Mouseless
Encyclopedia
The Mouseless is a proposed input device
for personal computers. A prototype Mouseless, designed by Pranav Mistry
of the MIT Media Lab
, replaces conventional hardware mouse
with a set of infrared
laser
strobe, an infrared camera
and image recognition software. The laser beam is optically split into a wide beam illuminating an imaginary plane above the working desk. The camera captures the pattern of invisible infrared light as it illuminates user's hand. The user rests the palm on the desk and commands the system in the same way as he or she would do with a conventional mouse.
As of July 2010, the project has been presented to the media but has not been commercialized. According to Mr. Mistry' statement, the fully functional prototype of the Mouseless costs around $20.
Input device
In computing, an input device is any peripheral used to provide data and control signals to an information processing system such as a computer or other information appliance...
for personal computers. A prototype Mouseless, designed by Pranav Mistry
Pranav Mistry
Pranav Mistry is one of the inventors of SixthSense. He is a research assistant and a PhD candidate at MIT Media Lab. Before joining MIT he worked as a UX Researcher with Microsoft. He received Master in Media Arts and Sciences from MIT and Master of Design from IIT Bombay. He has completed...
of the MIT Media Lab
MIT Media Lab
The MIT Media Lab is a laboratory of MIT School of Architecture and Planning. Devoted to research projects at the convergence of design, multimedia and technology, the Media Lab has been widely popularized since the 1990s by business and technology publications such as Wired and Red Herring for a...
, replaces conventional hardware mouse
Mouse (computing)
In computing, a mouse is a pointing device that functions by detecting two-dimensional motion relative to its supporting surface. Physically, a mouse consists of an object held under one of the user's hands, with one or more buttons...
with a set of infrared
Infrared
Infrared light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength longer than that of visible light, measured from the nominal edge of visible red light at 0.74 micrometres , and extending conventionally to 300 µm...
laser
Laser
A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of photons. The term "laser" originated as an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation...
strobe, an infrared camera
Thermographic camera
A thermographic camera or infrared camera is a device that forms an image using infrared radiation, similar to a common camera that forms an image using visible light...
and image recognition software. The laser beam is optically split into a wide beam illuminating an imaginary plane above the working desk. The camera captures the pattern of invisible infrared light as it illuminates user's hand. The user rests the palm on the desk and commands the system in the same way as he or she would do with a conventional mouse.
As of July 2010, the project has been presented to the media but has not been commercialized. According to Mr. Mistry' statement, the fully functional prototype of the Mouseless costs around $20.