Science Fiction
Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
 |
Soap Optical Mouse And eXistenZ Metaflesh Game Pod
Soap, the wireless optical pointing device, is the result of a project lead by Patrick Baudisch. It doesn't sit on a desk, like the tame mice you're used to; you hold it and sqeeze it and stroke it to get the result you want on your connected computer.
(Soap wireless pointing device)
The Soap optical mouse is made of a standard model optical mouse (no gyroscopes or other accoutrements found in most non-tabletop mice); it is enclosed in a "hull" of a soft material (in this case, fur).
"Given its particular shape, the core evades the pressure [of hand motions, squeezing and stroking] and starts rotating. The motion between core and hull is captured by the optical sensor in the core, and is reported wirelessly to the computer. A switch inside the core allows you to click Soap by squeezing it."
(From Soap wireless optical mouse)
A joystick-style motion is created by gently stroking the hull material, dragging it over the sensor. According to the creator of the device, it offers easy fine positioning and fast movement of the cursor across the screen.
The Soap pointer gets its name from the motion used in moving rapidly across the screen; the Soap device is twirled with the long axis laid across the palm under the fingers.
This kind of flexible, malleable pointing device was also found in eXistenZ, a 1999 film starring Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jude Law, Ian Holm and Willem Dafoe. A leading game designer is testing her new virtual reality software, eXistenZ, with a group of players. They use an unusual pointing device, the eXistenZ Metaflesh Game Pod, described as having been grown from modified amphibian embryos. It throbs and trills when you stroke it, manipulating the game play.
(eXistenZ Metaflesh Game Pod)
Thanks to Adi for pointing this story out; watch a very informative Soap wireless optical pointer video.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 8/1/2006)
Follow this kind of news @Technovelgy.| Email | RSS | Blog It | Stumble | del.icio.us | Digg | Reddit |
Would
you like to contribute a story tip?
It's easy:
Get the URL of the story, and the related sf author, and add
it here.
Comment/Join discussion ( 2 )
Related News Stories - (" Computer ")
Cortex 1 - Today A Warehouse, Tomorrow A Calculator Planet
'There were cubic miles of it, and it glistened like a silvery Christmas tree...' - Clifford Simak, 1949.
Is Agentic AI The Wrong Kind Of Smartness?
'It’s smart enough to go wrong in very complicated ways, but not smart enough to help us find out what’s wrong.' - Isaac Asimov, 1975.
Jetson Orin Nano Super 70 Just $249
'Rayno folded up the microterm and tucked it back inside his jumper.' - Bruce Bethke, 1983.
Automatic Bot Traffic Is 38 Percent Of HTTP Requests
'there were so many worms and counterworms loose in the data-net...' - John Brunner, 1975
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
Science Fiction
Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's 1950's
1960's 1970's
1980's 1990's
2000's 2010's
Current News
The New Habitable Zones Include Asimov's Ribbon Worlds
'...there's a narrow belt where the climate is moderate.'
3D Printing A 12-Meter Boat Hull
'It makes drawings in the air...'
China Still Working On Rescue Robot That Eats People
Firefighter Rescue Robot Eats Humans - again!
Lawyer AIs Create Chaos In Our Legal System
'I want my lawyer program.'
Chinese Hospital Tries Vonnegut's 'Harrison Bergeron' Cosplay
'He wore spectacles with thick wavy lenses. The spectacles were intended to make him not only half
blind, but to give him whanging headaches besides.'
Robot Clerks Become A Reality In China
'The robot clerk in the waiting-room checked her number...'
Can One Robot Do Many Tasks?
'... with the Master-operator all you have to do is push one! A remarkable achievement!'
Atlas Robot Makes Uncomfortable Movements
'Not like me. A T-1000, advanced prototype. A mimetic poly-alloy. Liquid metal.'
Boring Company Drills Asimov's Single Vehicle Tunnels
'It was riddled with holes that were the mouths of tunnels.'
Humanoid Robots Tickle The Ivories
'The massive feet working the pedals, arms and hands flashing and glinting...'
A Remarkable Coincidence
'There is a philosophical problem of some difficulty here...'
Cortex 1 - Today A Warehouse, Tomorrow A Calculator Planet
'There were cubic miles of it, and it glistened like a silvery Christmas tree...'
Perching Ambush Drones
'On the chest of drawers something was perched.'
Leader-Follower Autonomous Vehicle Technology
'Jason had been guiding the caravan of cars as usual...'
Golf Ball Test Robot Wears Them Out
"The robot solemnly hit a ball against the wall, picked it up and teed it, hit it again, over and again...'
Boring Company Vegas Loop Like Asimov Said
'There was a wall ahead... It was riddled with holes that were the mouths of tunnels.'
