Fresh out of Microsoft Research: Multi-touch mouse prototypes

Microsoft’s Applied Sciences Group will be presenting a paper on new mice at this week’s User Interface Software and Technology Conference in British Columbia, Canada and we bring you a sneak preview on these evolution beating mice. With the multitouch capability of Windows 7 not exactly gaining much acclaim in the mass adoption sense, Microsoft seems to be looking at multiple ways of bring multitouch to users. Currently they have come up with 5 fresh concepts, but it is not clear when or how many, if any, of them will get the go ahead for mass production.

All the five types of mice use different methods of motion detection.

The principle of frustrated total internal reflection and a built-in camera to sense user’s touches have been used for their FTIR (Frustrated Total Internal Reflection) Mouse.

The Orb Mouse provides an easy grip form factor while ensuring the comfort of the user’s fingers with the uniform curvature. It engages a hemispherical surface with an IR-sensitive camera for multitouch capabilities of the whole palm.

The Capacitive Mouse employs a flexible matrix of capacitive-sensing electrodes under the surface of the mouse to sense the position of multiple fingers on its surface. While at it, it saves a lot of power and is compact too!

The Side Mouse is more of an interface pad to detect motion of the fingers, than a mouse. It senses the finger movements with a projected laser instead of touch sensors. It enables the user to touch the table surface directly in front of the device so that the multitouch area is free from any restrictions of its physical surface.

To support 3D rendering and subtle, fine grained gestures, The Arty (articulated) Mouse provides two separate arms apart from a palm rest for the thumb and index finger respectively.

Amused? The evolution of a whole new generation of mice awaits us!

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