Back in 1964, the first computer mouse was introduced. It had a wooden shell and metal wheels. Although that hardly sounds sophisticated by today’s standards, at the time it was a breakthrough for users. This mouse ushered in the graphic user interface (GUI) era. Point and click was born. And point and click we did. To the extent that excessive mouse use is now a risk factor for Repetitive Stress Injuries (RSI).  But for extreme mouse users, help is here. Help in the form of ergonomically correct pointing devices. Here are some of the latest designs in ergonomic computer mice… 

Vertical mice—A conventional mouse makes the user rotate the wrist until the palm is facing downward.  Not the best position for a human wrist. Vertical mice allow the user to keep a “neutral” hand position. They eliminate the twisted wrist or arm associated with conventional mouse use. The Quill Mouse™ incorporates hand support, so the muscles can be as relaxed as possible. Another type of vertical mouse resembles a joystick. These are very comfortable to use, and relieve the stress that can result in carpal tunnel syndrome. For gamers, this sort of mouse is excellent. (Still, watch out how long you spend playing games. It’s easy to loose track of time. Hours upon hours of gaming is hard on the hand no matter what equipment you use.)

Trackballs—This mouse replacement comes in several different forms. But they all accomplish the same thing. They do away with the need to constantly twist the wrist to move the pointer. Some trackballs are embedded in ergonomically correct keyboards. Trackballs may also come with attached wrist rests. For those who don’t want to completely give up a mouse, the Marble Mouse Trackball is a steal at around $30. Most mouse users convert quickly and easily to a track ball.

 Wireless—Going wireless is a big advantage when it comes to changing positions while operating a computer. The Perific mouse is a wonderful combination of wireless, trackball, and desktop all rolled into one. The trackball feature plus the wireless connectivity means the user can sit back and work the trackball just holding it in his hand. Another entry in the wireless category are pens. These pens perform well for people doing CAD, photo editing, and desktop publishing. One of the very cool things about wireless pens is that they work on any kind of surface, even the fabric of your pants. No mouse pad necessary.

 Pads—Combining the features of a touch screen with the functionality of a mouse, the Cirque Smart Cat touchpad is another great choice for extreme mouse users. Scrolling and zooming have never been this easy! Keypads are an alternative for serious data entry folks. Mouse keypads have a scroll wheel on them. These keypads can be operated as mouse only, keypad only, or both the keypad and the mouse. This device gets rid of a lot of extra arm motion back and forth between the keypad and the mouse.

 Foot pedals—For people with disabilities or folks with severe RSI, let your feet do the work. The AbleTrack Trackball is a regular trackball with a particularly nifty feature: external foot switches. It’s up to you how you use the AbleTrack, with or without the foot switches. The NoHands Mouse skips the desktop altogether. This appliance consists of two foot pedals. One moves the cursor; the other controls the clicks. Like the name says, no hands are necessary.

 That first wooden mouse took computers out of the strictly scientific realm and into the lives of average people. And now his descendants are helping prevent RSI. A big job for little mice, but they’re ready and waiting.