Product Review:
Design Appliance’s Aerobics
Mouse
By Mitchell Levine
A
strong case can be made that the truest revolutions are those
that solve a problem that we don’t yet
know is a problem, but suffer from anyways. The Aerobics Mouse is such a product.
Although we’ve gotten
very accustomed to using them, the standard computer mouse was not an ergonomically
designed peripheral. To minimize potential repetitive stress, a utensil must
be what is referred to by biomechanics specialists as “functionally neutral.” A
non-functionally neutral utensil like a standard mouse forces muscles to be
both tensed and relaxed repetitively over a short time span, forcing blood
to rush in and out of the hand’s tissues. Since the wear and tear associated
with that can be damaging, functional neutrality maintains a safe balance,
and therefore a much lower potentiality for injury.
Because children
have sensitive muscle and skeletal systems governing their fine motor functions,
poor ergonomics and bad posture poses a serious threat to their health, although
even adults up to age 35 are still growing. The average mouse, although apparently
convenient, simply was not designed to ensure that hours spent manipulating
a point system to navigate the Net don’t pose a long-term risk.
The Aerobics
Mouse, on the other hand is different. Built to support the hand’s muscles while the
user moves, points, and clicks, the controlling device looks more like a cubist
ashtray than the familiar peripheral we’ve come to know and love. Once
you slide your wrist in, however, you can immediately feel the difference in
comfort. The scroll button is actually manipulated with the interior of the
ring finger, and clicking is performed by squeezing the roller rather than
pushing down with a finger. Although that motion does require some reorientation,
it doesn’t take long before you begin to appreciate the economy of movement
and the much lower stress ordinary use places on your hands.
In fact, the
mouse is just part of an integrated program created by Design Appliances
called “the
clickless Web,” a virtual redesign of the the standard protocol used
to interface with the Internet. Specifically engineered to place the fewest
ergonomic demands possible on the young Net surfer. Using a proprietary icon
called a “nib” instead of a standard cursor, the software included
with the mouse allows any site to be explored with a series of dragging moves
replacing relentless clicking on links.
When you factor
in its ergonomic design and the security of its non-slip surfaces, it’s hard to imagine
more value to the serious mobile user for under $20 than the Aerobics Mouse.
For more information, contact manufacturer at 1-866-WE MOUSE, or online at
the company’s site at www.aerobicmouse.com#
