I had the unfortunate pleasure of using this mouse roughly 5 years ago at a friend's house. My main issue with this product is that the human interaction becomes too inconvenient when you compare it to using a normal scroll mouse. While the innovative concept is definately there in the design and interface, it comes off pointless if it cannot work as easily and smoothely as its predessor.
The Logitech Trackman Marble Mouse's main function is the trackball situated in the middle of the mouse. This effectively acts as the cursor which the user uses to navigate themselves on the computer. Two buttons are positioned on the side acting as the left and right buttons. Next to each lies another smaller button which act as backward and forward buttons during web surfing. The advantages of using this mouse would be that less wrist work would be required as the trackball controls the cursor; this also offers a larger curser range due to its flexible movement. It is also an ambidexterous design meaning both right and left handers can use it.
So, what's wrong with it?
Firstly, the product lacks a scrolling function. The scroll becomes very useful in terms of internet surfing and reviewing documents. There have been reports that this mouse can be reprogrammed so that it can scroll, however that's one extra step which could have been resolved in the product design itself.
Secondly, this mouse would rely heavily on past experience. The creative concept of using a ball to navigate a cursor would take twice as long to adapt to compared to using a standard computer mouse. This alone can put off any customer as it requires twice the effort to use something that achieves the same result with half the effort of another product. Particularly in gaming, this mouse would prove very difficult as the accuracy relys on a steady finger than a steady hand.
The original mouse uses a planar cursor field, wheras the Trackman Marble focuses on a 360 experience- This I don't get. You're already working with a planar screen, why would you need to introduce a 360 medium if your work is 2D? It baffles me. Also I don't experience that much wrist pain when I use a standard mouse but I do believe it goes both ways; if you use any muscle excessively, it will eventually grow tired. You may avoid wrist fatigue but I'm sure if you use you move your finger around for hours on end, it's going to get tired regardless.
Because the trackball requires a lot of movement, the gap in between is open to dust and other bacteria which could interfere with the optical reader, therefore it needs to be cleaned every 4 - 6 months.
The positioning of the buttons were quite awkward as well. Being so used to using my index finger to click the left mouse button, the user is now forced to use their thumb to select. Once again, this is another step for the consumer to get used to making it inconvenient and unappealing.
Overall, I understand this design aimed to introduce a new and innovative way to control the mouse. It has a few good advantages but compared to its number one competitor, the Logitech Trackman Marble lacks in usability and consumer popularity.
Karen Ly
Resources:
I agree that these aren't the best mice for normal use on a computer or even gaming, but are great when doing cad work as they give you the ability to move around your 3D object and the additional programmable buttons can be very handy.
ReplyDeleteIgor Jovanovic
Karen, a very interesting and comprehensive post. I too share your pain, as I have also recently had to use a similar Logitech mouse to this when using a friend's computer. However, the one I used had a scroll wheel, so maybe Logitech addressed the issue with an absence of a scrolling function when they came to designing the newer mouse I used.
ReplyDeleteAnd I agree with Igor. The trackball is very useful when you're dealing with a three dimensional workspace. Many will also say that your fingers/thumb are more dextrous than your hand. With that being said, I still prefer to use a traditional laser mouse. Because the user interaction is so different, I felt like I had to learn a new language when I used my friend's mouse while using CAD.
-Phi Do
Karen,
ReplyDeleteI still have this mouse attached to my racing simulator. (though the mouse is only used for turning it on and setting the program up) I actualy kind of think it cool to use. I feel its more 'flowing' and quick. But, In saying all of that, I have never used it on a general computer, I do know that you have to 'swipe' it a few times before it can get all the way accross the screen, so a bit of a contradiction but i could see where it would become a pain.
Tom G