Although it has been declared dead on more than one occasion, the mouse has managed to survive through time and space. The intention to replace it led to the development of a wide variety of devices, which in one way or another turned out to be inferior. The people behind the Motix project want to be the exception to the rule with an accessory that mixes motion sensors and a little help from the keyboard.
I've mentioned it on previous occasions, and I think it's a good time to repeat it: When it comes to controlling a computer, I prefer traditional systems, a very formal way of saying that “I will die hugging a keyboard and with my claws dug into a mouse.” Still, it's likely that in a few days I'll decide to experiment with a trackball… if I get one at a reasonable price. This definitely goes against what we see in the market. Touch screens are no longer exclusive to mobile devices; many manufacturers have decided to incorporate them into their computers, not to mention a certain operating system designed with them in mind. Now, the fact is that the pointer hasn't gone anywhere. No matter how deep the modifications to an interface are, the user sooner or later needs the classic precision offered by the mouse-pointer combo. In the past, some projects interpreted that eliminating the mouse should also eliminate the pointer; however, the Motix accessory has a different vision.
How Motix works
Its operation depends on two components: the first is a motion sensor that reminds us in part of the famous Leap Motion, and the second is a touch-sensitive strip that is placed on the keyboard, near the spacebar. The user places their thumb on the strip and moves it left to right to change sensitivity or “click” by giving a light touch, while using their index finger to control the pointer. Motix needs to go through a calibration process as soon as it is installed in the system, and the learning curve for the user is quite complex, but not impossible. We must also note that some compact keyboards will likely have problems receiving the strip.
Price and availability
Basically, what Motix proposes is to control the pointer without having to take your hands off the keyboard or touch the screen. The official site has opened preorders for Motix at a price of $120 per unit. The development of Motix began shortly after Windows 8 was introduced, so we dare to say it is a device largely optimized to be used under that operating system. In theory, the first deliveries of Motix will be made during the month of February.
