Replace Your Mouse with Your Finger

A group of seniors at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Massachusetts, have created a three-dimensionally controlled mouse, according to their website. This new mouse was developed by a class of seniors to fulfill a major qualifying project, a graduation requirement at WPI. The mouse is designed to provide the user with true three-dimensional input. The mouse is worn on the user's finger like a ring.

Cursor movement happens when the user moves his/her hand side-to-side, or up and down. These 2-dimensial movements are done along the X-axis (horizontally) and along the Y-axis (vertically) and produce the same cursor motions as a standard mouse on a pad. The user moves his/her hand towards the computer screen or away from the screen (along the Z-axis) to emulate rolling the scroll wheel.

The use of this 3D movement will be especially useful when 3D modeling is being done. Three-dimensional software like CAD or 3D-animation will have one-step motion available at their fingertips (literally.) With a standard mouse, a user can only move through two dimensions at any time. 3D users will often have a second controller to rotate views and models. The WPI mouse combines both controls into one. Another useful trait of the WPI mouse is that the user does not have to move the hand away from the keyboard to use the mouse. Simply move the finger with the mouse attached to it and manipulate the cursor. Future plans to add button functions to the mouse are in the works.

The mouse attaches to a PC through a USB port. No additional drivers are needed! A nearby frame with microphones attached to it tracks the mouse's movements. The Mouse has an emitter, essentially a speaker that broadcasts its position to these antennas. These two devices communicate through a process called TDOA, or time difference of arrival. This is a similar process used in determining a users location with GPS.

Ultrasound waves are emitted from the mouse at certain intervals. The differences in arrival time from the mouse to the frame are evaluated to determine its location. These movements are then processed and transposed to the computer screen as cursor movements.

The mouse prototype weighs in at 10 grams and is one square inch in size. This means that the user won't be weighed done while moving their arm about when working.

This project developed by five undergraduates from WPI will be the cover feature in the June issue of Popular Science. Popular Science chose this 3D wireless mouse as the winner of their PopSci Invention Award. They were chosen as number one out of hundreds of submissions. Congratulations.