Genius announced a new shape for its Pen Mouse today. The redesigned mouse now offers a better grip and a clip for enhanced portability. It features 2.4Ghz wireless technology that can turn many unusual surfaces into mousepads for computing in your location of choice. For instance, the Pen Mouse can still function on a user’s leg or palm. The company added that the familiar pen shape doesn’t place any strain on the user’s wrists, making it a great choice for people suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome or other similar problems.
The Pen Mouse can be switched between 400, 800, and 1200 dpi for optimal sensitivity. The left-click function is achieved with a slight downward pressure, while buttons at the top of the mouse perform the right-click and scrolling features. While it can connect to computers with a Pico USB dongle, the Pen Mouse also runs wirelessly with a single AAA battery. The mouse has a sleep feature to conserve power when it isn’t in use. According to the company website, the product is only supported on select Microsoft operating systems, including Windows 7, Vista, and XP. Genius has set the suggested price for the redesigned Pen Mouse at $50.
Many companies are pushing to revolutionize how we control and interact with our computers. In fact, these four products could take a traditional mouse out of the picture almost entirely. Eye-tracking technology is certainly the most futuristic option, but new designs, such as the Pen Mouse and other stylus products, could be a good intermediary step, changing our usual mode of computer navigation for something that’s still familiar from the days of pencil and paper.
