Between a regular mouse and a mouse with a touchscreen and a pair of earbuds inside it, there is pretty much nothing wrong with this iconic pointing device. However, the folks at NextAxis Design beg to differ. They believe we should be manipulating the pointer and clicking based on our hands’ natural movements, not letting the mouse dictate how it should be done. For this reason, the UK-based startup developed OVO.
Do not call it a mouse, because it is not. It is more.
For starters, it looks nothing like a mouse. Billed as a balance-based input device, it looks more like a glowing egg, and instead of sliding across a desk, it translates tilts, rotations, touches, and gestures into cursor movement and commands.
Needless to say, it will take some getting used to. After all, we are so accustomed to the no-brainer slide-and-click actions that they come naturally even to a toddler.
The idea behind OVO is simple: let the hand move naturally rather than forcing users to grip and drag a mouse around a surface. Users tilt the device to move the cursor, rotate it for additional controls such as zooming or adjusting volume, tap the touch-sensitive shell to click, and swipe to scroll. It can also function as an “air mouse,” allowing control without being placed on a desk.
The device packs an ESP32-S3 dual-core processor and leverages Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to communicate with your computer. Also crammed inside are a 3-axis accelerometer, a 3-axis magnetometer, and a 400 mAh rechargeable battery good for up to 80 hours on a single charge. Wrapping up the device is a capacitive multi-touch shell for all your clicking needs. The device also has Wi-Fi support for companion-app functions.
The device is aimed at creatives, developers, engineers, presenters, and anyone looking for an alternative to the traditional mouse. NextAxis says it has already been tested with applications including Photoshop, Fusion 360, AutoCAD, Visual Studio, Office, and video-editing software.
Not only does it break with mouse tradition, allowing it to proudly declare itself “not a mouse,” but it is also more than a cursor controller. NextAxis Design is exploring custom gesture mapping, macro support, keyboard emulation, and potentially even gamepad emulation. Future stretch goals also mention an Arduino-compatible API to encourage maker and developer experimentation. Now, that’s ambitious!
Whether it becomes the next big thing in human-computer interaction or joins the long list of ambitious “mouse replacements” remains to be seen.
Anyhoo, if you are prepared for the future of the pointing device, then you may want to consider supporting NextAxis Design’s endeavor on Kickstarter, where OVO is currently being crowdfunded. For £88 and up (about US$119), you can secure a unit—well, secure it if NextAxis Design fulfills its obligations.
That said, this being a crowdfunded product, it is subject to risks, including delays in delivery, the product not being as promised, or, worst of all, non-delivery. So, you have to make your own judgment.
Anyhoo, the campaign has been funded, with some 446 backers contributing more than US$70,000. So, the product is a go. All that is left is for NextAxis Design to fulfill the orders when the campaign ends.
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Images: NextAxis Design.