The uncertain future of the computer mouse: retirement, longevity ...or evolution?

The computer mouse's 40th birthday has created great debate as to whether it's time for its dignified retirement or whether it could go on to be around for some time to come.

Arguments in favour of its retirement:

1. Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)
   
2. Anything being 40 years old related to computers is a rare phenomenon, and automatically assumed obsolete
3. There must be a more futuristic, gestural Minority Report-style alternative, right?!
   

Arguments against:

1. It does the job
2. It's cheap
3. It's robust. Let's face it, it's one of the few pieces of computer equipment that never breaks
   

However, what I expect and have been expecting to occur for some time - though it doesn't seemed to have happened - is not for the mouse to retire, but for it to evolve.


Key characteristics of my ideal Future Mouse would be:

• Future mouse makes use of opposable thumbs (much like a TV remote control)
  
• Future mouse doesn't require your arm to be lifted, pushing out your shoulder and tiring your wrist: it would be a lapmouse (goodbye RSI)
  
• Future mouse does not require any strength: it requires a gentle squeezing rather than clicking
• Despite being a lapmouse, it would also work in the conventional manner, on top of the table (it's extremely versatile, you see)
  
• It wouldn't feel like such a hard plastic, but more of a ball of putty (could be quite a satisfying combination of a stress ball and work tool, - improving the user experience)
• Being futuristic, it would of course be extremely green, made of biodegradable plastic perhaps
  

Well, time will tell...!

However, should the mouse retire suddenly, I only hope individuals, hardware companies and town councils find some way to recycle all that plastic! :-o


Related reading:

• The First Ever Computer Mouse Demo, courtesy of the BBC
• An article published on ft.com back in September, Gestures will force mouse into retirement.