Break Free of the Mouse

Users need to control the cursor, and plopping a conventional mouse onto their desktops has long served that purpose. The problem is that millions of people use nearly identical mice, repetitively making the same motions for hours a day. Perhaps it's no coincidence, then, that repetitive stress symptoms plague up to 56 percent of computer users, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics.

By offering your clients alternative mice, you can help them fight repetitive stress. And they're a niche you may have overlooked.

In this recipe, we'll look at three different types: one you control with your feet, one you control with your forearm, and one you could hold in your mouth.

Foot-Controlled Mouse

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If you've ever dreamed of not having to move your hand from the keyboard while using the mouse, the NoHands Mouse from Hunter Digital ($349.99) might be the one for you.

The unit consists of two flat platforms, each about the size and shape of the bottom of a clothes iron (see picture, above). They connect to the computer as a unit via a standard mouse port. There's no software--the unit simply replaces a standard mouse.

One of the platforms is for cursor control, and the other is for clicking. Which is left or right is entirely up to you.

You simply sit down, put your feet on the platforms, and start using the computer. Good posture, as the directions state, is important for good results. That means having your knees bent at a 90-degree angle, with your legs vertical. In this position, you have maximum control of your ankles. It's best to have your chair high so your feet just reach the mouse platforms.

With controlled posture, cursor control is accurate enough for all word-processing tasks. For me, accuracy wasn't the problem. I wasn't able to exert fine control on my ankles without also exerting fine control over my legs and thigh muscles--and those muscles were not accustomed to that kind of work! Also, your legs are heavy, noticeably adding to the effort.

Retaining a rigid posture got really tiring and uncomfortable. For a user who's already wincing from wrist or arm pain from a conventional mouse, these may sound like minor problems. Someone whose body is young and limber (unlike mine) may not even notice. For everyone else, though, the NoHands Mouse may not necessarily offer advantages.

Joystick Mouse

Retailing at $50 to $75, the Ergonomic Mouse from 3M looks like a joystick. Basically, the unit is a flat platform with a handle that leans slightly toward you, matching the angle of your hand when you extend your arm slightly. So instead of having to rotate your wrist, the 3M mouse is a natural fit for your hand. Also, it supports the weight of your hand as you move it.

Meanwhile, you don't have to flex your wrist and fingers to click the mouse buttons, which are embodied in a thumb-actuated trigger on top of the handle. Only a slight motion of the thumb is required.

My hand and thumb felt natural and relaxed when using it. Accuracy seemed as good as with a conventional mouse. The only problem was that the unit seemed clumsier than a conventional mouse.

While there's no scroll wheel, a third button on the shaft of the handle offers scroll control. When pressed, mouse movement generates both vertical and horizontal scrolling. The only drawback is that it doesn't seem to allow left-handed use.

Air Mouse

With an air mouse from Gyration, you can walk around the room and still control the cursor. Air mice use a motion sensor to map your hand movements, which are sent to the computer via an RF link.

Gyration offers several versions: The Gyrotransport, at $199.95, has a small RF antenna that plugs into a USB port. The antenna also contains a 1-GB memory stick. The Gyration mouse without the antenna goes for $69.95. The air mice, specifically the Gyrotransport, target people who make presentations and want to be able to move anywhere in a room.

After activating the antenna, your hand movements are mapped to the screen as cursor movements. Squeeze the mouse on the side you want to generate a click. The problem is that squeezing the button invariably moves the mouse slightly, and therefore, moves the cursor too. To fix this, the unit includes a control button between the two mouse buttons.

With alternative mice, systems builders can take the repetitive out of repetitive stress, while reaping potential profits.