I want a foot mouse

[celticdragonfly]

Okay, I want a hands-free mouse, something foot operated. Something to let me read webpages while I have a baby or two in my lap, and would also let me knit while reading knit blogs!

I actually started searching for such a thing yesterday.
I found this. Ow. Not cheap. $275. I do not think selenite is going to buy this for me.

Does anybody know of other alternatives? Cheaper ones?

And has anybody ever used such a thing?

I do worry some of the havoc that kids could wreak with it. But then these days, Maggie works on wreaking havoc with the regular mouse, anyway. The other concern that I have is that I look at the picture and I suspect the cables are short, and they're assuming the computer is right there on the floor next to where the foot-mouse would be. As opposed to our setup, where the computer is up on the kitchen counter, mostly out of the reach of Maggie, and certainly all the pointy port bits in the back are out of her reach.

Comments

[technomom]

Oooo! I like that!

I figure you should be able to put on extension cables fairly easily.

Wish it weren't so expensive--but most things like this are only marketed to a tiny group. They expect that workman's comp insurance or employers will be paying for them if necessary.

Giant trackball

[p-o-u-n-c-e-r.livejournal.com]

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00004W40X/002-6749930-9632003?v=glance&vi=customer-reviews&me=standard

This link is to an overly-expensive version of a giant trackball designed for use by very young kids. The ball is about the size of a softball and the buttons are about as big a piano keys.

In Dallas, on Ross Avenue, there is a monthly event on the first Saturday of each month (making it "monthly", naturally) called "First Saturday" (doh!) in which ham radio guys, stereo mavens, and computer geeks congregate to buy sell trade admire and show-off various bits of electronic junk. Might be fun for the bargain conscious hardware hunter.

Re: Giant trackball

[celticdragonfly.livejournal.com]

Interesting. Might work, except it's not compatible with my OS. Bother. Thanks for the link.

Pouncer, that's quite an icon! Makes me think of the Exxon tiger on steroids.

[sraun]

The GT list has been talking about the same thing this last week. The link you found is to the same (unique) product they found. :-(

[celticdragonfly.livejournal.com]

Bother! Well, at least I found it fairly quickly.

I'll add it to my list of dream hardware, along with the flatscreen cordless monitor, and the cordless keyboard. (The trouble Maggie gets in yanking on the cords!)

[kd5mdk.livejournal.com]

The most recent review of the link Pouncer gave says that the standard Windows 2000 mouse driver works. I can't see why it wouldn't.

As for a wireless keyboard, that's easy. Look on the Logitech site for "Cordless Freedom". I think they're as low as $49, certainly under $100. With Mouse.

Of course, with a cordless mouse you could just use the babies as a mousepad...