Institute develops 3D mouse for games

A unit under the Hsinchu-based Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI, 工研院) has developed a new "three dimensional mouse" for computer games, with the aim of increasing the entertainment value of games with omni-directional, full-movement control over virtual characters, ITRI researchers said yesterday.

ITRI's Microsystems Technology Center (MTC) -- located outside the institute's main base in Southern Taiwan Science Park (南部科學園區) in Tainan County -- has been pursuing research and development of the mouse for about one year, and recently achieved satisfactory results, they said, adding that the institute was now working on transferring the related technologies to a local computer accessory manufacturer.

The mouse was developed with micro-inertial sensing technology, human movement calculation and simulation mechanisms to bring three-dimensional sensing capabilities to the conventional mouse, MTC Associate Research Fellow Lu Ying-ke said.

The mouse can detect a user's body movements and transmit the signals back to the computer via wireless communications to command virtual characters, Lu said.

For example, the mouse can then be used as a bat in baseball games, a racket in tennis or badminton games, or even a handgun in shooting games to create a "more-than-real" gaming experience, Lu said.