Applications

The Combimouse can be used in a number of useful ways as shown below.

Efficient Computing

The main advantage of the Combimouse is for general computer work.

• Instant and effortless transition between keyboard and mouse modes. Requires no mental effort and there is no hesitation by the user in moving to the mouse.
• Eliminates need to reach for mouse on the right side of keyboard. This is the only real ergonomic problem of conventional mice, which results in shoulder injuries. This problem is widely documented and recognised.

Workspace

As shown in Figure 2, units can be placed to the right and left leaving a clearing in front of the user to place books etc. This will require a RF link as the current implementation of an infra red link would not work as line of sight between the units cannot be guaranteed.

Non-Computing

As shown in Figure 3, the units are small enough to be temporarily pushed aside while not in use.

Notebook Computer

The right hand unit will be designed so that it can be used in conjunction with a notebook computer as shown in Figure 4. At the moment it can be used with a small reflector over the IR transmitter. There is still an issue of the position for the backspace key.

Figure 4: Notebook

Numeric Entry

The right hand unit has an integrated numeric keypad as is implemented on notebook computers. For example the J key becomes the value 1 during num lock mode (see sketch below). To switch to num lock mode the Num Lock key on the right hand unit is pressed. The Num Lock key is to the left of the N key in the sketch below.

As a result numeric entry in for example spreadsheets becomes very efficient. This is because it is quick to change between mouse mode and keyboard mode.

Gaming

The Combimouse is very convenient for gaming as it is a multi-button mouse. There has been a lot of interest from the Gaming community in the combination keyboard mouse.

Expert users of modern computer games (such as Quake and Half Life ) normally keep one hand on the mouse and the other on the keyboard. The additional keys available to the Keyboard Mouse provides increased control and flexibility not available on any other computer input devices.

Left handed - Double handed

Figure 6 illustrates plans for a potential double handed system.

This solution has two pointing systems. IBM have investigated double handed pointing. Click here to see their website.

Chair - Armrest

The two units can be mounted on the armrests of chairs. A flat base would of course have to be placed on the armrest so that the right hand mouse unit has a "mousemat".

The units can be mounted on the armrests of an office chair. The problem with this is that when the chair is close to a table, the armrests are positioned under the table which is inconvenient.

The units could also be mounted on the armrests of a lounge chair in which case they can be used as a remote control for appliances such as televisions and VCRs. They could also be used to control the TV which is being used as a monitor for a PC.