Ask HN: Using laser mouse sensor in a body of pen. Possible?

2 pointsCome-rad4 comments

Hi, I'm thinking about the stylus (pen) you can use on your table. To track it's position I'm thinking about the sensor as laser computer mouses have. Is it possible to place that sensor into a pen? Anybody seen prototypes?

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You can buy a pen mouse on Amazon. A friend of mine has one and he swears by it, but I find it more difficult to use (or at least get used to) than a regular mouse for everyday things.

Oh, God. Those are huge. I see why you find them difficult to use

Actually my problem is not necessarily with the size, but more with the just reaching over and using a mouse. With the pen you either put it in the base or you leave it laying there. If I am working coding or something where I use the mouse rarely having to reach, pickup, use is more time consuming and frustrating to me. With a traditional mouse it is more natural just to move my hand to the right, use the mouse, and go back to typing away.

Very possible. The problem is how chunky the pen is to fit the sensor and illumination.

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