REFLEX Performance Mouse

CONCEPT ART, 3D MODEL, RENDERINGS

DISCIPLINE(S):  Industrial Design, Interaction Design
ROLE:  Industrial Designer
SKILLS & TOOLS:  Sketching, Clay Sculpting, Photoshop, Class A Surfacing, Solidworks, Keyshot

A kind of swiss-army-knife of computer peripherals when properly customized, Reflex is intended for the user who desires fingertip access to a large number of functions which would otherwise require comparatively sluggish keyboard or pointer navigation, wrapped in a sleek and modern package.

LEFT: Default Desktop Configuration (Completely customizable, with unique profiles configurable for individual programs). RIGHT: Sample Gaming Configuration.

Inspiration & Research

I had two main goals in mind for the Reflex concept.

• The first was to create a shape ergonomically pleasing to the hand, but still friendly to the "claw-grip" usage style preferred for precision work.

• The second was to provide a generous number of buttons in places that would not be hit accidentally, yet remained easy to reach.

Having owned and used a variety of different mouse models and makes over the years, I had a fairly comprehensive pool of experience from which to draw inspiration. Experiences with mice offering media controls (1), inventive thumb controls (2), and additional easily-reached secondary buttons (3) were of particular note.

The base shape would need a surface that followed the natural shape of one’s hand when mousing: the corner corresponding to the forefinger towards the lower-left and higher off the ground plane (A), the corner for the middlefinger towards the upper-right and closer to the ground plane (B).

At rest, one’s middle- and forefinger sit almost fully extended (C). Buttons placed somewhat forward of the fingertip are more difficult to reach. When curled up, however (D), one’s middle- and forefinger (literally) point to a number of ideal button locations without movement of the wrist and forearm.

Ideation & Development

Preliminary sketches exploring basic shape, button locations and control surfaces

This test concept aimed at providing easy access to commonly used commands, bypassing keyboard or onscreen shortcut

LEFT: The clay model I sculpted to determine ideal ergonomic form, with my hand ghosted in for size reference 
RIGHT: The 3D model ultimately developed using the sculpted proof as a base

3D Model

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