Re: foot pedals

[http://dummy.us.eu.org/robert (Robert)]

 > From: Devin Lunsford <http://www.WROX.COM/~devl>
 > Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2000 11:10:39 -0000
 >
 > >a long time ago I read something about the "no hands mouse"? or foot
 > >pedals. Has anyone had any luck with this and where do you get it? Is
 > >there a web site?
 > 
 > I tried it, the website is www.footmouse.com and it's $249.95!!!!
 > 
 > i found it exceedingly difficult to use, and it didn't seem like just a
 > 'getting used to it' period.  to see why, hold your foot off the ground
 > (whichever one you'd use to steer the thing with) and try tilting it forward
 > and back (easy, right?).  now try tilting to the sides.  It's a little more
 > difficult (OK, a lot more) and you end up essentially holding your foot in
 > the air all day and wiggling your knee to get left and right - not so hot if
 > you're doing it all day.  my legs started to hurt after about a week and i
 > sent it back.
 > 
 > if anyone's had positive results i'd like to hear them, but...
 > 
 > -dev...

I've been using the NoHands mouse for about 2 years now and I love it!
Admittedly, I use it in non-standard ways.  (For example, the clicking
pedal kept acting up -- it would click just while resting my foot on it.
So, I placed it orthogonally and put a wood block in front of it and use
the front part of my foot to click either left or right.  Also, I have key
sequences which changes the mouse cursor speed as needed.)

I had always and still have big problems when using a regular mouse or
trackball or anything where I have to hold my hand up.  (I use armrests
on my chair when typing for exactly this reason.)  Amazingly, despite the
fact that, when I'm forced to use one, I use a mouse with my left hand,
my right hand starts hurting!  But, it's quite consistent.  Since getting
a footmouse, my symptoms have receded somewhat.

I do not like the quality of the footmouse, but it has helped me so much,
it's really been worth the investment.