California-based Serafim has launched a new project on Kickstarter to build ODiN Aurora, the "world's first" projection mouse. So far this project has reeled in 1,000 backers pledging nearly $59,000, already surpassing the goal of $50,000. At press time, the project still has 49 more days to go.
The main selling point of ODiN Aurora, it seems, is the reduction of carpal tunnel. With a traditional mouse, the wrist may be angled and the thumb typically "grips" the mouse. With the ODiN Aurora, the hand rests flat on the table or any other surface the virtual mouse is projected.
The ODiN Aurora projects a virtual mouse onto a flat surface measuring 3.15 inches square. This projection supports multipoint controls and includes both the left- and right-click buttons, a mouse wheel in the form of a triangle, and what appears to be a thumb button. The ODiN Aurora can do anything a regular mouse can do, including scrolling, dragging windows, move the cursor and so on. The projection can even perform zooming in and out.
Serafim's Kickstarter page reassured backers that they shouldn't be concerned about their privacy while using gesture controls, as the device does not include any type of camera that can record the user's hand movements. The company suggested that the device can be used in confidential business meetings and other similar scenarios worry-free.
The actual ODiN Aurora device measures 1.6 x 2 inches and connects to a desktop or laptop via USB. The device contains a laser projection display, an infrared sensor for signal detection, a 90 degree infrared beam and two LED-based "eyes" that provide interaction feedback. Thanks to its small size, the device takes up less space than a traditional mouse.
The project's FAQ revealed that the projection area cannot be reduced or enlarged, nor can the color of the projection be changed (currently it's red). The projection area must also be flat: it doesn't work well on uneven surfaces. The device currently only supports Windows and Mac, the FAQ added.
Those wanting to contribute funds can pledge $49 or more and receive one ODiN Aurora unit in return. There are only four other tiers, the largest one requiring $440 or more that will deliver ten ODiN devices. The company expects to ship the ODiN Aurora devices in June 2015 to anywhere in the world.
Does the ODiN Aurora projection mouse seem like a good idea? The device isn't ideal for PC gaming, but it appears reasonably suited for everyday tasks like surfing the Internet, checking email and so forth. There's no question that it's an interesting device, and it should look rather spiffy sitting on the desktop, especially in the dark.
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