Digital Journal — At first glance, a cordless mouse that you can wave and click in the air seems like a tool designed solely for business executives making PowerPoint presentations. However, the GO 2.4 GHz Cordless Air Mouse from Gyration may just tempt home user as well.
Using a 2-inch RF receiver that plugs into the USB port of your Windows PC, the Air Mouse is activated by clicking a “connect” button on the receiver and the mouse. In seconds (without any extra installation required) your computer will respond to the air movements of the battery-powered mouse.
The unit can be used as far away as 30 feet (9 metres) from the computer, even without a line of sight in between the receiver and the mouse. If the mouse is kept within line of sight, you can get it to work from more than 60 feet (18 metres) away from the computer — how’s that for really remote control? Other cool features: You don’t have to aim the device at your screen; and when you’re not flying your Gyration it can be used it as a standard optical mouse.
Guiding a mouse through the air is a virtually the same as gliding it across a mouse pad. However, it does take a little practice to learn proper aerial manoeuvring. Some of the initial challenges arise because you first have to learn how to hold the mouse; its aerial functions are initiated by a trigger found underneath so it’s not held like a standard mouse. Secondly, you’ll be pressing the buttons with your thumb rather than with your index finger.
As soon as you’ve learned to grip the Air Mouse, you’ve pretty much mastered the ergonomics of Air Mouse usage. Also, the unit is lightweight — it weights less than five ounces (134 grams) — so there is no real danger of straining your wrist.
Moving the mouse pointer on the screen is relatively easy with movement being fast and smooth, but it might take some practice before you are able to stop precisely enough to click on an icon or drop-down menu. The unit comes with a trigger that locks the cursor in position so that there’s no slippage as you click.
To take full advantage of Air Mouse, you will have to install the Gyrotools software that comes bundled with the unit. The software allows you to assign functions — such as launching programs, navigating through your Web browser, increasing or decreasing sound volume and controlling media players — to the standard mouse keys and scroll wheel. And in addition to the familiar mouse buttons, the Air Mouse has three extra programmable buttons.
Gyrotools also provides a couple of extra functions not found within Windows itself; a highlight tool and a drawing tool are both handy for emphasizing points during slide shows. The tools let you perform actions by waving the mouse a certain way, and you can initiate these “swipes” or gestures by holding down the central programmable button and moving the mouse in one of eight directions.
Useful as it is in a corporate setting, the Gyration Air Mouse should find a warm welcome at home as well; it can be used as a remote control for playing MP3s, CDs or DVDs, in addition to being used as a standard mouse.
Its slim ergonomic design doesn’t take up much space, and the dock (used for recharging the mouse battery) doesn’t even have to be attached to your computer.
At about $79 (US), the cost of the Air Mouse is hardly a drop in the corporate bucket. For the home user, it’s only a small investment for anyone that wants the ability to control Windows Media Player from the couch rather than the desk.
