Rotational mouse
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A rotational mouse is a type of computer mouse which attempts to expand traditional mouse functionality.[1] The objective of rotational mice is to facilitate three degrees of freedom (3DOF) for human-computer interaction by adding a third dimensional input, yaw (or Rz), to the existing x and y dimensional inputs. There have been several attempts to develop rotating mice, using a variety of mechanisms to detect rotation.[2]
2-balls and 4-sensor sets
Mechanisms using relative measures of rotation: These devices are able to detect that the mouse has rotated by so many degrees, but cannot accurately identify where the rotation started or ended, increasing their tendency to lose orientation.[3]
1985 4 saw the first mention of a rotational mouse by Nomura, H. and Saitoh, A., entitled "mouse" at the IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, vol. 27, no. 6, Novembre 1984. pp. 3423-3424.
Other 2-ball / 4-sensor mouse concepts, patents:
- "Cursor display apparatus" saw a mention of actually rotating objects on screen by rotating the input device, (1989).[4]
- Guaiá - A three degree of freedom mouse (in Portuguese - Guaiá)
- Orientational mouse computer input system, (1992)[5]
- Multi-dimensional input device, (1994).[6]
- Positioning device reporting X, Y and yaw motion, (1995).[7]
- Twin mouse digitizer, (2000).[8]
- Pointing device having rotational sensing mechanisms, (2003).[9]
- Multiple sensor device and method, (2005).[10]
- Multiple sensor device and method, (2008).[11]
Unlike the conventional mouse which senses z-axis and y-axis displacement only, these 2-ball or 2-sensor mice are also able to sense z-axis angular motion, calculated by the two sets of x-y displacement data .
Mechanical ring & rotary encoder
Within these devices rotation is detected by a mechanical ring.[12] This mechanism was promoted by the Canadian company Handview Inc; however it apparently never made it to production.
Gyroscopes or accelerometers
A patent titled "Input device" was the first known application of gyros to a rotating mouse.[13]