Laser Relinquishes Reins to Blue Track
Microsoft today unveiled its new Explorer and Explorer Mini Mouse, both of which employ Blue Track technology, thereby ending the reign of the laser mice. Blue Track technology will allow owners to use their mice on a variety of surfaces that laser mice can't handle. According to Mark DePue, platforms engineering manager at Microsoft and co-inventor of BlueTrack Technology, "Research shows that people aren’t sitting at a desk all day, but they’ve gone mobile. In fact, 72 percent of PCs sold are notebook PCs, and consumers need a mouse that can go with them anywhere." Blue Track is the solution.
The first optical mouse debuted in 1999, rendering the trackball mice obsolete. It was able to perform on a variety of surfaces that trackballs simply couldn't handle. In 2005 the laser mouse replaced the optical mouse and was even more versatile. Now the Blue Track mouse will replace the laser mouse. Microsoft's proprietary tracking technology uses a large, blue beam and specular optics architecture along with an image sensor and proprietary pixel geometry to generate a high-contrast picture of the mousing surface that allows for more accurate tracking. In fact, the blue light beam is four times the width of the standard laser beam, allowing it to track over granite, marble and even carpet, all surfaces on which laser mice operate poorly. According to David Bohn, senior engineering architect at Microsoft and BlueTrack Technology co-inventor, “Laser technology is also sensitive to dust and dirt accumulation during travel, which can lead to poor tracking performance. With BlueTrack Technology you can rest easier about where your mouse will or won’t track — it works just about everywhere, just like you.”
The Explorer Mouse is rechargeable and has a battery life indicator and a charging base while the Explorer Mini uses two AA batteries. Both use 2.4 GHz wireless technology that allows them to connect reliably up to a distance of 30 feet away. Both will be available at BestBuy.com and at Best Buy stores in November. They are expected to retail for $99.95 and $79.95 respectively.
[via Microsoft]
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