AirMouse - the mouse that fits you like a glove

PERSONAL COMPUTING

AirMouse - the mouse that fits you like a glove

By Ben Coxworth

12:36 January 27, 2010

7 Comments

2 Pictures

The AirMouse wearable mouse

Image Gallery (2 images)

It’s no secret... Studies have shown that excessive mouse usage can cause repetitive stress injuries. Unfortunately for most of us, “excessive” can mean anything more than a few hours a day. Fortunately, however, there are alternative styles of mice out there designed to be easier on the hands and arms. One of the more interesting ones to come along in a while is the AirMouse, made by Canadian firm Deanmark Ltd. What makes it unique is the fact that you wear it like a glove.

Deanmark founders Mark Bajramovic and Oren Tessler met in university, where Mark learned first-hand (no pun intended) what it’s like to OD on mousing. “Half way through our first year, I developed a computer mouse related RSI (Repetitive Stress Injury) and lost the use of my right hand and arm for several weeks,” he tells us. “Numbness, pain, most things that you hear about with RSI’s, I had it.” Later that semester, Mark and Oren heard about an ergonomic mouse being marketed in Europe. While they thought that particular product wasn’t perfect, it got them thinking about designing their own. The AirMouse is the result.

The wireless mouse utilizes an optical laser, and can run for a week without recharging. According to the company website, the clinically-tested product works by aligning itself with the ligaments of your hand and wrist. This lets you keep your hand in a neutral position, and transmits more of your vector force than would be possible with a regular mouse. Not only does this make it easier on your hand, but it increases your mousing speed and accuracy as well. The mouse is also designed to remain inactive until your hand is placed in a neutral, flat position, so you can easily go back and forth between typing and mousing. Other ergonomic designs have strayed from the AirMouse’s style of traditional flat, one-dimensional mousing, but Mark and Oren’s market research indicated that consumers tend to reject such products.

The AirMouse should be available for purchase within the next 6 to 12 months, at a price of $US129.

To see an earlier example of a wearable mouse, check out our article on the MagicMouse.

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User Comments (7)

cooooooooool

Varun Kumar

- January 28, 2010 @ 01:01 pm PST

"consumers tend to reject such products"... Just who are these consumers they're asking? Older (ancient) people who are planning on buying computers for their highschool grand kids?... sure as hell wasn't me. And anyone who uses a mouse all-day and every-day knows it can be a painful hassle that lingers for a very long time... that's why stationary track ball mouses have become available. This looks like an awesome alternative to the whole mouse input system.

dariusvons

- January 28, 2010 @ 07:01 pm PST

I have a friend who WAS employed as a CAD/CAM designer - until she developed a case of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome that is.

Now she's struggling to get by on SSI and NOT enjoying it one bit.

This COULD be her salvation :-)

If this is as good as it seems maybe it should be recommended by doctors?

Larry

- January 29, 2010 @ 05:01 am PST

Where TF is it? Vaporware as far as I can tell.

randyleepublic

- January 29, 2010 @ 08:01 am PST

The pic looks like the device is shopped to a pic of the hand. I'd say not one exist. Many times product announcements show drawn images, in place of a photo of a real product. I don't understand why all to often announcements never give purchase price or info. What's the point? It's BS. Without purchase info, comments read, "cool, where do I get it" without answer.

offthegrid

- January 29, 2010 @ 11:01 pm PST

great concept. some of us would like an viable mobile input device. this work with touchscreens too? why not. thus we can get back to one hand typing for those retard devices that dont yet have voice recognition onboard. Now I don't have to revert to a Morse code interface...

waltinseattle

- February 1, 2010 @ 11:02 am PST

I like the concept, and I'm sure it will be useful for some people, but not for somebody like me who spends 10-14 hours a day in front of a computer. Having to constantly remove this and then put it back on -- adjusting the straps and re-positioning -- would get old pretty quickly (e.g., when I got to the washroom, leave my desk to consult with colleagues, go to lunch, go to meetings, etc.) Or when using a pen, or a phone, or whatever.

Bruce Head

- February 3, 2010 @ 04:02 pm PST