Reinventing the (scroll) wheel

Here’s a story that’s bound to be of some interest, even if fleeting, to everyone who visits this site.

The New Inventors tonight on the ABC will include a brand new computer mouse, the Orbita Mouse. This device promises to replace our left and right mouse clicks with “new push and squeeze actions.” It’s so nifty it can “rotate objects in three dimensions simultaneously whilst panning and zooming at the same time.” But can it wash dishes?

The Orbita Mouse designed by Lawrence Crew from NSW will compete with a “shadow caddy” for golfers and a training aid for breeding cattle and horses.

Orbita Mouse – the user friendly 3D mouse. The Orbita Mouse is a revolution in computer mouse devices. By replacing the typical mouse left and right click functions with new push and squeeze actions, and also introducing a freewheeling action to do away with the usual scroll wheel, the Orbita Mouse enables high-resolution three-axis movement in a plug-and-play mouse interface. With all these new functions, the Orbita Mouse can rotate objects in three dimensions simultaneously whilst panning and zooming at the same time.

Breed ’n Betsy – the cow’s best friend. The nation’s cows will breathe a collective sigh of relief! Finally there’s an alternative way to train novices without using live animals. Breed ’n Betsy is a training aid for use in artificial breeding, pregnancy diagnosis and embryo transplanting in cattle and horses. Its inventor Brad Pickford has devised 25 removable and interchangeable components which all attach to a frame to simulate the reproductive organs of either a cow or a horse. Breed ’n Betsy allows the student to prepare for the real thing, and the trainer to see what the student is doing.

Shadow Caddy – the faithful follower. For all those golfers tired of wheeling their clubs around, the Shadow Caddy is the answer. This robot on wheels faithfully follows a radio transmitter worn by the golfer and carries their golf clubs wherever they go. The Shadow Caddy accelerates and decelerates and turns and stops when its user does. It even has a collision avoidance system! Inventors Hubert Novak & Michael Hamilton believe their technology can be used in warehousing, supermarkets, toys, airports, hospitals, hotels and postal services.

New Inventors screens 8pm Wednesday on ABC1 and repeats at Fridays at 4pm on ABC2.