OMEN
01-14-2008, 03:43 PM
If there is one thing more lucrative than inventing a better mousetrap, it has to be inventing a better mouse.
Christchurch software developer and computer games shop owner Grant Odgers reckons he has cracked it and is due to meet engineers and marketers at Microsoft's head office in Redmond, Washington, today to present his designs for a new generation of computer mice, designed with notebook and multimedia computers in mind.
His start-up, Simtrix, has patented the design and secured venture capital to help protect the intellectual property, but Mr Odgers is secretive about how his "Swiftpoint" mice will work.
What he will say is that they are designed to be held between the thumb and index finger, are very portable, and – unlike conventional mice – can be used either with or without a flat surface.
Mr Odgers says that, with the use of computers having changed since the first mouse was invented in 1964, a new design is required to manage multimedia PCs in the living room, which people may want to operate from the sofa.
Microsoft will examine whether his device could replace the pens now used with tablet PCs.
Mr Odgers will unveil his invention on March 4 at the world's largest computer show, CeBit in Hannover, Germany. That is unless it is bought out beforehand by Microsoft or specialist mouse-maker Logitech, which has also requested a meeting.
Simtrix is one of 14 technology companies that will show off their wares at a pavilion at CeBit sponsored by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. The theme for the stand this year will be "enhancing communication between humans and computers".
The annual market for computer mice is believed to be worth about US$1 billion. Simtrix's devices would, like conventional mice, use components worth a "couple of dollars", Mr Odgers says.
Wellington venture capital company Endeavour Capital, whose other investments include water software management firm Derceto, e-payments company GFG Group and biotechnology company Proacta, bought a 22 per cent stake in Simtrix in August. It appointed two directors, Stuart McKenzie and Dennis Row, to the Simtrix board.
Since Endeavour is one of six venture capital firms that attract dollar- for-dollar co-investment from the Government's Venture Investment Fund, taxpayers also have an interest in Mr Odgers' meeting in Redmond going well.
Simtrix is vying with other technology companies around the world that also hope to reinvent the mouse. One, Gyration, has developed a wireless optical mouse incorporating a gyroscope that can translate wrist movements while being waved in the air.
The Dominion Post
Christchurch software developer and computer games shop owner Grant Odgers reckons he has cracked it and is due to meet engineers and marketers at Microsoft's head office in Redmond, Washington, today to present his designs for a new generation of computer mice, designed with notebook and multimedia computers in mind.
His start-up, Simtrix, has patented the design and secured venture capital to help protect the intellectual property, but Mr Odgers is secretive about how his "Swiftpoint" mice will work.
What he will say is that they are designed to be held between the thumb and index finger, are very portable, and – unlike conventional mice – can be used either with or without a flat surface.
Mr Odgers says that, with the use of computers having changed since the first mouse was invented in 1964, a new design is required to manage multimedia PCs in the living room, which people may want to operate from the sofa.
Microsoft will examine whether his device could replace the pens now used with tablet PCs.
Mr Odgers will unveil his invention on March 4 at the world's largest computer show, CeBit in Hannover, Germany. That is unless it is bought out beforehand by Microsoft or specialist mouse-maker Logitech, which has also requested a meeting.
Simtrix is one of 14 technology companies that will show off their wares at a pavilion at CeBit sponsored by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. The theme for the stand this year will be "enhancing communication between humans and computers".
The annual market for computer mice is believed to be worth about US$1 billion. Simtrix's devices would, like conventional mice, use components worth a "couple of dollars", Mr Odgers says.
Wellington venture capital company Endeavour Capital, whose other investments include water software management firm Derceto, e-payments company GFG Group and biotechnology company Proacta, bought a 22 per cent stake in Simtrix in August. It appointed two directors, Stuart McKenzie and Dennis Row, to the Simtrix board.
Since Endeavour is one of six venture capital firms that attract dollar- for-dollar co-investment from the Government's Venture Investment Fund, taxpayers also have an interest in Mr Odgers' meeting in Redmond going well.
Simtrix is vying with other technology companies around the world that also hope to reinvent the mouse. One, Gyration, has developed a wireless optical mouse incorporating a gyroscope that can translate wrist movements while being waved in the air.
The Dominion Post