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Apple Patents: Optical Touch Pad Mouse?

please keep your flame throwers at stun for my humble opinion. i am a fan of the multi-button mouse yes, but what just struck me is that it may be beneficial for apple to offer a multi-button mouse for an interesting reason. for many who consider switching from peecee to mac, i have heard the complaint that macs come with a one button mouse and they are used to a multi-button mouse (also a scroll wheel). though it may be minor, since you can of course purchase one aftermarket, but many people expect to get just that with their $1000 plus purchase of a new machine. just something for apple to consider... and further more, when you consider how long computers have been around now and everyone including my 4 year old nephew knows how to use a multi-button mouse with a scroll wheel, isn't it about time "hell froze over"?... the flame throwing may commence ;)
 
holy [bleep]!!!! i just figured out how apple can easily make everyone happy including those [cough] people who still like the one-button kiddie mouse... ok, ok, just kidding it's really a good idea though...

you take apple's current pro bluetooth mouse (which of course is a beautiful design) and make it pressure sensitive to clicking on the left or right side of the mouse (two buttons) and throw in the scroll wheel, like the concept posted earlier in the thread. here's the kicker, apple simply needs to add a "mouse functionality" preference pane, that would allow the mouse to be used as one button (whichever button/side you click it acts as one button), or could be adjusted for two buttons, etc. to take it step further, the default ould be set for one-button and when you first boot you machine out of the box or newly install the system, part of the set up process would be mouse functionality. even if you drop the scroll wheel to keep it closer to the mouse's current design, atleast incorporate the second button concept and give us an option... see, that's not such a bad idea [running from flame throwers].
 
klaus said:
scrolling along a touchpad..that sounds really weird to me.. i've simulated here, on my mouse, and it feels so akward.. the scroller with steps feels so much more natural to me, with an emphasis on "me"
Click to expand...

I use the left and bottom edges of my PowerBook track pad to scroll all the time. It's really great, and isn't at all unintuitive or awkward...
 
Stella said:
This idea isn't new. I've seen mice like this before.. in fact there was a mouse like this in the company I work for...
Click to expand...

Well, the US Patent and Trademark office would tend to disagree with you. There's something about this that is definitely new. Don't necessarily trust just the images. If you want to know what's new, read the claims on the patent...
 
marke said:
Right clicks are for PC losers who need to keep one hand free while using their computers. Multi button mice are ergonomic nightmares that don't come close to touching what you can do with the keyboard. Start using your Mac like a Mac and you will realize this too.
Click to expand...

For the record, I've been a Mac user for more than seventeen years. I only use PCs when I have to. However, when I'm doing serious productivity work, I prefer to use a multi-button trackball (typically, I prefer a three or four button trackball). There are some mice or trackballs that are not 'ergonomic nightmares'.

However, when I'm on the road with my PowerBook, I quite readily use cntrl-click, cmd-click, opt-click, etc.

rdowns said:
Posts like this are for losers. Right clicking is far more efficient for many tasks than reaching for the keyboard, mousing up to a menu or over to scroll bar. Best of all, you have a choice of how you'd like to do it.

95% of the population uses Windows and 2 button mice. For Apple to still hold that a one button mouse is best is ridiculous. Just another in the long list of things that causes people not to consider Macs.
Click to expand...

A couple of comments...

I've helped many, many people that hate multi-button mice (both Mac and Windows users). I've been somewhat surprised by the number of people who don't understand how to use the right mouse button properly. These are the people that the single button mouse on the Mac is aimed at, that and the user interface that doesn't require a right mouse button. In the Mac OS everything that you can do with the contextual menu can be done by other means.

I think that the persistence of the single button mouse serves some purposes, but a multi-button mouse as an option, especially for the Power Macs, would be a very good move. Either that, or allow the substituting of a third party mouse for the Apple mouse at the time of order. (Apple's contention that for people who want multi-button mice there are plenty of choices being what it is...)
 
GO CHECK THIS OUT, PLEASE!!!!

Guess what, guys... I've already invented that mouse!
Just check this Mac-forums thread:

http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4238

I didn't register THAT patent, though, and sent my drawings to Apple anyway... Was it a stupid thing to do, letting them get advantage of my idea? If they DO come up with a mouse like that, I don't regret it, and I'm surely buying one!!! :D
Btw, what do you think of my concept of mouse?
 
marke said:
Use both hands and there is no reaching. Suddenly your keyboard and it's trillions of shortcuts are available as if they were a 100+ button mouse. And they are set up exactly the same no matter whose Mac you happen to be using.
Click to expand...

There are many times I use the KB and its shortcuts. When I read this forum, I'm usually in my desk chair reclining back with feet up and the TV on. Using a KB sucks, a multi button mouse and scrool wheel are the way to go.
 
Mainyehc said:
Guess what, guys... I've already invented that mouse!
Just check this Mac-forums thread:

http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4238

I didn't register THAT patent, though, and sent my drawings to Apple anyway... Was it a stupid thing to do, letting them get advantage of my idea? If they DO come up with a mouse like that, I don't regret it, and I'm surely buying one!!! :D
Btw, what do you think of my concept of mouse?
Click to expand...

Well, if what they patented is really what you sent them, then their patent is invalid, as they didn't invent it. So, I'd guess that there is something specific in the claims on their patent that is new and different than what you sent them (or that you came up with it after they applied for the patent).
 
Snowy_River said:
I think that the persistence of the single button mouse serves some purposes, but a multi-button mouse as an option, especially for the Power Macs, would be a very good move. Either that, or allow the substituting of a third party mouse for the Apple mouse at the time of order. (Apple's contention that for people who want multi-button mice there are plenty of choices being what it is...)
Click to expand...

It absoutely serves a purpose but not on a $2,000+ iMac or PM. For Apple to charge their high prices and sell you a 1980's technology mouse is a slap in the face. I say include the one button on the eMac and go back to how they used to sell KBs separately, only mice too. When I was a reseller, many opted for the $75 basic keyboard and not the $133 Extended KB. I see no reason they can't do that today with mice and KBs.

There are so many criticisms of Apple (real and imagined). It is so frustrating for them not to address the ones that can be solved overnight.
 
Mainyehc said:
Guess what, guys... I've already invented that mouse!
Just check this Mac-forums thread:

http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4238

I didn't register THAT patent, though, and sent my drawings to Apple anyway... Was it a stupid thing to do, letting them get advantage of my idea? If they DO come up with a mouse like that, I don't regret it, and I'm surely buying one!!! :D
Btw, what do you think of my concept of mouse?
Click to expand...

sorry mate beat ya to it.

my thread was posted 05-06-2002.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/4589/
 
Mr Jobs said:
sorry mate beat ya to it.

my thread was posted 05-06-2002.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/4589/
Click to expand...

There IS something specific in my concept... Clicking the mouse while touching the touchpad can result in Ctrl-clicking, if the user configures that option... Apple could then provide us with a functionality similar to the right clicking, without putting any extra buttons in their gorgeous mouse...
Besides, your concept clearly shows TWO buttons... I'm not suggesting two buttons, just one OR two configurable scrollpads! (no hard feelings) :p
 
Touchpad Mouse

I think the idea of making the whole front end of a mouse (the part where the buttons usually are) into a touchpad is very very interesting. For design people, the touchpad could track much slower than actually moving to mouse so you could etch in details carefully. For experienced users who want 2 or 3 buttons, different areas of the trackpad could be configured to left click, right click or scroll. For people who want to keep it simple, the whole tracking area can be one button. After playing with an ipod mini and feeling how comfortably the touchwheel can 'click', I believe this idea is totally viable.
 
I think this could prove to be a leap over two button mouse and scroll wheels, showing once again that Apple can revolutionise...
 
I have two Kensington Studio mice wired version w/ the touchpad scroll wheel, and absolutely love it. Some people say they don't like it but it takes time getting used too. Kensington has also improved the Studio mouse touch scroll pad in recent shipping units and they are smoother and more responsive. The first one I bought over a year ago was good but the new one I bought a month ago for Home use is even better, they both look identical though the only diff is the Model # and the cord looks different.

It looks Like Kensington beat Apple with this idea. I would love to see an apple version with a scroll wheel and three buttons though anyhow my Kensington Studio mice will serve me well for now. The only complaint I have about the Kensington studio mouse is that the white rubberized sides get dirty very fast.
 
mrsebastian said:
holy [bleep]!!!! i just figured out how apple can easily make everyone happy including those [cough] people who still like the one-button kiddie mouse... ok, ok, just kidding it's really a good idea though...

you take apple's current pro bluetooth mouse (which of course is a beautiful design) and make it pressure sensitive to clicking on the left or right side of the mouse (two buttons) and throw in the scroll wheel, like the concept posted earlier in the thread. here's the kicker, apple simply needs to add a "mouse functionality" preference pane, that would allow the mouse to be used as one button (whichever button/side you click it acts as one button), or could be adjusted for two buttons, etc. to take it step further, the default ould be set for one-button and when you first boot you machine out of the box or newly install the system, part of the set up process would be mouse functionality. even if you drop the scroll wheel to keep it closer to the mouse's current design, atleast incorporate the second button concept and give us an option... see, that's not such a bad idea [running from flame throwers].
Click to expand...

I'm throwing my hat in the ring for this idea. I think this would not only rate high on the "cool" factor list, it would be very functional and remove this long running debate! Just being able to use a "right side" click to engage expose` would be cool. Make it bluetooth w/rechargable batteries.
 
Snowy_River said:
I use the left and bottom edges of my PowerBook track pad to scroll all the time. It's really great, and isn't at all unintuitive or awkward...
Click to expand...


How do you do this? I do not see that option anywhere in the settings. Am I missing something or is there some third party software you need to install?
 
aswitcher said:
I think this could prove to be a leap over two button mouse and scroll wheels, showing once again that Apple can revolutionise...
Click to expand...

True...after just, oh, 20 years, they've come up with something amazing in mouse technology. ;)
 
macnews said:
How do you do this? I do not see that option anywhere in the settings. Am I missing something or is there some third party software you need to install?
Click to expand...

The hardware fully supports this, but Apple's driver for their track pads don't currently. So, there's an alternate driver called SideTrack that you can download and install. Here's the link.
 
jsw said:
True...after just, oh, 20 years, they've come up with something amazing in mouse technology. ;)
Click to expand...

No, it took Steve Jobs the last 5-6 years to get over his ego and release a new mouse interface...now that is a big deal ;) :p
 
cschilderink said:
Im guessing this while replace the click button but also add a button similar to the scroll wheel on many PC mice.
Click to expand...

More a little touch pad ontop of the mouse, which I guess will be programmable to either move the screen around, move the mouse pointer around etc
 
gotohamish said:
Think of the iPod mini's scroll wheel with it's button capabilities - it would be awesome. If is two-four button enabled - then all buttons could perform the single-click as we know it today on Apple mice - then, in the Mouse Pane, we could enable the other buttons if we so desire - thus a multi button mouse with beginner and pro capabilities.
Click to expand...

This is exactly what I was thinking... and it's a brilliant solution for Apple.

(1) Stylish Apple uniqueness that makes everyone want to see it and try it (and a year down the line, other companies will copy it)

(2) Configurable multiple buttons that make intuitive sense (for example, you could set up your mouse with the "up" and "down" clickwheel buttons as scroll up and down, while the left and right are standard mouse buttons, leaving the wheel itself for other functions)

(3) The now-classic iPod scroll wheel, which as others in this thread have pointed out, would make an excellent shuttle control as well

(4) It's not a "two button mouse," because Steve hates those things

(5) If it had the iPod-style center button, that could the main mouse button leaving all the other clickwheel functions for advanced users to configure (for beginners, you could even have the clickwheel not active by default in the OS)

(6) It would let the mouse (an icon of sorts for the Mac, really, considering that it wasn't an integral part of the PC would until Windows) be as innovative a part of the Mac experience as everything else
 
demand more

Steven1621 said:
so apple can keep the one button mouse and have a scroll wheel. a step in the right direction for sure
Click to expand...

IMHO, without the option to define an area for (atleast) a second button its a step backwards...sideways at best.
 
Better PTO link

The URL to the Patent and Trade Office returns 45 hits. Here’s a link to just the right one.
 
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