Mouse Pens

[D from BC]

I just noticed mouse pens on E*bay.
There's 2 videos on Y*utube on mouse pens.
Use keyword "mouse pen".
So I checked out my local power user computer store and...no mouse
pens.
Anybody using a mouse pen?
It looks like a good idea..

But then I thought about graphics tablets..
Can the pen be used like a mouse?
The Watcom graphics tablet at my shopping spot
http://www.atic.ca/index.php?page=LongDesc&sku=27274
comes with a mouse??
That's not promising

Has anybody replaced their mouse with a graphics tablet +pen?

I'm thinking of using the pen in one hand for pointing and using a
spare mini keyboard with assigned keys for clicking with the other
hand.
Heck...I might even take the ball out of a cheapo scroll mouse and use
that on my left and use the graphics pen on my right.



D from BC

 

[Michael A. Terrell]

I just noticed mouse pens on E*bay.
There's 2 videos on Y*utube on mouse pens.
Use keyword "mouse pen".
So I checked out my local power user computer store and...no mouse
pens.
Anybody using a mouse pen?

I had one about 12 years ago, and it sucked. It was awkward, and the
cord kept getting tangled up with whatever was on the computer desk. I
replaced it with the early optical mouse with the metal pad that had a
grid printed on it.




--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida

 

[Jeff Liebermann]

I just noticed mouse pens on E*bay.
There's 2 videos on Y*utube on mouse pens.
Use keyword "mouse pen".
So I checked out my local power user computer store and...no mouse
pens.
Anybody using a mouse pen?
It looks like a good idea..

It's not. I've used one and sold a few. Most of my customers were
not happy. Several problems:
1. You have to hold the pen at exactly the correct angle for it to
work.
2. The tiny ball at the tip is easily coated with dust, dirt, grease,
sweat, and goo. The larger mouse and tackballs do the same thing, but
to a lesser degree due to the much larger surface area.
3. The tiny ball has very little traction on most materials due to
minimal contact area. A larger ball has the same problem, but works
much better due to a larger footprint.
4. The attached cord is like dragging an anchor chain. It's not much
of a problem with a larger or heavier mouse, but with a very light
pen, the cord drag feels excessive.

But then I thought about graphics tablets..
Can the pen be used like a mouse?

Yes. The basics are simple. There are relative positioners, such as
a mouse, and there are absolute positioners such as a digitizer
tablet. You can have either one emulate the other, with varying
degrees of success.

The Watcom graphics tablet at my shopping spot
http://www.atic.ca/index.php?page=LongDesc&sku=27274
comes with a mouse??
That's not promising

Why not? It works. It's an example of emulating a relative
positioner (mouse) with an absolute positioner (digitizer pad). On a
digitizer, the mouse would look like a clear plastic hocky puck, with
a cross hairs target, and 4 colorful buttons. It could be used as
either an absolute position digitizer, or something resembling a
mouse. Something like these:

Has anybody replaced their mouse with a graphics tablet +pen?

Yep. Anyone that does CAD or electronic drafting. However, it's much
easier to make precision cursor movements with a pen, than with a
mouse. Note the Wacom 5000 dots/inch resolution. The best mouse can
do perhaps 2000 dpi. Large digitzers will do 2000 to 12,000 dpi.

I'm thinking of using the pen in one hand for pointing and using a
spare mini keyboard with assigned keys for clicking with the other
hand.

That's the way I used an ancient Applicon CAD/CAM workstation. There
was a HOGE button pad with about 100 user defineable buttons. Most of
the common functions and objects were setup as macros on the pad. You
can do that with a keyboard, but it's much easier to do your menu and
symbol picking on the perifery of the digitizer pad template overlay.
The Wacom pad is probably too small for that.

Bigger is better (and more expensive):

Heck...I might even take the ball out of a cheapo scroll mouse and use
that on my left and use the graphics pen on my right.

I think you'll find a larger trackball more useful. The tiny ball in
the mouse pen is too small to use effectively.

Incidentally, the first cursor positioner I used was a trackball using
a large bowling ball on a 1960's vintage radar display.

 

[Ecnerwal]

But then I thought about graphics tablets..
Can the pen be used like a mouse?

Yes, though the mapping can be an issue. Mice are mapped relative, while
the default mode for tablets (changeable on some) is to map to the
screen - ie, if you want to go from the lower left to the upper right,
you have to actually move the pen that far, where with a mouse you can
move it and then pick it up to move more, without useing a large area of
desk to move it on. Also, (again, perhaps adjustable in software) most
mice do acceleration (the faster you move the mouse, the more the
pointer moves for every mouse movement) while tablets tend to be fixed.

The Watcom graphics tablet at my shopping spot
http://www.atic.ca/index.php?page=LongDesc&sku=27274
comes with a mouse??
That's not promising

No, it just means that some folks prefer mouse input (or prefer it for
certain tasks), and they provide the option of either/both. You can put
the mouse part in a drawer and forget it if you prefer to use the pen.

 

[D from BC]

It's not. I've used one and sold a few. Most of my customers were
not happy. Several problems:
1. You have to hold the pen at exactly the correct angle for it to
work.
2. The tiny ball at the tip is easily coated with dust, dirt, grease,
sweat, and goo. The larger mouse and tackballs do the same thing, but
to a lesser degree due to the much larger surface area.
3. The tiny ball has very little traction on most materials due to
minimal contact area. A larger ball has the same problem, but works
much better due to a larger footprint.
4. The attached cord is like dragging an anchor chain. It's not much
of a problem with a larger or heavier mouse, but with a very light
pen, the cord drag feels excessive.

[snip]

Tiny ball?

These mouse pens I saw are optical, however corded..

Not really a pen but close...more like a different mouse form.

This one is wireless and more penlike.
There are sellers on E*ay.

However, it's bulky due it's battery.

While digging up those links I discovered...
a video of a demo of a Wacom tablet as a mouse replacement.

Yeah! This is what I'm thinking about..
I think this might be great for PCB and schematic work.

This pen is interesting... based on positioning with IR and
ultrasonics.

Home:
http://www.navisis.com/ENGLISH/02_tech/principle_navisis.php?tmenu=02

But the ultimate setup for PCB and schematic work might be with
something like this..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PSBwiBUgGM&feature=related
I'd hate to see the price tag..


D from BC

 

[D from BC]

Yes, though the mapping can be an issue. Mice are mapped relative, while
the default mode for tablets (changeable on some) is to map to the
screen - ie, if you want to go from the lower left to the upper right,
you have to actually move the pen that far, where with a mouse you can
move it and then pick it up to move more, without useing a large area of
desk to move it on. Also, (again, perhaps adjustable in software) most
mice do acceleration (the faster you move the mouse, the more the
pointer moves for every mouse movement) while tablets tend to be fixed.


No, it just means that some folks prefer mouse input (or prefer it for
certain tasks), and they provide the option of either/both. You can put
the mouse part in a drawer and forget it if you prefer to use the pen.

Mmm...
Well...that'll help me figure out if a tablet would be good for PCB
and schematic work..

I just found out the Wacom mouse doesn't use batteries and it's to be
used on the tablet..
At first, I thought it was some wireless optical mouse...


D from BC

 

[D from BC]

I had one about 12 years ago, and it sucked. It was awkward, and the
cord kept getting tangled up with whatever was on the computer desk. I
replaced it with the early optical mouse with the metal pad that had a
grid printed on it.

Things change...
Bluetooth, USB, rechargeables with better energy density...stuff like
that.


D from BC

 

[BobW]

Mmm...
Well...that'll help me figure out if a tablet would be good for PCB
and schematic work..

I just found out the Wacom mouse doesn't use batteries and it's to be
used on the tablet..
At first, I thought it was some wireless optical mouse...


D from BC

I'm using one of the Wacom tablets/pens/mouse (the Bamboo Fun small). The
mouse and pen are "wireless", but there are no batteries and there are no
internal active electronics (as far as I can tell). The tablet is USB
powered.

The pen is very difficult to use for anything but drawing and painting. I
would never use it for general computer operation and using for schematic
work is out-of-the-question (unless you want to freehand draw a schematic).

The mouse works well as long as it remains within the confines of the
tablet. It's nice because it is wireless, doesn't use batteries, and doesn't
require cleaning.

Bob

 

[D from BC]

I'm using one of the Wacom tablets/pens/mouse (the Bamboo Fun small). The
mouse and pen are "wireless", but there are no batteries and there are no
internal active electronics (as far as I can tell). The tablet is USB
powered.

The pen is very difficult to use for anything but drawing and painting. I
would never use it for general computer operation and using for schematic
work is out-of-the-question (unless you want to freehand draw a schematic).

The mouse works well as long as it remains within the confines of the
tablet. It's nice because it is wireless, doesn't use batteries, and doesn't
require cleaning.

Bob

What makes the Wacom tablet + pen difficult for schematic work?
I can only guess...
Is there too much hand movement?
Perhaps schematic work requires a huge tablet?
Maybe it's a matter of practice to beat a mouse?
Maybe a higher (Wacom Intuos) end tablet is needed?



D from BC

 

[Jeff Liebermann]

I just noticed mouse pens on E*bay.
There's 2 videos on Y*utube on mouse pens.
Use keyword "mouse pen".
So I checked out my local power user computer store and...no mouse
pens.
Anybody using a mouse pen?
It looks like a good idea..

It's not. I've used one and sold a few. Most of my customers were
not happy. Several problems:
1. You have to hold the pen at exactly the correct angle for it to
work.
2. The tiny ball at the tip is easily coated with dust, dirt, grease,
sweat, and goo. The larger mouse and tackballs do the same thing, but
to a lesser degree due to the much larger surface area.
3. The tiny ball has very little traction on most materials due to
minimal contact area. A larger ball has the same problem, but works
much better due to a larger footprint.
4. The attached cord is like dragging an anchor chain. It's not much
of a problem with a larger or heavier mouse, but with a very light
pen, the cord drag feels excessive. [snip]

Tiny ball?

Yep. I don't have it any more or I would post a photo. Piece of
junk. However, that was perhaps 8 years ago. Wireless and an optical
pickup eliminates solves three of the problems. Holding the pen at
the exact correct angle is still a problem.

These mouse pens I saw are optical, however corded..

Not really a pen but close...more like a different mouse form.

Well, if you glue a handle on a conventional mouse, that's the result.
I'm not sure it's much of an improvement, and certainly useless for
drawing, sketching, and painting.

This one is wireless and more penlike.
There are sellers on E*ay.

However, it's bulky due it's battery.

That wasn't much of a video clip. I barely saw the device as most of
the video demonstrated problems with a conventional mouse. This is
the product:

While digging up those links I discovered...
a video of a demo of a Wacom tablet as a mouse replacement.

Yeah! This is what I'm thinking about..
I think this might be great for PCB and schematic work.

Maybe. Everyone has their own preferences. I like to separate the
cursor positioning and drawing functions. For cursor, I like a big
trackball. That's because it's always in exactly the same place on my
messy desk. I don't have to look at it to determine orientation or
location. Just reach, and it's there when I need it. Since the
cursor is a relative position device, I don't have to worry about
calibration or running off the edge of the pad.

For input, I like a digitizer pad and cordless pen. Small and light
do I'm not tempted to develop a death grip on the device. This one is
an absolute positioner, so that the digitizer pad has to be about the
same size as the screen. It can be smaller, but then the cursor
action tends to become twitchy.

Incidentally, I was watching a class full of prospective graphic
artists doing battle with Adobe Illustrator. By watching how they
worked, I could predict with a fair degree of accuracy, which students
were going to throw the mouse or pen across the room. The ones that
had to look at the mouse before using it, were doing badly. Those
that had adequate hand eye coordination did not need to look at the
mouse, pen, pad, keyboard, or whatever.

This pen is interesting... based on positioning with IR and
ultrasonics.

Home:
http://www.navisis.com/ENGLISH/02_tech/principle_navisis.php?tmenu=02

Nice idea. I don't have room for it on my messy desk. It's probably
also not practical with a laptop in the field.

Over the years, I've blundered into various experimental ways of
moving the cursor around the screen. This was mostly from dealing
with handicapped computer users. Here's one that uses a USB camera to
view head position to move the cursor:
<http://www.cameramouse.org>
I've tried it and it does work. However, it was only suitable for
coarse work (menu picking) and not drawing.

Long ago, I built a "foot mouse". Basically, it was a wooden brick,
with 4 spring loaded caster balls, plus one in the middle driving a
pair of shaft encoders. Stomp on the foot mouse and it generates a
mouse click. It worked so-so. The problem was that it had to be
correctly oriented or the cursor would move at an angle on the screen.
A guide box for the food solved that problem, but was awkward to use.

Somewhat later, I built a "chair mouse". This was an adaptation of
the common swivel office chair to act as a mouse. Swivel left or
right and the cursor move horizontally. Rock back and forth, and it
goes up and down. Two buttons on the arm rests simulate the mouse
buttons. It worked fairly well but did require a bit of tinkering to
calibrate it. I sold the chair and design in about 1994.

My favorite total failure was trying to input a mechanical drawing
into Autocad 2000 using a joystick and later a joystick based
automobile streering yoke. Given sufficient inspiration (free dinner)
and immunity to frustration, it can be done.

Some ideas:

But the ultimate setup for PCB and schematic work might be with
something like this..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PSBwiBUgGM&feature=related
I'd hate to see the price tag..

Nice, but where do I put my coffle mug?

It also reminds me of cutting rubylith with a swivel knife on a light
table to make PCB's. Oh my aching back.

More on the Conoto graphics tablet:
http://www.officeoftomorrow.org
More video clips:
<http://www.officeoftomorrow.org/index.php?id=12>

Wacom Cintiq. About $2,500 list:
http://www.wacom.com/cintiq/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2988JsS9tQk

 

[D from BC]

D from BC <[email protected]> hath wroth:

I just noticed mouse pens on E*bay.
There's 2 videos on Y*utube on mouse pens.
Use keyword "mouse pen".
So I checked out my local power user computer store and...no mouse
pens.
Anybody using a mouse pen?
It looks like a good idea..

It's not. I've used one and sold a few. Most of my customers were
not happy. Several problems:
1. You have to hold the pen at exactly the correct angle for it to
work.
2. The tiny ball at the tip is easily coated with dust, dirt, grease,
sweat, and goo. The larger mouse and tackballs do the same thing, but
to a lesser degree due to the much larger surface area.
3. The tiny ball has very little traction on most materials due to
minimal contact area. A larger ball has the same problem, but works
much better due to a larger footprint.
4. The attached cord is like dragging an anchor chain. It's not much
of a problem with a larger or heavier mouse, but with a very light
pen, the cord drag feels excessive. [snip]

Tiny ball?

Yep. I don't have it any more or I would post a photo. Piece of
junk. However, that was perhaps 8 years ago. Wireless and an optical
pickup eliminates solves three of the problems. Holding the pen at
the exact correct angle is still a problem.

These mouse pens I saw are optical, however corded..

Not really a pen but close...more like a different mouse form.

Well, if you glue a handle on a conventional mouse, that's the result.
I'm not sure it's much of an improvement, and certainly useless for
drawing, sketching, and painting.

This one is wireless and more penlike.
There are sellers on E*ay.

However, it's bulky due it's battery.

That wasn't much of a video clip. I barely saw the device as most of
the video demonstrated problems with a conventional mouse. This is
the product:

While digging up those links I discovered...
a video of a demo of a Wacom tablet as a mouse replacement.

Yeah! This is what I'm thinking about..
I think this might be great for PCB and schematic work.

Maybe. Everyone has their own preferences. I like to separate the
cursor positioning and drawing functions. For cursor, I like a big
trackball. That's because it's always in exactly the same place on my
messy desk. I don't have to look at it to determine orientation or
location. Just reach, and it's there when I need it. Since the
cursor is a relative position device, I don't have to worry about
calibration or running off the edge of the pad.

For input, I like a digitizer pad and cordless pen. Small and light
do I'm not tempted to develop a death grip on the device. This one is
an absolute positioner, so that the digitizer pad has to be about the
same size as the screen. It can be smaller, but then the cursor
action tends to become twitchy.

Incidentally, I was watching a class full of prospective graphic
artists doing battle with Adobe Illustrator. By watching how they
worked, I could predict with a fair degree of accuracy, which students
were going to throw the mouse or pen across the room. The ones that
had to look at the mouse before using it, were doing badly. Those
that had adequate hand eye coordination did not need to look at the
mouse, pen, pad, keyboard, or whatever.

This pen is interesting... based on positioning with IR and
ultrasonics.

Home:
http://www.navisis.com/ENGLISH/02_tech/principle_navisis.php?tmenu=02

Nice idea. I don't have room for it on my messy desk. It's probably
also not practical with a laptop in the field.

Over the years, I've blundered into various experimental ways of
moving the cursor around the screen. This was mostly from dealing
with handicapped computer users. Here's one that uses a USB camera to
view head position to move the cursor:
<http://www.cameramouse.org>
I've tried it and it does work. However, it was only suitable for
coarse work (menu picking) and not drawing.

Long ago, I built a "foot mouse". Basically, it was a wooden brick,
with 4 spring loaded caster balls, plus one in the middle driving a
pair of shaft encoders. Stomp on the foot mouse and it generates a
mouse click. It worked so-so. The problem was that it had to be
correctly oriented or the cursor would move at an angle on the screen.
A guide box for the food solved that problem, but was awkward to use.

Somewhat later, I built a "chair mouse". This was an adaptation of
the common swivel office chair to act as a mouse. Swivel left or
right and the cursor move horizontally. Rock back and forth, and it
goes up and down. Two buttons on the arm rests simulate the mouse
buttons. It worked fairly well but did require a bit of tinkering to
calibrate it. I sold the chair and design in about 1994.

My favorite total failure was trying to input a mechanical drawing
into Autocad 2000 using a joystick and later a joystick based
automobile streering yoke. Given sufficient inspiration (free dinner)
and immunity to frustration, it can be done.

Some ideas:

But the ultimate setup for PCB and schematic work might be with
something like this..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PSBwiBUgGM&feature=related
I'd hate to see the price tag..

Nice, but where do I put my coffle mug?

It also reminds me of cutting rubylith with a swivel knife on a light
table to make PCB's. Oh my aching back.

More on the Conoto graphics tablet:
http://www.officeoftomorrow.org
More video clips:
<http://www.officeoftomorrow.org/index.php?id=12>

Wacom Cintiq. About $2,500 list:
http://www.wacom.com/cintiq/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2988JsS9tQk

Glued handle on a mouse..
Which gave me this idea...

I just put about 1" of glue gun glue on each side of my mouse to make
it bigger for my hand.
I'm trying it out now..Cost: 50 cents. Looks like sh*t but it might
work.
Damn.. I think this logitech RF cordless mouse model I have is made
for kids hands.
This is why I'm looking to either get a tablet or bigger mouse.


I just thought of a stupid hack idea for a mouse pen...
Requirements
one small ball joint
one plastic disk ..say 2" diameter by 0.5mm thick
one ballpoint pen
one optical mouse

The idea is to mount a regular optical mouse upsidedown and embed it
into the tabletop.
Then a pen is used to move a plastic disk over the mouse.
It's like moving the table instead of the mouse.


D from BC

 

[Eeyore]

I just noticed mouse pens on E*bay.
There's 2 videos on Y*utube on mouse pens.
Use keyword "mouse pen".
So I checked out my local power user computer store and...no mouse
pens.
Anybody using a mouse pen?
It looks like a good idea..

I know someone who has one. I find them clumsy to use.

Graham

 

[D from BC]

On Sat, 01 Dec 2007 22:12:02 -0800, D from BC

[snip]

I just thought of a stupid hack idea for a mouse pen...
Requirements
one small ball joint
one plastic disk ..say 2" diameter by 0.5mm thick
one ballpoint pen
one optical mouse

The idea is to mount a regular optical mouse upsidedown and embed it
into the tabletop.
Then a pen is used to move a plastic disk over the mouse.
It's like moving the table instead of the mouse.


D from BC

I flipped a mouse upside down and tried out the idea..
It's actually really nice to move a small disk by itself or steered by
a pen.
It's a low mass, low friction and low pain idea.
I don't have a deathgrip on the mouse and I'm not forcing my hand to
unnaturally conform to a mouse tailored for the average hand.

Mouse clicking can be done on the keyboard using a remap utility.
I'm also trying to figure out how to invert a mouse axis.
But... lost the scroll wheel with the mouse upsidedown.
But one can use a coffee mug as a mouse..


D from BC

 

[Jeff Liebermann]

On Sat, 01 Dec 2007 22:12:02 -0800, D from BC

[snip]

I just thought of a stupid hack idea for a mouse pen...
Requirements
one small ball joint
one plastic disk ..say 2" diameter by 0.5mm thick
one ballpoint pen
one optical mouse

The idea is to mount a regular optical mouse upsidedown and embed it
into the tabletop.
Then a pen is used to move a plastic disk over the mouse.
It's like moving the table instead of the mouse.


D from BC

I flipped a mouse upside down and tried out the idea..
It's actually really nice to move a small disk by itself or steered by
a pen.

Are you looking through a glass table top? If so, methinks the camera
inside the mouse has a limited depth of field and will require
different optics.

It's a low mass, low friction and low pain idea.

Nice idea. I sorta like it.

I don't have a deathgrip on the mouse and I'm not forcing my hand to
unnaturally conform to a mouse tailored for the average hand.

I still prefer a small pen.

Mouse clicking can be done on the keyboard using a remap utility.

or using MS Mousekeys:
<http://www.microsoft.com/enable/training/windows98/MouseKeys.aspx>
<http://cybernetnews.com/2007/11/20/helpful-tip-use-a-keyboard-to-move-the-mouse/>

Incidentally, also try:
Start -> Run -> osk
OSK is "on screen keyboard".

I'm also trying to figure out how to invert a mouse axis.

Ugh. Easy with a mechanical ball and shaft encoder. Not so easy with
an optical mouse using an integrated chip. Perhaps, the driver has
some options to run it as a trackball (inverted mouse)? Some clues,
but no specific instructions:
<http://www.kronosrobotics.com/Anotes/Athena to Optical Mouse.pdf>

But... lost the scroll wheel with the mouse upsidedown.
But one can use a coffee mug as a mouse..

Yep. However, it the mug turns out to be too twitchy, switch to
decafe.

 

[D from BC]

On Sat, 01 Dec 2007 22:12:02 -0800, D from BC

[snip]

I just thought of a stupid hack idea for a mouse pen...
Requirements
one small ball joint
one plastic disk ..say 2" diameter by 0.5mm thick
one ballpoint pen
one optical mouse

The idea is to mount a regular optical mouse upsidedown and embed it
into the tabletop.
Then a pen is used to move a plastic disk over the mouse.
It's like moving the table instead of the mouse.


D from BC

I flipped a mouse upside down and tried out the idea..
It's actually really nice to move a small disk by itself or steered by
a pen.

Are you looking through a glass table top? If so, methinks the camera
inside the mouse has a limited depth of field and will require
different optics.

It's a low mass, low friction and low pain idea.

Nice idea. I sorta like it.

I don't have a deathgrip on the mouse and I'm not forcing my hand to
unnaturally conform to a mouse tailored for the average hand.

I still prefer a small pen.

Mouse clicking can be done on the keyboard using a remap utility.

or using MS Mousekeys:
<http://www.microsoft.com/enable/training/windows98/MouseKeys.aspx>
<http://cybernetnews.com/2007/11/20/helpful-tip-use-a-keyboard-to-move-the-mouse/>

Incidentally, also try:
Start -> Run -> osk
OSK is "on screen keyboard".

I'm also trying to figure out how to invert a mouse axis.

Ugh. Easy with a mechanical ball and shaft encoder. Not so easy with
an optical mouse using an integrated chip. Perhaps, the driver has
some options to run it as a trackball (inverted mouse)? Some clues,
but no specific instructions:
<http://www.kronosrobotics.com/Anotes/Athena to Optical Mouse.pdf>

But... lost the scroll wheel with the mouse upsidedown.
But one can use a coffee mug as a mouse..

Yep. However, it the mug turns out to be too twitchy, switch to
decafe.

No glass table.. I plan on making a hole in the desk and mounting the
a wireless optical mouse flush upsidedown.
Arrrfff! Arrffff!...Time to get the jigsaw out

It's tough to come up with new ideas these days and I see why this
hasn't been done before.. Very few people will want to jigsaw their
desk. I can..
Or perhaps it's an up and coming product..
"The new Ikea embedded mouse desk."

Keyboard remapping doesn't seem like a problem but mouse axis
inverting is..
2 of the Logitech optical mouse utilities I tried have no axis
inversion options.
After some intensive Googling...The most promising solution I found
was a shareware app on
http://www.maf-soft.de/mafmouse/
It's an inverting or rotating mouse filter driver.
He wants $10.00US..

One of my crazy ideas was to try to use a optical trackball driver to
work on a optical mouse.. I think there's no foolery with USB devices.
The Logitech trackball installation app installed a wireless mouse
driver.


D from BC

 

[Roger Hamlett]

On Sat, 01 Dec 2007 22:12:02 -0800, D from BC

[snip]

I just thought of a stupid hack idea for a mouse pen...
Requirements
one small ball joint
one plastic disk ..say 2" diameter by 0.5mm thick
one ballpoint pen
one optical mouse

The idea is to mount a regular optical mouse upsidedown and embed it
into the tabletop.
Then a pen is used to move a plastic disk over the mouse.
It's like moving the table instead of the mouse.


D from BC

I flipped a mouse upside down and tried out the idea..
It's actually really nice to move a small disk by itself or steered by
a pen.

Are you looking through a glass table top? If so, methinks the camera
inside the mouse has a limited depth of field and will require
different optics.

It's a low mass, low friction and low pain idea.

Nice idea. I sorta like it.

I don't have a deathgrip on the mouse and I'm not forcing my hand to
unnaturally conform to a mouse tailored for the average hand.

I still prefer a small pen.

Mouse clicking can be done on the keyboard using a remap utility.

or using MS Mousekeys:
<http://www.microsoft.com/enable/training/windows98/MouseKeys.aspx>
<http://cybernetnews.com/2007/11/20/helpful-tip-use-a-keyboard-to-move-the-mouse/>

Incidentally, also try:
Start -> Run -> osk
OSK is "on screen keyboard".

I'm also trying to figure out how to invert a mouse axis.

Ugh. Easy with a mechanical ball and shaft encoder. Not so easy with
an optical mouse using an integrated chip. Perhaps, the driver has
some options to run it as a trackball (inverted mouse)? Some clues,
but no specific instructions:
<http://www.kronosrobotics.com/Anotes/Athena to Optical Mouse.pdf>

But... lost the scroll wheel with the mouse upsidedown.
But one can use a coffee mug as a mouse..

Yep. However, it the mug turns out to be too twitchy, switch to
decafe.

No glass table.. I plan on making a hole in the desk and mounting the
a wireless optical mouse flush upsidedown.
Arrrfff! Arrffff!...Time to get the jigsaw out

It's tough to come up with new ideas these days and I see why this
hasn't been done before.. Very few people will want to jigsaw their
desk. I can..
Or perhaps it's an up and coming product..
"The new Ikea embedded mouse desk."

Keyboard remapping doesn't seem like a problem but mouse axis
inverting is..
2 of the Logitech optical mouse utilities I tried have no axis
inversion options.
After some intensive Googling...The most promising solution I found
was a shareware app on
http://www.maf-soft.de/mafmouse/
It's an inverting or rotating mouse filter driver.
He wants $10.00US..

One of my crazy ideas was to try to use a optical trackball driver to
work on a optical mouse.. I think there's no foolery with USB devices.
The Logitech trackball installation app installed a wireless mouse
driver.

People who want this, just normally get a digtiser tablet. I have one
here, A4, with a wirless puck, and pen, both work on the same tablet,
and accuracy is lovely. The 'inverted mouse' design, has more to go
wrong, wll be thicker, so 'why re-invent the wheel'...

Best Wishes

 

[D from BC]

On Tue, 04 Dec 2007 16:48:49 GMT, Roger Hamlett

[snip]

People who want this, just normally get a digtiser tablet. I have one
here, A4, with a wirless puck, and pen, both work on the same tablet,
and accuracy is lovely. The 'inverted mouse' design, has more to go
wrong, wll be thicker, so 'why re-invent the wheel'...

Best Wishes

Precision tablets are not cheap. >$200.00 new
An old optical mouse ($10.00 maybe) mounted upside down and embedded
in a tabletop(1) is way cheaper.

(1) For those that has disposable tabletops like myself.
D from BC