Derrick
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Apple’s new Magic Mouse has set a marker for how we will interact with the new multi-touch capable operating systems. Upgrading from optical to laser tracking underneath, it’s the new built in multi-touch trackpad on the top of the mouse that’s attracting all the attention.
Just under the Magic Mouse’s skin is a coating of capacitive sensors covering the inside of the mouse’s plastic top half. This is the same type of sensor used in the iPhone, and they work by using the natural electric conductivity of your body to affect the voltage inside the sensors. Capacitive sensors are very accurate and highly responsive to even a light touch – as long as it’s the touch of skin.
The Magic Mouse has no problems differentiating between a number of gestures and resting your hand thanks to some impressive new programming. The accuracy of capacitive sensors allows for advanced software features like momentum scrolling. The speed of your finger movement is always carefully measured, and if you lift off while moving then the scrolling simply continues at that speed before running down.
Microsoft has already shown off a multi-touch mouse concept with similar capacitive sensors, and although Apple not only owns the trademark on the name Multi-Touch, but has also filed patents relating to “a computer mouse having a touch-sensitive shell capable of accepting multi-touch finger gestures” it seems unlikely that these legalities will stop more multi-touch mice appearing before too long.
Just under the Magic Mouse’s skin is a coating of capacitive sensors covering the inside of the mouse’s plastic top half. This is the same type of sensor used in the iPhone, and they work by using the natural electric conductivity of your body to affect the voltage inside the sensors. Capacitive sensors are very accurate and highly responsive to even a light touch – as long as it’s the touch of skin.
The Magic Mouse has no problems differentiating between a number of gestures and resting your hand thanks to some impressive new programming. The accuracy of capacitive sensors allows for advanced software features like momentum scrolling. The speed of your finger movement is always carefully measured, and if you lift off while moving then the scrolling simply continues at that speed before running down.
Microsoft has already shown off a multi-touch mouse concept with similar capacitive sensors, and although Apple not only owns the trademark on the name Multi-Touch, but has also filed patents relating to “a computer mouse having a touch-sensitive shell capable of accepting multi-touch finger gestures” it seems unlikely that these legalities will stop more multi-touch mice appearing before too long.