Gizmodo: pointing device

Simtrix Swiftpoint Slider Mouse Uses Your Keyboard for a Mousepad

Kit Eaton — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 07:30:14 EST

The Simtrix Slider joins the list of strange pointing devices like the finger mouse designed for mobile computing. Held between thumb and finger, it's designed to slide right over the keys on your laptop, making the whole keyboard a mousepad. Supposedly this offers efficiency savings, as your hands don't have to dart off to a touchpad or grab a mouse, and Simtrix says it may reduce the risk of RSI. Seems like a good idea, though we wonder how you avoid dt causing typos dçe] by ?- rando,m keypresse;'ss. No idea when you'll see it as a real product. [Simtrix via PCPro]

Avago Creates Hybrid Pointing Device, Destined for Harmony Remotes?

Charlie White — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 10:50:00 EDT

Betting that someday soon there will be computers in home theaters, Avago Technologies created an input device module that works like a mouse, scroll wheel or joystick depending on your situation and preference. Keep in mind, we're not talking about the picture of the remote here, just that little black circular input device. But this picture above has caused a bit of a stir, because its user interface and button layout is similar to the one used in today's Logitech Harmony 880 remote controls.

Here's a trio of pics of the button in use in other devices, including a gaming joystick and a PDA.

But what about that remote? As the reasoning goes, that pic looks like a Logitech design, Logitech does make mice as well as remote controls, and mice such as the Logitech MX Air that we reviewed last week aim to be useful in the home theater, and the next Logitech Harmony remotes might be hitting the market fairly soon. Come to think of it, the Logitech Harmony 880 is getting a bit long in the tooth, and its button layout is similar to this one, especially the soft keys on either side of that color screen. Put all these together, and you might think this little navigation button will be on the next Harmony remotes.

Or not. Looks like the company's trying to do a sales pitch on Logitech with this illustration, and Microsoft, too, with this Xbox 360-like mockup. Even so, it's still a useful idea for a pointing device. [AVing USA, via Remote Shoppe]

MicroNav 360: World's Tiniest Mouse

Charlie White — Mon, 01 May 2006 10:56:18 EDT

With electronics manufacturers constantly striving to make everything smaller, here's the latest shrinkage, a pointing device destined for handheld devices, cellphones and such, called MicroNav 360. This OEM pointing device is 10mm square and scarcely thicker than 1mm, which makes it about the size of your pinky fingertip.

We were just wondering, what's the problem with directional controls, or one of those little miniature joysticks? Perhaps this OEM device is destined to be a strap-on fingertip mouse, giving you the ultimate in road-warrior portability. Or something.

Product page [Steadlands, via RealTechNews]