Light pen, using as the  input devices in the  computer systems and in the special computer graphic system as graphic tablets or tablet PC,  now are for Web and Graphic Designers, Fine Artists , Photographers and any general computer users.

Touchpads, first introduced on laptops, are now available for desktop use as well. Since they require less force to operate, they may help reduce stress on your fingers and hands.

Best choice of devices  embedded to keyboard are  trackball or touchpad.    

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Computer Mice

Variety of Computer Mice: The computer mouse is the most common input device, which allows the user to control a cursor on the monitor screen to manipulate data without complicated commands. Buttons on the mouse enable selections to be made from menus, movement of objects around the screen, and painting or drawing.

Now mice exist in different shapes and sizes.

Design and Functional variety of the mice

Mice technologies	Interfaces	Type of connection with desktop	Type of design	Ergonomic types	Kiddy mice	Color	Manufacturer of mouse families
Mechanical	Bus-card	Cable	Classic	Microsoft ergonomic mice	Smaller size	White	Microsoft
Optical	Infrared	Cordless via Infrared	PS/2 Wheel mouse	3M Renaissance (Fentek Industries, Inc)	Flash(PC KidStuff)	Black	Belkin
Opto-mechanical	PS/2	Cordless via radio frequency	2 buttons and 2 wheels	Ergonomic Finger Track Mouse (Fentek Industries, Inc.)	White Dalmatian (PC KidStuff)	Grey	Logitech
Rolling Mouse (Counter Design,  Inc)	USB		6 buttons (IBM)	Foot Mice          ( Hunter Digital)	FT Radio (PC Kidstuff)	blue/orange/ white/ purple, etc.	Gyration
Intelligent technologies	Serial Port		Intellectual mouse  (Microsoft)	Rolling Mouse Station (Contour Design, Inc)			Universal Desktop systems
			Vertical mouse (Fentek Industries, Inc, Evoluent)	The Perfit Mouse  (Contour Design, Inc)			Memorex
			Foot mouse				IBM
			Free-space (Gyration, Inc)				Contour Design, Inc.
			Special form for gift				Fentek Industries

Optical mice: One of the latest developments  in mice,  is the replacement of the inner wheels and ball necessary for positioning the pointer on the screen, to an optical mechanism. Optical mouse doesn't need a pad, doesn't have dust contamination problems, and less space occupied. It has  more free flying and less pressure on palm, convenient and more precise positioning cursor on the screen. Optical mouse usually needs no more than 4 sq. cm   to map a full screen; for this type of mice the dynamic resolution varying from 360 to 2000dpi.

Intellectual mouse: Microsoft Wireless IntelliMouse Explorer utilizes three intelligent technologies:

• Intelligent Touch – The mouse knows when you're there and when you're not. Unique sensors recognize the presence of your hand and immediately engage the optical technology. When your hand is removed, the mouse reverts to a sleep mode, conserving battery power. The benefit is that when you're there, the mouse is on – when you're not, it rests.

• Intelligent Illumination – The Wireless IntelliMouse Explorer shines the light brightly to illuminate it on a dark surface and dimly on a light-colored surface allowing the mouse to save battery power.

• Intelligent Surface Detection – The mouse knows when it is lifted off a surface and it drops into a low power mode to save battery power.

 Ergonomic mice: Active  users and Internet explorers are increasingly using the computer mice for input any information into computers. As a result of this extended "unnatural" or non-neutral posture many people are experiencing hand, wrist and shoulder problems such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) and Repetitive Stress Injury (RSJ). The Ergonomic computer mice for active  users are designed to avoid  hands strain. They are sculpted to fall naturally under fingers, and have an asymmetric tilt to support  the wrist at a natural angle. Now many  companies are manufacturing the different kinds  mice with ergonomic design.

The 3M Renaissance™ Vertical Mouse (Fentek Industries, Inc.) has been clinically proven to relieve pressure from the "Median Nerve" in the wrist when mousing. The Vertical Mouse has a truly ergonomic shape that supports the hand in a natural, comfortable handshake position. This has been shown to reduce muscle load and the incidence of discomfort associated with disorders such as CTS and RSJ. Another type of the vertical mouse, developed by Evoluent LLC, allow also  to reduce lateral arm extension. Your thumb rests on a ledge, and your four fingers wrap around the right side. There are four buttons (three for your fingers and one for your thumb), which you can program for repetitive tasks. It also has a scroll wheel.

The Perfit mouse (Contour Design, Inc): Sculpted, elevated buttons reduce load on fingertips, and enable the hand to remain open with fingers extended in ready position for quick button activation. Thumb support reduces thumb pinch force, known to increase risk of CTS. Tilted palm support allows hand to rock freely preventing static grip. Elevated wrist support reduces wrist pressure, maintains straighter alignment and minimizes lateral deviation. Programmable buttons help accomplish tasks faster and easier. It is available in five right-handed models, and three left-handed models. 

Biometric Mouse (Fingerprint). This is not only a regular mouse but a stand-alone fingerprint reader, accessed by authorized people only. This mouse allows only registered users to access the computer. User can activate screensaver when they are away.  

 

The RollerMouse Station (Keyalt.com) is built with a rollerbar that controls the cursor and can be manipulated with either the thumbs or the fingertips, requiring no gripping. The RollerMouse Station  helps prevent strain and tension of upper extremity muscles including shoulders and elbows. The RollerMouse Station also helps eliminate repetitive reaching for a mouse, trackball or touchpad because its controls are centrally located beneath the space bar.

Wireless  Mouse (Gyration, Inc) gives cordless freedom in a comfortable way. This type of mouse provides a true clutter-free desktop, without extra cords.  Gyration Ultra Cordless Optical Mouse is rechargeable, and gives  25 ft. of the freedom to move away from  a desk without sacrificing precise and reliable cursor control.

Kids mouse: Kids have smaller hands than adults, therefore computer  mice for kids must be made usually in 50-70 % size of regular mice to be able to handle easily without straining their fingers reaching for the buttons. Plus, you can keep your existing mouse installed and have the Kid mouse in an additional port, so Mom or  Dad can still use theirs.

Immersion TouchSense^TM    (Immersion Corp.)  technology enhances  computing and gaming experience by engaging user's sense of touch. Immersion TouchSense-enabled mice let  feel menus on  desktop or hyperlinks on the Internet by translating visual information to tactile feedback sensations. In Microsoft® Word and Excel, user can feel text and cell contents. In games, Immersion TouchSense-enabled game controllers let user experience an explosion's reverberations or the centrifugal pull of rounding a race track.

Tel-mouse is  computer mouse with integrated telephone and rolling scroller function. This mouse allows to talk on the phone while working on the computer hands free.

One Finger Mouse. This is 3D space mouse. The ergonomic design of this 3-button finger mouse/trackball combination is ideal  for home , office or the mobile traveler.

The UNOTRON ScrollSeal Washable Optical Mouse uses patented SpillSeal® Technology and has been tested to the international standards of IP66 and Nema4X. Design of this mouth lets you wash and sterilize it in antibacterial solutions and rinse under a tap to reduce spread of germs.

Iogear introduced its Germ Free Wireless Laser Mouse which automatically protects users from germs and bacteria by leveraging a unique auto-disinfecting surface. This Mouse has a special coating made of titanium oxide and silver nanoparticles that  kills bacteria 99 percent of the time. It is designed for use in highly-trafficked public areas, such as offices, libraries and schools and is able to inhibit a wide range of antibodies, viruses and algae.

 

Tips for Choosing a Mouse

If you are a heavy computer user, you must have the best mouse. The mice that are bundled with many computers today are cheaply made and quickly fall victim to dust contamination.  Here are some issues to consider:

• Don't make mistakes: see tips on page Finding the best computer for the best price.

• Optical mouse: With an optical mouse for your computer you will not have problem with mouse pad, dust , etc.

• Wireless mouse: A wireless mouse reduces clutter by deleting an  extra wire from your work place.

• Cord Length: Don't pick a traditional mouse with a short cord. Most mouse makers have the wisdom to put a 6 foot (2 meter) cord on their mice, but some cheapies come with a short cord.

• Resolution: Resolution  for a mouse is the smallest movement that the mouse can distinguish, usually measured in dots per inch. For example, a 600dpi mouse can detect movements of as little as 1/600th of an inch. Most modern mice fall between 350dpi and 600dpi; higher resolutions mean that you can tune the mouse up to a faster speed and get cleaner, higher precision cursor placement.

• Number of Buttons: Classic mouse for PC has 2 buttons, for Mac - one button. If you work with the mouse which has a middle button or a wheel (roller) or trackball on its top, you may find that such mouse is more useful. The mouse wheel allows users to scroll through pages without having to move the cursor to the scroll bar.

• Interface: All Mac mice use the ADB (Apple Desktop Bus) interface, while PC mice can use either a 9-pin serial port or a dedicated mouse port.

• Software: Many mice with additional buttons or a wheel, will come with the software. This software allows for the buttons to be programmed differently.

• Size: You need a mouse that's sized for you hand. Don't select a mouse that requires stretching of the fingers in order to hold on; the result can be hand fatigue.  A good rule  is to choose a mouse that isn't much wider than your first three fingers held closely together.

• Mouse Pad: For traditional mice the quality of the mouse pad can have serious effects on the rate of dust contamination and the precision of mouse tracking. Cloth-topped mouse pads can collect dust and will eventually contribute more to dirt in the mouse than no pad at all. The best pads are topped with firm, smooth plastic; they are easily cleaned and allow for smooth tracking.

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Touchpads

Cirque GlidePoint technology offers the user complete cursor control, packed in a space-saving, low-friction, extremely durable pad on which the user's finger glides. Touchpads have been used as compact input devices on laptop computers, and are now available as separate input devices for desktop computers. Below the electrically-insulating surface lies a sophisticated sensor system which responds to the most precise finger movements. The system is based on electrical capacitance and does not require pressure or direct contact. No strain is placed on the finger and cursor control is smooth and effortless.

  Synaptics TouchPads are found in a majority of touch pad-enabled notebooks today, in addition to desktop keyboards, remote controls, other peripherals, Internet appliances, and handheld devices. Synaptics TouchPads are available in a variety of sizes, electrical interfaces and thicknesses, including our latest TouchPad introduction,   HyperThin™.

  Synaptics cPad™ is an LCD-equipped TouchPad™ that provides notebook users with a secondary display as well as superior touch interface and navigation. Utilizing Synaptics capacitive ClearPad™ touch screen technology, the cPad™ serves as both a navigation device for cursor control, and as a platform for interactive information display.

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Trackballs

Trackball is a computer cursor control device. Trackballs actually predate mice; when Douglas Englebart conceived the original mouse, he imagined it as an inverted trackball. Essentially, the trackball is an upside-down mouse that rotates in place within a socket. The user rolls the ball to direct the cursor to the desired place on the screen and can click one of two buttons (identical to mouse buttons) near the trackball to select desktop objects or position the cursor for text entry.

  Expert Mouse® Pro Wireless Trackball (Kensington Technology Group ) has following features:

• Wireless connection  giving user the freedom to work

• Four Programmable mouse buttons allow user to handle repetitive mouse tasks with a single click

• Six Direct Launch buttons offer one touch access to users favorite Web sites or applications

Microsoft TrackBall Optical is created on the basis of   a revolutionary Microsoft Optical Technology. User  gets high performance along with thumb-controlled precision, advanced features, and comfort - all in one affordable package. Trackball scans virtually any surface,  has no parts to get dirty and impair performance. Accelerated scrolling reacts to how quickly user rolls the wheel, allowing faster movements when he wants it.

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Light Pen systems

 A Light pen systems  include a pen, interface device and special monitor (Graphic tablets, or Tablet PC). The pen  is a hand-held electro-optical pointing device which when touched to or aimed closely at a connected computer monitor, will allow the computer to determine where on that screen the pen is aimed. The light pen is used directly on the monitor screen and does not require any special hand/eye coordination skills. Pushing the light pen tip against the screen activates a switch which allows the user to make menu selections, draw, paint, and perform other input functions. 

Light pens of UDS. Universal Desktop Systems  (Microspeed, Inc & Design Technology) has been an original equipment manufacturer  of light pen products since 1978.  UDS continues to manufacture over 100 different models of light pens to cover the broad spectrum of technology that exists in the market. UDS issues the different types of interface devices (ISA, USB, PCI, etc.) ,  internal and external .

The PenWand ( Interactive Computer Products, Inc. ) provides the user  CRT Light Pen control and Barcode data entry in one hand-held instrument.

Don't confuse Computer light pens with  light pens and penlight of Apinex (Canada) and Lightup pens of Bluetrack company. This devices allows users to write and read on the paper in dark. Perfect for conference speakers, doctors, nurses, policemen and others.

Light pens in Graphic Tablets and Tablet PC: Graphics tablet is a flat pad on which you can write or draw on with a pressure sensitive stylus (like a pen) or other pointing device for high-end graphics design, and photo, and video editing. Graphic tablets usually are able to register pressure as well as position, allowing art and photo retouching applications to use the pressure sensor to control the brush width or color intensity.  Movement across the pad is mirrored by drawing on the monitor screen. In fact, many people prefer this combination over the use of the mouse for several reasons. It does not require the hand to remain in the same - cramped - position for long periods of time, and its precision in positioning is better. The pen also allows user to draw. A function which the mouse is poorly suited for. The  batteryless, cordless Grip Pens ( Wacom, Inc. ) have  512-1024  levels of pressure sensitivity. This cushioned pen reduces  grip effort by up to 40% so that user can work comfortably with less stress.

Comparison-shopping Center: You can use directly the Comparison-shopping Center to buy on the Internet a product with the lowest price.

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