What else can your mouse do?
by Esther Schindler
Jim Louderback found an interesting mouse variation at CES.
This new $30 mouse from YapperNut works with Skype, and doubles as a phone. When someone calls you via Skype, the mouse vibrates. Pick it up, and it turns into a USB speaker and microphone, so you can talk and listen through it. It also doubles as a speakerphone."
Would you use it? (Personally, I still haven't gotten around to downloading Skype. Too little time, too many ways to communicate... and too little to say.)
Comments
For $30, definately, but I'm more interested in this one: http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/06/the-sony-mouse-phone/
And I can see using this on my laptop (as many people in the engadget.com-link suggest), while sitting in a hotspot-enabled coffee-shop. It's a mobile-only device in my opinion, not something that I've have setup on my desktop rig.
I am using an old iVoice and a nice pair of JVC ear clip headphones (ear buds are terrible for talking, and you can't eat without hearing yourself ;-). External Microphone alternatives are the iVoice II (also discontinued) and the Griffin iMic.
So this Skype mouse would help me getting rid of one device. Not so stupid after all ;-)
Why? Normal headsets don't work, the Powerbook has an audio line-in, not a mic-in. Skype with internal Powerbook mic is terrible. And try to find portable USB Headsets. Only real alternative, a Bluetooth headset for notebook and mobile phone...
Scotty would have loved it...
Computer! Computer?
Stupid idea - try talking to somebody while using your mouse for navigating the screen. But, wait, maybe you can rub in on your ear... ;-)
For fun I searched "mouse phone" et voilà, there are surprisingly many: here and here.
@Markus: The 3D (!) mouse is the answer to your navigation dilemma - quote "Talk on the phone while working on the computer hands free!" :-)
Meanwhile less advanced notebook users can use the trackpad or trackpoint while talking to their mouse...
Oh and not to forget the grandfather of mouse phones!
Last thought, having a keypad with numbers on the mice "linked as above" could help notebook users filling in spreadsheets or to use the calculator tools. That makes 3 funtions in one. What more can a mobile worker expect?
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