolling and/or panning movements on the display screen.
Patent applications can provide interesting insight into what concepts or technologies Apple is working on in their labs, however readers are reminded that only a subset of these applications will make it into final shipping products.
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63 months ago
There is a more detailed report on this at Appleinsider with images here:
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/07/04/12/next_gen_apple_mouse_may_dump_scroll_ball_for_touch_housing.html
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/07/04/12/next_gen_apple_mouse_may_dump_scroll_ball_for_touch_housing.html
63 months ago
I read somewhere they are working on a more 3D interface? So presumably they need a whole new mouse to better interact with the whole computer.
63 months ago
i don't know why Apple keeps wasting time and resources on a mouse that doesn't need much invention. Mouse is fine as the way it is. Make mouse that has same conventional multi button that Logitech or MS makes.
Apple should be using those resources on perfecting Touchscreen iPods or potential touchscreen Displays.
Apple should be using those resources on perfecting Touchscreen iPods or potential touchscreen Displays.
63 months ago
This should be a great product. The Mighty Mouse's biggest flaw is it's scroll wheel. It's great being able to scroll sideways and vertically, but the ball is so small that it often gets clogged and needs to be cleaned out.
63 months ago
I don't really mind the scroll ball, but I think this could definitely be interesting (especially after seeing the patent pics).
63 months ago
This mouse has to be super ergonomic for me to consider using something like this. I am prone to getting RSI (repetitve stress injury) so something like this has to be very natural, and fast to use.
Intersting patent application nevertheless. Might be useful for my Photoshop work.
Intersting patent application nevertheless. Might be useful for my Photoshop work.
63 months ago
I dunno, all these button-less thingies are too meta for me.
I think they just make things more confusing...
I think they just make things more confusing...
63 months ago
I like the mighty mouse but this seems like it could be a good alternative. It would be good if you could choose where abouts on the mouse certain "buttons" could be placed. This would enable the user to define as many buttons as the suer wants (up to a limit). If only the mighty mouse had 2 more buttons (could've been added by allowing the squeeze pads to operate as single buttons)
63 months ago
the biggest problem with the mighty mouse is that it doesn't have distinct buttons, and that the left and right click sometimes get confused. Eliminating buttons entirely seems like it would make such problems even worse.
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