Is the End Near for the Computer Mouse?
When you suddenly move from a desktop computer with a mouse to a laptop with a touchpad keyboard, what is your first instinct in order to perform a function? You reach for the computer mouse instinctively and once your hand discovers that it isn’t where you thought, it hits you with anxiety, “what do you do now? There isn’t a mouse!” You suddenly think, since I can’t communicate with the computer, it’s almost useless with out a computer mouse to access the “start” button. Until you realize that you have the touch pad keyboard, you realize how much dependence is on the computer mouse.
The computer mouse has had quite the legacy. From wireless to ergonomic to finger mouse styles and several kitschy computer mouse pads to go with it. All of it is about to change though. With the advent of touch screens, the era of the computer mouse is quickly coming to an end. Our society has already embraced both resistive and capacitive sensor [http://www.cirque.com/uploads/technologies/capacitive_sensor.html] technologies on a grand scale. We have seen touch screens impact our daily lives already, from the grocery store check out to the gas pump and at the bank. Now, with touch screen phones and soon, touch screen Microsoft Windows, the computer mouse will be unnecessary.
If users can speed up the process of touching something on the screen rather than reaching for the mouse and the pointer to produce a function, think of the time it will save and not to mention “mousing injuries.” “Mousing,” the term for using one’s computer mouse functions has also become known as a descriptor of a person who is considered an excessive computer mouse user with a computer related injury called a mousing injury. Most people who use their computer and computer mouse excessively know this type of pain. Sitting at a desk for hours with an arm outstretched and consistent tapping creates pain in shoulders, backs, necks, wrists and forearms.
According to recent media, Windows 7's multitouch software can allow desktop and laptop PC users to use their fingers to draw pictures onto a computer screen, zoom in and out of photos, flip quickly through slideshows, search and skim maps, and play an on-screen piano. Also included in the new product is speech recognition technologies. This will allow users to communicate to their computer and hear their computer respond back. This multitouch technology is also being called “Surface.” First instances of the surface technology will be premiered at hotels, restaurants and other public venues.
Now, the question remains, will other companies besides the Microsoft giant be able to beat Microsoft to the market? As far as idealistic goals of going mouse-less next year, is the actual time line two or three? With so many people touching screens to connect to the internet and other functions via their telephone and other hand held devices, it almost seems like the next logical step would be seeking out ways to scroll our fingers down the computer’s screen, eliminating the clunky ol mouse and quickly accessing files, photos and music faster than ever possible before. Just think, soon double clicking will be a phrase of the past.
The computer mouse has had quite the legacy. From wireless to ergonomic to finger mouse styles and several kitschy computer mouse pads to go with it. All of it is about to change though. With the advent of touch screens, the era of the computer mouse is quickly coming to an end. Our society has already embraced both resistive and capacitive sensor [http://www.cirque.com/uploads/technologies/capacitive_sensor.html] technologies on a grand scale. We have seen touch screens impact our daily lives already, from the grocery store check out to the gas pump and at the bank. Now, with touch screen phones and soon, touch screen Microsoft Windows, the computer mouse will be unnecessary.
If users can speed up the process of touching something on the screen rather than reaching for the mouse and the pointer to produce a function, think of the time it will save and not to mention “mousing injuries.” “Mousing,” the term for using one’s computer mouse functions has also become known as a descriptor of a person who is considered an excessive computer mouse user with a computer related injury called a mousing injury. Most people who use their computer and computer mouse excessively know this type of pain. Sitting at a desk for hours with an arm outstretched and consistent tapping creates pain in shoulders, backs, necks, wrists and forearms.
According to recent media, Windows 7's multitouch software can allow desktop and laptop PC users to use their fingers to draw pictures onto a computer screen, zoom in and out of photos, flip quickly through slideshows, search and skim maps, and play an on-screen piano. Also included in the new product is speech recognition technologies. This will allow users to communicate to their computer and hear their computer respond back. This multitouch technology is also being called “Surface.” First instances of the surface technology will be premiered at hotels, restaurants and other public venues.
Now, the question remains, will other companies besides the Microsoft giant be able to beat Microsoft to the market? As far as idealistic goals of going mouse-less next year, is the actual time line two or three? With so many people touching screens to connect to the internet and other functions via their telephone and other hand held devices, it almost seems like the next logical step would be seeking out ways to scroll our fingers down the computer’s screen, eliminating the clunky ol mouse and quickly accessing files, photos and music faster than ever possible before. Just think, soon double clicking will be a phrase of the past.
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