Computers

Skymouse puts mouse control on your fingertips

Skymouse puts mouse control on your fingertips
The Skymouse puts cursor control on your fingertips
The Skymouse puts cursor control on your fingertips
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A close view of the Skymouse
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A close view of the Skymouse
The Skymouse puts cursor control on your fingertips
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The Skymouse puts cursor control on your fingertips
The Skymouse from the front
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The Skymouse from the front
A view of the internals of the Skymouse prototype
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A view of the internals of the Skymouse prototype
Another view of the Skymouse prototype
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Another view of the Skymouse prototype
The Skymouse can track a user's finger to control a computer
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The Skymouse can track a user's finger to control a computer
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The humble mouse may have stood the test of time and remains a staple of most desktop setups, but there are an increasing number of devices looking to relegate the mouse to the bottom drawer. The latest is the Skymouse which, like the Mycestro 3D wearable mouse, Genius wireless Ring Mouse and Leap Motion, shifts cursor control from the desk to your fingertips.

Designed by Los Angeles-based Eliott Ephrati, the Skymouse uses infrared LEDs and an infrared camera to track the movement of "Skymouse Pointers" that are worn on the user's fingers. An algorithm then translates these hand movements into onscreen movements of the cursor.

The Skymouse is plug and play and can recognize basic pre-programmed commands, such as left click, right click, middle click and scroll. However, a developer kit will also be offered that will allow "hackers and tinkerers" to create custom commands and gestures.

We're guessing that wearing the Skymouse Pointers could pose some problems for typing, but Ephrati says he plans to release a second version that will work with naked fingers.

Ephrati is currently running a Kickstarter campaign to get the Skymouse into production. A minimum pledge of US$70 will score a Skymouse and four Skymouse pointers if the target goal is reached. Other funding tiers are available, including the hacker pack for $180, which comes with the open model for customization. If all goes well, units should be shipped by April 2014.

The Kickstarter pitch below provides more information on the Skymouse.

Source: Kickstarter

View gallery - 6 images
7 comments
7 comments
MG127
who needs this if you have a LeapMotion?
MG127
Ok, i haven't thought enough about my comment... Give me one reason why i should by this huge, ugly thing that needs external devices (the rings) to work as a mouse instead of spending 9 bugs more to get a leap motion. btw leap motion isn't meant to replace the mouse, just to expand the posibilities.
Joseph Gohu
I'm with MG127. LEAP may not be meant to replace the mouse, but with the range of its possible applications, it certainly has the capacity to.
Captain Danger
Look uncomfortable. I would not want to hold my hand in the air 10-12 hours a day
Daishi
Aside from LeapMotion, the Kinect 1 could identify limb movement and kinect 2 is supposed to identify fingers etc.
Those platform have more potential because they can do some of the heavy lifting in software and processing which will improve at a faster rate over time than the solution Skymouse is using.
Derek Howe
This device will be DOA.
letomreader
actually... i beg to differ
check out their latest update: http://youtu.be/MltCKD6SaAw