Computers

The Mycestro 3D wearable mouse

The Mycestro 3D wearable mouse
The Mycestro 3D space recognition to control your computer (Photo: Innovative Developments LLC)
The Mycestro 3D space recognition to control your computer (Photo: Innovative Developments LLC)
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The Mycestro 3D wireless mouse that attaches to your index finger to track hand motions (Photo: Innovative Developments LLC)
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The Mycestro 3D wireless mouse that attaches to your index finger to track hand motions (Photo: Innovative Developments LLC)
The 3D mouse is activated by using your thumb (Image: Innovative Developments LLC)
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The 3D mouse is activated by using your thumb (Image: Innovative Developments LLC)
The Mycestro 3D space recognition to control your computer (Photo: Innovative Developments LLC)
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The Mycestro 3D space recognition to control your computer (Photo: Innovative Developments LLC)
The Mycestro device is the size of a Bluetooth earpiece (Image: Innovative Developments LLC)
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The Mycestro device is the size of a Bluetooth earpiece (Image: Innovative Developments LLC)
The device is designed to be worn on the index finger of either hand (Image: Innovative Developments LLC)
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The device is designed to be worn on the index finger of either hand (Image: Innovative Developments LLC)
The Mycestro device is inactive until you touch and hold anywhere on its side panel (Image: Innovative Developments LLC)
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The Mycestro device is inactive until you touch and hold anywhere on its side panel (Image: Innovative Developments LLC)
A touch sensitive panel provides capability to control cursor movement in 3D space, left, right, and middle mouse clicks, scroll and zoom (Photo: Innovative Developments LLC)
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A touch sensitive panel provides capability to control cursor movement in 3D space, left, right, and middle mouse clicks, scroll and zoom (Photo: Innovative Developments LLC)
The current 3D mouse also enables users to personalize programmable gesture commands in addition to the normal mouse functions (Photo: Innovative Developments LLC)
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The current 3D mouse also enables users to personalize programmable gesture commands in addition to the normal mouse functions (Photo: Innovative Developments LLC)
The 3D mouse uses a combination of sensors and algorithms to collect finger movement information (Photo: Innovative Developments LLC)
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The 3D mouse uses a combination of sensors and algorithms to collect finger movement information (Photo: Innovative Developments LLC)
The Mycestro™ device has a range of 30 ft (9.1 m) (Image: Innovative Developments LLC)
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The Mycestro™ device has a range of 30 ft (9.1 m) (Image: Innovative Developments LLC)
The device incorporates Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy (BLE) Protocol (Image: Innovative Developments LLC)
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The device incorporates Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy (BLE) Protocol (Image: Innovative Developments LLC)
The 3D mouse is charged via USB and this should provide eight hours of battery life (Image: Innovative Developments LLC)
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The 3D mouse is charged via USB and this should provide eight hours of battery life (Image: Innovative Developments LLC)
Innovative Developments LLC founder Nick Mastandrea has been working on the Mycestro™ design for around two years (Photo: Innovative Developments LLC)
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Innovative Developments LLC founder Nick Mastandrea has been working on the Mycestro™ design for around two years (Photo: Innovative Developments LLC)
The airplane fold down table that was the original inspiration for the design (Image: Innovative Developments LLC)
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The airplane fold down table that was the original inspiration for the design (Image: Innovative Developments LLC)
Kickstarter prices range from US $79 for a white version, and US$ 99 for a choice of colors (Photo: Innovative Developments LLC)
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Kickstarter prices range from US $79 for a white version, and US$ 99 for a choice of colors (Photo: Innovative Developments LLC)
The Innovative Developments LLC team hopes to have the first products available for delivery in the October 2013 time-frame (Photo: Innovative Developments LLC)
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The Innovative Developments LLC team hopes to have the first products available for delivery in the October 2013 time-frame (Photo: Innovative Developments LLC)
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While we now have scroll-wheels, wireless connections and touch-surfaces, the basic form factor of the computer mouse remains remarkably similar to the box-with-a-button first demonstrated by Douglas C. Engelbart back in 1968. This doesn't mean there haven't been attempts to shake-up mouse design though, and the latest to cross our desk is the Mycestro 3D mouse – a thumb-activated, wireless mouse that attaches to your index finger.

The traditional mouse has its limitations when it comes to certain human-computer interface scenarios we find ourselves in these days: the cramped train commute, crowded coffee shop, and not forgetting the airplane fold down table that was the original inspiration for the Mycestro design.

The founder of Ohio-based Innovative Developments LLC Nick Mastandrea has been working on the design for around two years. The current prototype uses 3D space recognition to control your computer without any requirement for dedicated mouse space or a touch pad on your device.

The Mycestro is the size of a Bluetooth earpiece and designed to be worn on the index finger. It uses a combination of sensors and algorithms to collect finger movement information and a touch sensitive panel located on the side of the finger closest to the thumb. Like removing your hand from the mouse, the Mycestro is inactive until you touch and hold anywhere on its side panel, which means you can type or make a coffee without having to remove it. Once the cursor becomes active, finger movements combined with the active thumb press direct it to the desired location, whilst further thumb motions on the touch panel button sections provide a full range of mouse clicks and scroll functionality. The 3D mouse also enables users to personalize programmable gesture commands in addition to the usual mouse functions, such as a flick or swipe movements.

The Innovative Developments LLC team hopes to have the first products available for delivery in the October 2013 time-frame (Photo: Innovative Developments LLC)
The Innovative Developments LLC team hopes to have the first products available for delivery in the October 2013 time-frame (Photo: Innovative Developments LLC)

The Mycestro uses Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy (BLE) Protocol to give it a range of 30 ft (9.1 m). It's compatible with Bluetooth Smart Ready devices including iPads, MacBooks, and any PC with a compatible BLE dongle. According to its creators, Android devices should be on-line by the end of the year. The current version has two interchangeable clip sizes to cater for different digits an it's charged via USB, with one charge said to provide eight hours of battery life depending on usage.

A Kickstarter campaign is underway to raise funds for tooling and a preproduction prototype run. The Innovative Developments LLC team hopes to have the first products available for delivery around October 2013. Kickstarter prices range from US $79 for a white version, and US$ 99 for a choice of colors.

The video below provides a brief introduction to the Mycestro development process.

Source: Innovative Developments LLC via Kickstarter

Mycestro Intro

View gallery - 16 images
8 comments
8 comments
Tony Smale
How does this compare to the cheaper priced leapmotion system which tracks 10 fingers in realtime without having to wear anything? Is there some benefit I'm not seeing here? Obviously as the product is funded there is a market for it, I would have just thought there were better mouse alternatives in 2013
splatman
@Tony Smale, I'd see it as useful for controlling my media computer while watching TV. Also, controlling an electronic whiteboard, or interacting with Powerpoint, in a lecturing situation. I'm tempted to sign up for one.
The leapmotion (which I have on order) is more suited to use with desk-bound situation (well, I hope it will be!)
Two different devices, serving quite different use cases.
attoman
This pointer is somewhat similar to the felix from 1988. The difference is the felix used the index finger/thumb for pointing and had a pleasant positive microswitch select. Also it didn't require fittinv or constAnt cleaning.
Noah Zerkin
Wearable input devices for wearable computers. Funded. Nuff said.
Sylvio Deutsch
Are they making it for left handed people also?
Duuude
I hope they don't try to patent it. Two words: Prior (http://www.gizmag.com/go/6922/) art (http://www.gizmag.com/genius-wireless-ring-mouse-release/18639/).
Mike Dar
How does it function with Adobe, Autodesk and other like major software program suppliers? For instance, 3DConnextion Space Pilot Pro has almost 100 programs it can work with in 3D. While large and bulky, costly, functionality is all most care about.
VolkerArndt
I would love to read a review about this device: www.indexmouse.com It seems to do the same job, but it looks better and is even cheaper.
Wearable devices are the future.