January 9, 2011Microsoft Touch Mouse debuted at CES
One of the products Microsoft introduced at CES was its Touch Mouse, designed to optimise the Windows 7 experience.
The mouse works just as a normal point and clicking rodent, but also adds multi-touch functionality.
Hrvoje Benko, a Researcher who helped develop the device, explains: “The tasks you do every day – minimizing and maximizing windows, scrolling through Web pages – all that functionality is available right at the top of the mouse with a touch of a finger.”
Touch Mouse users will be able to use a thumb flick to facilitate moving back and forwards in their web browser. Or you can scroll right through a document with the flick of one finger, or manage a window using two fingers, maximizing and minimizing, or snapping a window left or right.
Up the ante to three fingers and you can take command of the entire desktop, switching between tasks or closing all open windows, for instance.
Use your entire fist and bring it down in an overhead hammer blow on top of the peripheral with all your strength, and you’ll… well, you’ll break your mouse. The warranty probably won’t be much use, either.
Anyhow, the whole thing sounds like it’ll take a bit of getting used to, but it’s definitely a novel idea, and we’d be interested to have a play with the device.
That’ll have to wait, however, as the Touch Mouse won’t be on shelves until June of this year. UK pricing is unconfirmed, although it looks like it will cost around $80 in the US, according to Amazon‘s pre-order information.
Story link: Microsoft Touch Mouse debuted at CES
