Control A Mouse With Your..... Feet?!

[Xzin]

http://gizmodo.com/assets/resources/2007/07/footmouse_andkeys.jpg

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/playing-footsie/foot-mouse-gives-you-an-extra-pair-of-hands-280320.php

"Slide your foot into the FootTime Foot Mouse's slipper attachment and then you're off and running, controlling the cursor with one foot and pressing six buttons and a scroll wheel with the other. Yeah, there was a foot mouse making the rounds a couple of years ago, but this one is more configurable and actually makes good sense. What else can it do?

That footpad on the left has programmable buttons, so you can either use them for double-clicking or scrolling, or you can program other shortcuts and functions and continue using your regular mouse at the same time. You could end up using both hands and feet like a church organist. That convenience will cost you a lot more than a normal mouse, though, making you $199 lighter on your feet."

[mmcookies]

I used to play the piano, so I guess I'm biased towards the three pedals mentioned in other posts.

I honestly can't see myself using this in addition to a full keyboard and mouse. It's just way too much movement complexity.

[Runiat]

Oh I dunno.. I mean if u can get used to a keyboard in each hand (which you can) it shouldn't be too hard to get used to using your feet..

As for just that system, however, I don't see me spending any money on it. Constantly having to dive under your table after kicking the buttons flying would be only nearly as embarrasing as the first time someone u know spots it there.. why make it red and yellow when it'll be under a bloody table?!...

Besides, other than turning and looting on ur 2nd computer, I doubt it'd be any good without a few years of training. Maybe for a game designed with foot-control in mind (flight simulators, perhaps?) but not WoW.

[Xzin]

I don't see this having any practical use for WoW personally but that does not mean its useless to everybody.... could be useful for SOME stuff. I guess.

[zanthor]

Every time I see something like this I get happy til I see the price...

I'm after a single button (more acceptable) pedal/button that I can use to push-to-talk on a 2nd machine running ventrilo... I have a very low end laptop it would be nice to run vent/etc on... without spending more than $25ish.

[pomo]

sadly when looking at that i though "wow AV afkers now got one more thing they can do .


not that i condone that sort of thing.

[Xzin]

Every time I see something like this I get happy til I see the price...

I'm after a single button (more acceptable) pedal/button that I can use to push-to-talk on a 2nd machine running ventrilo... I have a very low end laptop it would be nice to run vent/etc on... without spending more than $25ish.

Stick a spare keyboard down there and buy a $5 usb to ps/2 device at monoprice. Then rig up something to increase the size of the kb. Not pretty but functional.

[Boxcarwilli]

[quote="zanthor"]Stick a spare keyboard down there and buy a $5 usb to ps/2 device at monoprice. Then rig up something to increase the size of the kb. Not pretty but functional.

I was actually thinking about this. Just imagine two X-Keys pro, one for the right hand and one for the left, and a small qwerty in the middle for when you need to chat.

[Boxcarwilli]

Just got an email back from them, its 800 DPI. Also, you may want to check out their site directly.

http://www.bilila.com/foot_mouse_slipper_mouse

[Suribusi]

The first thing I think would be useful is for binds that are helpful but are used seldomly (at least in comparison to the rest). I guess I'm not sure how the mouse on the foot would do (I personnaly would suck at it). I would see myself using the 6 foot buttons to be a quick press to execute the macros for switching focus when a toon dies. They don't need to be used that often, and having to have multiple of them starts to eat up the desktop real-estate when they have circumstantial use.

-S

[Boxcarwilli]

I also asked them how it works as I was a bit confused....they replied...

The "slipper" part is just a cursor controller, nothing more. And it comes with a big FREE mouse mat.(moves in the same way as hand mouse) All other mouse clicks, scroll roller and shortcuts are done on the pedal part, which is controlled by the other foot.

Im seriously considering this. The part that might be weird is the mouse look combinations. Mostly, I can hit num lock and then hold down the left+right mouse buttons to free look while keeping the same direction for movement, or aswd and mouse look in a different direction at the same time. Of course, I can rebind it to make things eaiser.

The only other thing Ive ever binded to mouse button 4 and higher is my mount.

For the most part, I'm seriously considering buying this. Having two hands each on their own x-keys pros would be great!

[Suribusi]

I also asked them how it works as I was a bit confused....they replied...

The "slipper" part is just a cursor controller, nothing more. And it comes with a big FREE mouse mat.(moves in the same way as hand mouse) All other mouse clicks, scroll roller and shortcuts are done on the pedal part, which is controlled by the other foot.

Im seriously considering this. The part that might be weird is the mouse look combinations. Mostly, I can hit num lock and then hold down the left+right mouse buttons to free look while keeping the same direction for movement, or aswd and mouse look in a different direction at the same time. Of course, I can rebind it to make things eaiser.

The only other thing Ive ever binded to mouse button 4 and higher is my mount.

For the most part, I'm seriously considering buying this. Having two hands each on their own x-keys pros would be great!

I would reconsider this...and then reconsider again (in the sense of really thinking it through). I think that if you to a mock test of this (maybe using a couple pieces of tape, a towel, and something for the buttons) you will find that it might not be that helpful.

I say this from years of driving a stick shift car. You don't realize it, but you actually use a lot of stomach muscles to lift a foot in the air, or at least less weight on it. Physics will help you realize that the weight and transfer of energy has to go somewhere.

Easy example, lean back against the back rest of your chair, and attempt to lift both feet off the ground (assuming you are not like my wife and your feet actually touch the ground when you are sitting :wink: ). You will notice that you more than likely pulled your torso upright while lifting your legs ( as well as that tug on the stomach muscles).

My point is, that when you use your desktop mouse it is very easy to pivot and glide the mouse. Since the mouse is weighs nothing, you barely notice where the force to move your mouse is being applied to. This could be your wrist (if you rest it on your desk), your elbow, or shoulder.

Your feet weigh a lot more, and to use both of them at the same time when they are connected a lot closer to your center of gravity is going to affect your accuracy. But it might get you a nice 6pack :wink:

Just my opinion of course. I could be way off base here, heh. If you do test it out let us know, and I hope it works the way you are thinking.

-S

[Boxcarwilli]

lean back against the back rest of your chair, and attempt to lift both feet off the ground

And thats probably going to be the one thing to keep me from doing this. I often site in many different positions that would require constant repositioning of the footpad.

[Jayk]

Good for people who don't have arms :D