Microsoft Debuts Collapsible Mouse

By John Laposky -- TWICE, 9/1/2010

Redmond, Wash. - Microsoft today unveiled a portable mouse that collapses to a 15mm-thick flat form for storage and pops up to a traditional curved form for use.

Microsoft's collapsible Arc Touch mouse

The Arc Touch mouse features Microsoft's first touch scroll strip, which adjusts scrolling speeds by reacting to a user's gently sliding or quickly flicking finger swipe.

Using a capacitive-sensing technique and sensor pads, the strip corresponds to each position and velocity change to give users accurate, controlled scrolling no matter how fast or slow the movement, Microsoft said. The scrolling can be stopped with a simple tap. The strip also has three tap "buttons" for added functionality: page up, page down and the middle click area, which is reprogrammable for whatever mouse function the user needs most.

Haptic-feedback technology mimics the bumps users would feel while using a traditional scroll wheel.

The Arc Touch adjusts from curved to flat with one hand movement, turning off automatically upon collapse. It also turns on automatically when popped up.

The mouse is equipped with BlueTrack Technology, letting consumers track on virtually any surface, the company said. A magnetic snap-in nano transceiver is stored on the bottom of the mouse.

Two AAA batteries give the Arc Touch Mouse more than six months of battery life, and a two-color battery life indicator is included.

The Arc Touch mouse will be available for the estimated retail of $69.95. It is available now for presale on Amazon.com, BestBuy.com and Buy.com, and it will ship to retailers in early December. It will be broadly available online and in stores in January 2011.