You know, as a programmer, i use the keybaord alot more than i use the mouse. However every once and a while, i have to use the mouse to cut or paste or select something. This required me to take my hands off the keyboard thus breaking my concentration. I propose a new input device, the foot mouse. A mouse taiolred to be used by the foot. It would come with a big plastic mat as well for added control.

-ddn
-- ddn, Dec 31 2000

FootMouse.com http://www.footmouse.com/
[egnor, Dec 31 2000, last modified Oct 04 2004]

tarsal tunnel syndrome http://my.webmd.com.../miller_keane_32484
but i'm not sure if using a foot mouse would cause it. [mihali, Dec 31 2000, last modified Oct 04 2004]

I made one of these once using a trackball and a rubber pedal. I think it's a good plan. I wonder if the lower leg is prone to carpal tunnel syndrome.
-- mutilato, Apr 24 2001


Stages of baked-ness:

1. If you look really hard, you'll find someone obscure doing something with a similar intent.

2. If you look really hard, you'll find someone obscure doing exactly what you describe.

3. If you use a search engine and sift through the results a little, you'll find someone doing what you describe.

4. If you enter the name of the idea into a search engine, the #1 hit will be someone doing what you describe.

5. If you append ".com" to the name of the idea, you will find someone doing what you describe.
-- egnor, Apr 24 2001


How about an all-terrain mouse that you can use right on top of the key board.
-- Op, Apr 24 2001


unabubba: you can, however, get tarsal tunnel syndrome in your legs. i'm not kidding. see the link.
-- mihali, Apr 24 2001


Electric sewing machines use a foot control so that the seamster's hands are free to fret with the fabric. It's pretty crude, but I can imagine it being modified so as to function tolerably well as a mouse.
-- Dog Ed, Apr 24 2001


Bakedness Stage 7: You're soaking in it.

Egnor, want write up these stages (or just your 5) as a separate idea? Jutta could put it in the "about" section.
-- centauri, Apr 24 2001


No; it's not an idea, nor is it worth putting in the "about" (or, less implausibly, "help") section. Baked-ness is by far not the worst problem the ideas here face.
-- egnor, Apr 25 2001


So Foot and Mouse disease has been cured?
-- thumbwax, Apr 25 2001


ddn, ever thought of using the keyboard shortcuts for select, cut, copy and paste? Just a thought.....sorry to blow out your candles, 'n' all.
-- slytleemad, Apr 25 2001


I messaged in a similar note "foot mouse". There is also a "tongue mouse": http://uwctds.washington.edu/si2000/sharmonoutline.htm Toungue Touch Keypad A. Requires individual to wear a retainer. B. Requires very fine tongue control C. Complicated interface system which necessitates support D. Expensive

The above reference also briefly discusses mouse & keyboard replacements.

Also see: http://slashdot.org/askslashdot/00/08/22/0315257.shtml
-- gz, Apr 27 2001


it's being worked on by isralies i belive the are also making a virtual keyboard of light www.vkb.co.il
-- starman, Nov 18 2002


The foot mouse could be modified in a way that favours the prevention of Deep Vein Thrombosis...check out article on e-Thrombosis http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99993323
-- quikboy, Feb 07 2003


Most people are not very coordinated with their feet. Try taking off your shoes, put a Marker in between the big toe and its neighbor toe, and try drawing a self-portrait. It will look like it was drawn by a 2 year old. Its a very humbling experience, and causes me to be more patient with little ones.

So how accurate do you think you will be able to point?
-- InsanityKlaus, Nov 20 2003



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