SpacePilot Pro 3D Navigator

This futuristic navigator allows designers to breeze through 3D spaces with the flick of a knob.

Whether you spend days poring over different fastener sizes in Autodesk Inventor, or just like to skim over the world looking for fun places to visit on Google Earth, there’s no denying that a mouse and keyboard is less than ideal for working in 3D space. 3DConnexion has already solved that problem with its line of highly specialized 3D navigators, but the latest product in the line takes that level of sophistication to an even crazier degree.

The aptly named SpacePilot Pro looks quite literally like something that belongs on the deck of a sci-fi spacecraft. Glowing blue lights, swoopy profile, color display screen, they’re all there, with the intent of putting every control you would ever need for work at your literal fingertips.

Like all 3DConnexion devices, the knob-like device on top offers six different ways to move: left and right, up and down, forward and back, tilting, spinning and rolling. If it all sounds a little sophisticated, the gist is basically this: move the controller the same way you want to move the virtual object on your monitor, and it will move accordingly.

That’s complemented by a color LCD screen that can be customized to show anything from new e-mail messages to task lists, hard keys for different view and control settings, and 10 customizable function keys that can be set do whatever you want. If you have trouble remembering, you can even set up the LCD to show them all for you as a reference card.

Engineers and inquisitive geeks can pick up the SpacePilot Pro for $499 immediately. More details and information can be found at 3DConnexion.