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Source: Supplied
A New Zealand company is hoping a tiny mouse can help them take a big bite out of the global computer peripherals market.
Christchurch based Swiftpoint Ltd yesterday released a unique wireless mouse that is half the size of a traditional mouse and can be used on the laptop itself rather than on a pad or desk.
The Swiftpoint Mouse provides all the traditional functions of a mouse, however, it is designed to glide over the palmrest area of the laptop next to the touchpad.
Company CEO and product inventor Grant Odgers describes sales from pre-orders as "exceptional" and is glad to be finally shipping the device.
Odgers came up with the original concept several years ago after becoming frustrated with traditional computer laptop touchpads. He felt that there was a need for a device that worked better in cramped environments such as planes and trains.
His initial designs underwent rigorous testing and development at Canterbury University. The concepts which came from that were shown to media acclaim in 2008 at CEBIT, the European digital technology trade fair.
The new micro mouse is designed to be held like a pen, thereby addressing ergonomic issues usually associated with small mice.
"The pen-like grip makes it feel natural and comfortable to use, and although very small in size, our user testing proved that it is comfortable to use in all hand sizes," said Odgers.
The company claims that the mouse delivers 30-40% more accuracy than a touchpad and their market research indicated a strong global demand for such a device with consumers looking for portability, efficiency and comfort.
The computer mouse market is dominated by global businesses like Logitech and Microsoft. Prices for a mouse can range from $30 for a standard mouse to $250 or more for a high performance wireless device. At $129.95 the Swiftpoint mouse is pitched in the middle of this range.
Remarkably the basic design of the computer mouse has changed little since it was first invented in 1964. The mouse became widely used from 1984 when it was included as part of the Apple Macintosh personal computer system. Its future is less clear however as manufacturers continue to look at touch and near-touch screens as alternatives to mouse pointing.
