Touch-sensitivity for a Mightier Mouse?

(Credit: Hrmpf.com)

Is Apple bringing some semblance of the iPhone's touch screen to a new mouse? Could be, if the mouse described in this patent application spotted by Hrmpf.com ever goes from diagram to final product. In lieu of any mouse buttons--Apple's never been a big fan--the surface of the mouse would be one continuous surface made of an "optically transmissive material" and would feature a "multipoint touch-detection mechanism" that could detect one or more of your fingers.

You'd be able to program certain movements of your fingers--swiping, tapping, rotating--to perform certain actions such as opening apps, rotating images, and resizing windows. I'd imagine it could be similar to pinching your fingers to zoom in on a photo on the iPhone. Perhaps you'd set it up so that the middle of the mouse acted as a virtual scroll wheel. The patent also states that "gestures can also be used to invoke and manipulate virtual control interfaces, such as volume knobs, switches, sliders, handles, knobs, doors, and other widgets that may be created to facilitate human interaction with the computing system." I'd bet Photoshop would be a lot easier to navigate with such an interface.

The mouse would be illuminated with an internal light, which could change colors or pulse to indicate an event--you've got mail! It would also feature some degree of fingerprint recognition so that your settings are enabled when you grab the mouse and your wife's settings are there when she sits down at the PC.

Are you ready for a touch-sensitive, buttonless mouse? How about after using the iPhone's touch screen for a month or two? Think we'll ever see this mouse? Comment in the TalkBack below.

[bigpetis]

I WANT ONE NOW!!

This sounds like another freakin awesome idea from Apple. This is so much
better than any mouse that is on the market now. I can only imagine the
possibilities based on what this article says. This may be the one mouse I
actually buy a warranty for.

[siriusproductions]

Too smart for its own good

Any mouse that requires you to look at it in order to use at least some of its features will not enhance productivity, but will decrease it.

Just because features *can* be added to something doesn't mean they *should* be added.

[enolazco]

Do you use only the fingers to touch the mouse?

Apple always have good ideas (and Microsoft always use it at the end) but they have to define some things:

- If the new mouse is sensitive in all of its surface, how can you move this mouse without being your hand sensed as an interaction?
I always put my palm on it (and three fingers!) to move it.
Maybe it's a way to avoid the mouse's disease.

- I agree that you don't have to see the mouse in order to interact with it so... Why should I see it now only because of the inside-light's color? I always work looking at the monitor. It's just a good idea when i'm back to my office and see a new color because of an event (like a new mail)

- Finally, if you get used to the iphone, you will do the same movements of your fingers on a non-plain surface?

[Ande000]

The fact that they have not made one yet stupefies me. No one retails any soft click or click less mouse out there. Just cheep and painful to your trigger finger mouse. Don't bother asking anyone at the stores.