Gizmodo: Peripherals, Input,

Asus Working on Handwriting-Pad Add-on for Eee PC

Kit Eaton — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 09:00:00 EDT

While modders are busily adapting the Eee PC for touchscreen capability, it seems that Asus has been working on an official handwriting recognition add-on. Demoed at last weeks Computex show, the Asus pad accepts English and Chinese (traditional and simplified) characters and simply plugs into the Eee's USB port. It measures 4.3 x 4.4 x 0.7 inches, with the touch pad being a little over 2-inches across. If you're an eager hand-writing fan, you'll have to wait though, as there's no launch date or price info. [Aving via Pocket Lint]

EzKEY Keypad Mouse, for Number Crunchers on the Go

Charlie White — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 09:22:31 EDT

This EzKEY combo mouse and keypad might be just what you're looking for if you're on the road, suddenly need to add a long list of numbers, and your laptop doesn't have a keypad. Just flip up the top as you would open your car's trunk, and there you have a keypad to do some quick number crunching. Flip it down, and it works and feels just like any other mouse.

This is a good idea for specific situations, but the shape of the mouse could be a little more ergonomic. To be offered in black or white, EzKEY presented this two-in-one keypad mouse at Taitronics Bangkok 2007, not saying when it would be available or at what price. [Aving]

Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Desktop 7000 Uses 2.4GHz Tech

Charlie White — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 07:36:33 EDT

Take the Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000, cut the cable, throw in a Natural Wireless Laser Mouse 6000 and then add 2.4GHz wireless connectivity to both, and you have the Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Desktop 7000. If you like that gullwing design of the keyboard, this might just be a perfect fit for you.

Take the jump for more info, another pic and pricing information.

Before you immediately dismiss this wireless technology, I must tell you that I also completely rejected wireless keyboards and mice until I tried Microsoft's Wireless Comfort Keyboard 4000 and its accompanying Wireless Laser Mouse 5000 about six months ago, and I'm now a new convert to Microsoft's wireless technology. It's downright excellent. And this keyboard and mouse I'm using aren't even using this latest, more-sophisticated 2.4GHz technology.

Seriously, it's every bit as good as any wired keyboard and mouse I've used. If it's any indication, this improved 2.4GHz tech that works up to 30 feet away will be even better. Yep, I can say without irony that Microsoft (and Logitech, too) have figured out how to make useful wireless input devices. Finally, at long last.

Microsoft says the Natural Ergonomic Desktop 7000 will be available next month for $149.95. – Charlie White

Salient Wireless Pen Mouse Doubles as Dildo

Charlie White — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 08:24:50 EDT

For those artists whose desire of a fat pen is accompanied by the need for a two-button scrolling mouse, Salient Tech swoops in with the VM-203, a wireless pen mouse with 1000dpi resolution. It's designed to be easy to use, with its rubberized grip and rounded ergonomic shape, but to us it just looks like it's too big. Couldn't they have slimmed it down a bit? Maybe it's actually not fat enough for its obvious secondary use. Wonder if it vibrates.

It's a valiant effort, though, with a light weight of just over an ounce and internal optics that can still work even on curved or soft surfaces.

Our resident expert pixel pushers here said they wouldn't be caught dead with such a clunky device, but it's your choice, and if it doesn't work out, you could always use it for stress relief. Use it with a Mac or PC, but consider a Wacom tablet first. – Charlie White

Wireless pen mouse for designers [AVing]

MagicMouse Puts 3D Control on Your Finger

Charlie White — Tue, 22 May 2007 09:42:58 EDT

Put this MagicMouse on your finger, and make your PC's cursor move around as if by some miraculous force. It works with five carefully positioned ultrasonic microphones, picking up signals from the ring and judging its position in 3D space. Move your hand closer or farther away from the screen and you zoom in, or move your hand back and forth and the cursor follows it.

What team of scientists invented this thing?

You'd think some major corporation would be doing R&D on something like this (and that could very well be the case), but this MagicMouse was actually designed by a group of Worcester Polytechnic Institute students, and it was good enough to be honored by a Popular Science 2007 Invention Award.

Who knew you could move your cursor around on your PC by doing a little tai chi? The device consists of just $155 worth of parts and uses standard mouse protocol. We'd like to see what would happen if you turned this thing loose on a few Nintendo Wii-like games. – Charlie White

Inside the MagicMouse: The Story of a 2007 PopSci Invention of the Year [WPI, via PopSci]

uPlusPen is like a Tablet, Minus the Tablet

Travis Hudson — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 12:26:44 EST

uPlusPen is the latest input device straight out of Korea. It is similar to a Wacom-style tablet, but there is no actual tablet. The pen can write on any surface and be transferred to the computer. This could be perfect for those on-the-go graphic designers who don't want to lug a tablet everywhere, or for someone who doesn't have the office-space for a giant tablet. No word on availability or pricing. Image via Aving – Travis Hudson

uPlusPen - PC Tablet for Writing and Drawing without the Tablet [Everything USB]