A footmouse (or foot mouse) is a type of computer

mouse A mouse ( : mice) is a small rodent. Characteristically, mice are known to have a pointed snout, small rounded ears, a body-length scaly tail, and a high breeding rate. The best known mouse species is the common house mouse (''Mus musculus' ...

that gives the users the ability to move the

cursor Cursor may refer to: * Cursor (user interface), an indicator used to show the current position for user interaction on a computer monitor or other display device * Cursor (databases), a control structure that enables traversal over the records in ...

and click the mouse buttons with their feet. It is primarily used by users with

disabilities Disability is the experience of any condition that makes it more difficult for a person to do certain activities or have equitable access within a given society. Disabilities may be cognitive, developmental, intellectual, mental, physical, se ...

or with high-back or

neck The neck is the part of the body on many vertebrates that connects the head with the torso. The neck supports the weight of the head and protects the nerves that carry sensory and motor information from the brain down to the rest of the body. In ...

problems. It is also promoted as a way to prevent such problems in the future and as a means to increase productivity by not having to move one's hand between the

keyboard Keyboard may refer to: Text input * Keyboard, part of a typewriter * Computer keyboard ** Keyboard layout, the software control of computer keyboards and their mapping ** Keyboard technology, computer keyboard hardware and firmware Music * Musi ...

and mouse.

Types

There are about ten types of footmice. Not all of them are commercially available. Some specialized companies design their own foot controlled mouse for disabled people. The main difference between the different types of footmice is a flat pedal which slides or a pedal which tilts. There also exists a mouse adapter which converts a conventional mouse to a footmouse that slides and horizontally tilts to one side. A footmouse that uses sliding can be a slipper with a mouse connected to it, or a special frame in which a pedal can move around. Also a tiny magnet or other location device can be used on a

tablet Tablet may refer to: Medicine * Tablet (pharmacy), a mixture of pharmacological substances pressed into a small cake or bar, colloquially called a "pill" Computing * Tablet computer, a mobile computer that is primarily operated by touching the s ...

. A footmouse that uses a tilting pedal has one or two pedals which are able to tilt and turn in one or more directions. Buttons that are pushed by the feet are not considered footmice. Image:Footmouse-pedal-1.jpg, Footmouse that slides in four directions. Image:Footmouse-pedal-2.jpg, Footmouse that tilts and rotates.

Use

Using a footmouse is slower than a normal mouse (a handmouse), since most people have less control over precise movements with their feet and legs than with their hands. ( Human-computer interaction researchers note even though people commonly use foot

pedals A pedal (from the Latin '' pes'' ''pedis'', "foot") is a lever designed to be operated by foot and may refer to: Computers and other equipment * Footmouse, a foot-operated computer mouse * In medical transcription, a pedal is used to control p ...

to control cars,

sewing machine A sewing machine is a machine used to sew fabric and materials together with thread. Sewing machines were invented during the first Industrial Revolution to decrease the amount of manual sewing work performed in clothing companies. Since the inv ...

s, or speech transcription equipment, foot-operated controls are used in these applications for starting and stopping, rather than navigating.) If the footmouse is used together with a keyboard, the cursor can be moved around while typing, so there is no time wasted for moving the hand between the keyboard and the mouse. If a person cannot use a keyboard, a

virtual keyboard A virtual keyboard is a software component that allows the Input device, input of characters without the need for physical keys. The interaction with the virtual Computer keyboard, keyboard happens mostly via a touchscreen interface, but can also ...

on the screen can be used to type text by clicking each character on the virtual keyboard. People who also have less control over their foot and leg movement and are unable to operate a footmouse can sometimes use a few switches for setting the cursor in a certain direction. If a footmouse is used incorrectly for a long time, it can cause muscle cramp in the legs, and can have a negative influence on lower

back The human back, also called the dorsum, is the large posterior area of the human body, rising from the top of the buttocks to the back of the neck. It is the surface of the body opposite from the chest and the abdomen. The vertebral column run ...

problems.

History

Footmice were available in the US market as early as 1985. The manufacturer that promoted them at the time was called Versatron.

External links

Demonstration of a home-made Footmouse on youtubeInstructions how to build inexpensive FootmouseHand-to-Foot Mouse Adapter on YouTube

Mouse Sensitivity Converter

Notes

{{reflist Computer mice Pedals

Types

Use

History

See also

External links

Notes