New High-Tech PC Mice Make Debut

The mouse, an input device for PCs, was first developed in the U.S. in 1968. As its round body and wire resemble a mouse, it was named after it.

Although its main sensor has developed from a rubber ball to an optic light sensor to a laser sensor, its outer form has remained more or less the same for forty years. There were novel forms of mice introduced once in a while, but were not welcomed by the market.

Recently, however, new high-tech mice that surpass original mouse’s function and form are rapidly being introduced to simple users.

The internet transaction site Auction’s Moon Young-goo noted, “The new mouse’s sales share increased to 15 percent from last year’s 8 percent.” He added, “With more mice with price ranges of 10,000 to 30,000 won, we anticipate higher market share.”

Three-dimensional mouse-

The best of the new high-tech mice is a 3D mouse which you can operate in the air. It allows you to click and even write in the air.

Also called the “air mouse,” this product can be easily used in narrow areas such as in a train or a bus. As there are quite a few who use it while on their back, it has interesting names like “bum mouse” or “lazy mouse.” This product comes out both in cable and wireless. The cable mouse has the advantage of a cheaper price than the wireless one. It is even possible to purchase one for around 10,000 won if you surf the internet.

Without a cable, the wireless mouse is comfortable to use. It is perfect for presentations or as a home theater PC’s remote control. However, it is quite expensive with the price of around 100,000 won.

Pen mouse and finger mouse-

Much interest is given to those products that have changed much from their original form.

A pen-form mouse, which is used just like a pencil or a pen, is very popular among workers in IT and offices who use PCs everyday. With its human body engineering design, it inhibits the original mouse’s side effects of wrist and shoulder pains. The price varies from 20,000 to 100,000 won.

As its name suggests, a finger mouse only requires a finger to operate. The size was reduced, but its basic principle is the same as a typical mouse. You put the mouse between the second finger and click the two buttons with the first. It is even possible to scroll using the wheel in the middle. This product too minimizes wrist and shoulder pains as it can be used in many positions. They are relatively cheap products with prices around 20,000 won.

Mobile phone mouse-

Recently, a mobile phone mouse was introduced.

Samsung Electronics announced a finger mouse phone (SCH-V960, SPH-V9600) on December 19 with an optic sensor. If you touch the navigation key with your fingers, the optic sensor recognizes the finger’s movement and moves the pointer on the screen. As the pointer is easily moveable just like a PC mouse, it is much more comfortable than the original method of finding menus with buttons. A worker at Samsung Electronics said, “With increase in wireless internet usage, mouse usage in mobile phones will also increase.” He went on to say, “In the future, mobile phone mice in the form of related product like adhering sensors on gloves will be introduced.”

mikemoon@donga.com