Microsoft invents the Arc Mouse

MICROSOFT HAS knocked out some half decent PC mouse designs in its time and its shape-shifting Arc Mouse should be the same.

The Vole's opening marketing salvo is that we all thought the mouse was dead, right? Well, no. Digital interfaces have evolved, while the mouse has remained resolutely little changed, but that doesn't signal its impending demise. It tells us that the mouse wasn't broken so it hasn't needed fixing and all manner of gesture interface foo can't yet replace the effective functionality that is provided by the mouse.

That doesn't mean Microsoft can't try, however, and the Arc Mouse is its latest attempt. It flattens when pressed for a more comfortable user experience and Microsoft has added a touch scroll strip. It really looks like the Vole let the ergonomics team run amok without a thought for selling something that might resemble an actual mouse. It's basically collapsible, going from curved to flat in one move, and it is designed to be very small for mobile use.

The Arc Mouse has a capacitive sensor for touch scrolling and can pick up velocity to correspond with mouse scroll speed. Rather strangely, Microsoft has added haptic technology to mimic the effect of the scroll wheel bump so the touch strip doesn't feel too alien. It also comes with Blue Track technology, which Microsoft said means the Arc Mouse can be used on any surface, and two AA batteries that should give six months use.

The Arc Mouse is due to ship in the US on 1 December and then in January elsewhere. It is priced at $69.95 in the US so expect it to cost more when it's out in the UK. µ