Ergonomics in Computer Mice

As we sit clicking and typing away at our computers, we often neglect the idea that we could be harming our body. The keystrokes seem intuitive, while holding the mouse or using the pad feel like second nature. If we take a minute to take our hands of the computer and mouse and rest them naturally in front of us on a table or desk, something quickly becomes apparent: our palms are not flat on the surface. It is most comfortable and natural for our palms to rest us at a slight angle with the thumbs balancing the hand. In this manner, why would our computer products be designed so flat and flush? Most likely it is due to the aesthetic appeal of electronics that are thin and concise. But after hours of clicking away at home, I think most of us would trade in some of the looks for something not only comfortable, but better for our bodies. Ergonomic design seeks to find the balance between aesthetics and proper physical comfort. One example of this is the “wow-pen ergonomic mouse” made by the South Korean company Wow Technologies, Inc.

(Image from Impactlab.net)

The “wow pen” is known as a vertical mouse, for it's angled face and almost pen like grip. The shape is designed to be not only more natural feeling, but actually better for our arms, wrists, and hands. The angled shape helps to recreate our natural hand posture, alleviating tension and helping to reduce the chance of carpel tunnel syndrome. With the amount of time we spend on computers, more people should take this measure of long term safety into account.

When the hand is in a more natural position, it is comfortable. While some computer mice require us to keep pressure off to avoid unwanted selections (such as one-click mice), the vertical mouse can bear the weight of the hand in a natural position, relieving tension. If you are someone that would use a mouse for several hours at a time (such as a Designer) comfort should be quite important in your equipment selection. Not only is the vertical shape more comfortable, but also more relative to the way we control a pencil or pen. Having a mouse that simulates this shape allows for greater accuracy when creating computer illustrations. When a tablet is not accessible, this mouse could greatly improve a designers ability to simulate actual drawing. Ideally, this mouse would suit people in professions involving CAD design, and design programs such as Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. The mouse also has standard right and left click buttons, a scroll wheel, and two forward and back buttons at the side of the thumb, allowing for easy access to functions within software.

Although there are numerous physical benefits of this moue, it doesn't quite hold the same aesthetic value as other mice on the market. The odd shape of the mouse seems to have posed some issues with creating visual balance in the design. Most of the mouse is covered by a plastic/rubber piece to provide grip, while contrasting with a gloss/metallic painted body displaying a logo in white text. The look is somewhat awkward and imbalanced. The colors of metallic silver, metallic pink, and metallic black don't leave many options for customization by the user. Also, the fact that it is a wired mouse takes away from any means of simplicity. There's nothing simple looking about tangled cords. If some of these aspects were addressed, I believe the “wow pen” would be a much more popular product.

Aside from it's few visual aesthetic flaws, the comfort and usability of this mouse seem to be enough to justify buying it at it's respectable price range of twenty to thirty dollars. If Wow Technologies addressed the aspects of color, and making the mouse wireless (bluetooth maybe?), I'm sure customers would be willing to pay extra for a better look that includes greater simplicity. In all, the design is very interesting and unique for an ergonomic computer mouse. I have to admit I am going to pick one up the next time I have some available funds for such a device.

(Image from alieexpress.com)