Instead of double-clicking our way to the afterlife, there’s a wealth of mouse alternatives worth considering – for both health and their enhanced functionality. And learning a few preventative wrist yoga techniques is probably also preferable to having to wear those pesky RSI slings and bandages further down the track.
The Power Mate
www.griffintechnology.com/products/powermate
Like most contemporary interface add-ons, the power-mate is a USB powered device which will plug straight into most computers. Essentially, it’s a large metallic clickable knob which allows the user to finely control the scrolling functions of software applications. It’s clicks and circular movements can be mapped to different functions within different applications and some useful examples of these might include the volume levels of the computer, or allowing a fine controller for scrubbing back and forth on a video or audio clip, or especially within timeline based applications which can be particularly gruesome on the mouse-hand when repetitively scrolling back and forth along a time-line to edit or adjust clips.
What’s it like? While nothing as versatile as a multi-knobbed midi controller the Power Mate is actually quite a useful controller – it feels very nice to use, allows quite fine and smooth control, and feels solid and reliable. It’s a snap to adjust settings, and customise to suit various applications – eg make ‘click and scroll right’ = one thing, make scroll right = another etc etc. And what else you can’t help notice about the PowerMate ( US$45 ) is the kinda daft but cute blue light embedded all around it’s base – which steadily throbs (u can switch the pulse mode off ), and emanates an eerie blue all round. As an added bonus this’d also presumably be an effective deterrent to prevent any junkies shooting up next to your computer.
Game Controllers & MIDI
Most gamers would appreciate the limits of a mouse compared to how many more buttons and what better intuitively designed control a good joystick or handheld control can give you. Combine a simple USB convertor for one of those easy to find secondhand joysticks, and some MIDI or keyboard mapping software – and presto – you’ve found yourself a multi-buttoned controller for much more nimble control of your favourite live audio or video tool.
PSmaX
www.mikec-psmax.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk
PSmaX is a Cross-Platform capable applet that allows a user to connect a Playstation control pad via a USB interface to a machine. Configuration is easy though the applets interface. Each key of the control pad is pre-assigned four MIDI control values each assignable via a 1 – 4 layout selector.
This data is then accessible to any audio/video software running on a Win XP or Mac OS X machine that accepts MIDI control through external devices, or MIDI mapping; thus allowing a user to map each key. Effectively allowing mapping over some 48 (on/offs) or 16 X-Y analogue controls.
Junxion
www.steim.org/steim/junxion.html
junXion is a Mac OS X data routing application that allows the connection of any USB game controller and defines, in an easy user interface, the translation of each key or joystick action into a specific MIDI event. The resulting MIDI data is then available to any audio/music software that runs on that Mac or can be send to external MIDI interfaces.
Skillz USB Pad Connection
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/iklett/gamecube/main.html
* Connect your Gamecube Joypad to your PC or Mac
* Supports DirectX and Force Feedback
* Works with Windows 98/ME/2000/XP / Mac OS
* Two or more Skillz Cube Connection USB can be used to connect more than one controller
Wrist Yoga?
While hunched over a number crunching beastie isn’t generally the best place for approaching mystic states (the word yoga originates from a Sanskrit word referring to a union of the individual soul with the cosmos ), there are unsurprisingly many useful sites online dedicated to preventing RSI, strengthening your computerised wrists, and all that tofu eating, herbal tea drinking jazz.
Squawk at these and digest a few simple techniques though, and you’ll gain some useful tools for helping release bodily tensions ( make sure you go to the right site ) and maintaining mental and muscular relaxation:
www.mydailyyoga.com/yoga/yoga_and_carpal_tunnel-rsi.html
www.mydailyyoga.com/yoga/rsi.html
www.abc-of-yoga.com/yoga-practice/yoga-wrist-bending.asp
www.officeyoga.com ( it’s funny animations are worth a look too )
Jean Poole