WITH TODAY’s computers, inputting, accessing, retrieving and printing information are often handled by means of a mouse. Recently, a spate of new technology has spawned hands-free mice, square mice, oval mice, infrared mice and even ring mice you wear on your finger. Some versions hide under your desk and are operated with your feet. Others are cordless, meaning fewer wires and tangles on your desk, and greater freedom to move around your office while still working on your computer. Still others hardly look like mice at all but are simply small, square pads.

Most mice now are ergonomically designed, fitting comfortably into the palm of your hand and contoured to help prevent wrist fatigue and carpal tunnel syndrome. There are also several alternatives to mice.

Trackballs work on the same basic principle as a mouse, but the rollerball is on top instead of underneath. They became popular when people using portable computers needed built-in mice. Now the device is also available for the desktop PC. Because the roller-ball on a trackball is generally much larger than that on a standard mouse, trackballs are easier to control and are more precise. And while standard desktop mice require a special mouse pad, the trackball can be used on any surface.

Like the trackball, the stationary trackpad does not need a special pad on which to function. You simply activate its electronic sensors with your fingertips, gliding them across the trackpad surface to move your monitor’s arrow, and applying pressure to tap instead of click. Most trackpads have „edge motion,” which continues to move the cursor across your screen even though your finger has reached the edge of the pad. When you lift your finger, the action stops. Because there are no buttons or balls, trackpads are great for southpaws.

Here’s a look at some of the most popular pointing devices available today:

* Cirque: The GlidePoint Touchpad from Cirque is a small, shallow, 4-by-4-inch square box with a touchpad. This unmouse has four buttons to use if you prefer mechanical mouse-type buttons, or until you get the hang of using the pad.

The buttons are programmable for both lefties and righties. To move the cursor, simply glide your fingertip over the pad’s surface. Tap once for a single click, twice to double-click. Tap twice and glide your finger to drag, draw and highlight. The GlidePoint is available for the PC and Macintosh.

* Contour Design: Engineered to relieve repetitive stress injuries, the three-button Contour Mouse comes in three sizes to fit your hand. Size is measured from the base of the palm to the tip of the middle finger; buyers can place their hands on a guide on the outside of the package to determine the size they need.

Contour’s research found mouse users need an open, relaxed design rather than the standard, curved design. The fingers need to be elevated, the palm raised and supported, and the wrist lifted off the desktop. The mouse is available for PCs and will be available for Macintosh users later this year.

* Gyration: A miniature gyroscope powers the GyroPoint Desk. A traditional mouse that uses a mouse pad, it can also be used as a remote device. With the 10-foot cord, you can sit back and relax while logging on to online services, scrolling through e-mail and conducting other nonkeyboard computer work. Two buttons control cursor and point-and-click functions. Available for both the Macintosh and PC.

* Hunter Digital: Look, Ma, no hands! Anyone who’s suffered with carpal tunnel syndrome or hand cramps might consider the No-Hands Mouse. Using foot pedals instead of a desktop mouse, you can let your feet do the walking–or, rather, controlling. One pedal controls the cursor speed and direction; the other is a clicking device.

While it takes a little practice to master the pedals, you may gain productivity by eliminating keyboard-to-mouse movements. The pedals are 10 inches long, 1.5 inches high and 4 inches wide. The NoHands Mouse is compatible with PCs and Macintoshes.

* Interlink Electronics: If you type better on your feet or can’t sit still, the cordless RemotePointPlus mouse is for you. This infrared model has a range of 40 feet to a receiver that plugs into a computer port and sits on your desk or monitor. Long and narrow, the device fits neatly in the hand. The large center button controls cursor direction and speed; four smaller buttons can be programmed for shortcuts and favorite „tools.” A one-click button is located underneath the device like a trigger and acts as a small stand when RemotePointPlus is not in use.

Another model from Interlink is perfect for heavy-handed users. Made of stainless steel, the DuraPoint combination mouse-and-pad has been run over by an 18-wheel semitrailer to prove its durability. Although not ergonomically designed, the „world’s toughest mouse” is a waterproof, compact rectangle measuring 5 by 4.25 inches. There’s a mouse „joystick” for your thumb on top, as well as two small pads thast act as highly pressure-sensitive buttons for optimal precision. While the $279 price is admittedly high, DuraPoint can be used alone or integrated into control panels, specialized keyboards and custom computers.

July, 1996  by Jill Amadio