The Z is an innovative computer mouse
The Z is a mouse created by Swiftpoint that aims to revolutionize how mice works by introducing new features that benefit all users.
When it comes to the mouse input device, not much has changed in the past decade or so. Manufacturers moved away from using a ball to power movement to other techniques, specialized devices came with dozens or more buttons, and DPI started to become important as well.
Apart from that, you still click on buttons to perform actions and that is about it for the majority of mice out there.
Some manufacturers tried to add more features to their products. Logitech's MX Master mouse enables you to control up to three devices at the same time for instance. Microsoft released a its Arc Touch mouse back in 2011 which brought a new design to the table.
For real innovation, you have to look elsewhere. KeyMouse, as crazy as it looks, did so by combining mouse and keyboard.
The Z
The Z looks like a gamer mouse on first glance with all its buttons and thingies attached to it. Its developer calls the mouse the most advanced gaming mouse ever. While it is too early to verify the claim -- the mouse is not available yet -- it could very well be considering what it offers on top of the usual mouse functionality.
First of all, it supports pivot, tilt and roll, something that you don't find in any other mouse currently. Apart from that, its buttons support tactile feedback so that you may map different actions to the button depending on how hard you click.
Examples? If you like to play shooters, you may use a mouse button to use a scope. You may then use the scroll wheel or buttons to zoom in, and another button to hold breath.
Deep Clicks using tactile feedback
With The Z, all actions can be mapped to the same mouse button. Right-click a bit to use the scope, click a bit deeper to zoom in, and even deeper to hold the breath for the perfect shot.
Another gaming example: perform a normal attack with a regular click, and a heavy or special attack with a deep click.
While gaming is one focus of the mouse, its deep click functionality offers new options for power users and regular users alike.
Since you can map different actions to same mouse button and use them using force, you may do the following in Word: double-click to select a word, press the mouse button a bit harder to select the paragraph, and a bit harder than that to select the entire document. Or map copy and paste to the same mouse button. Or set different brush thicknesses in Photoshop.
Tilt and Pivot
Tilt and pivot are two new features that The Z supports. Tilt allows you to change the tilt angle of the mouse to perform actions on the screen.
In a shooter, you may use it to lean left or right, and in a document, to pan. Pivot supports allows you to look left and right in shooters while moving forward, or use in-air gestures by lifting the mouse slightly in the air.
Panning, zooming and rotation is easily done with The /
The Z specs
As far as specs are concerned, here are the most important ones:
| Features | Details |
| Optical Sensor | 200-12,000 DPI, 5G |
| On-board Memory | Button mappings and settings |
| Polling | 1000hz |
| Dedicated buttons | 17 |
| Main click, trigger and finger tip buttons | 6 |
| Fast access fingertip button actions | 50 |
| Pivot and Tilt gestures | |
| In-air 6-axis movement | |
| Analogue Force buttons | 4 buttons |
| Deep click buttons | 4 buttons |
| Tactile feedback | yes, configrable on/off |
| OLED Screen |
The Z Kickstarter video
Closing Words
The Z is funded already with 36 days to go before the project ends on Kickstarter. One downside of such an innovative feature-rich mouse is price. You can grab a The Z mouse currently for $149 as an early bird special on Kickstarter which is $80 off the MSRP according to the developer.
While pricey when compared to regular mice, it is not uncommon for gaming mice to be very expensive as well. A quick check on Newegg returned several mice that cost $200 or more.
Build quality and the longevity of parts are other factors that cannot be determined at this point in time.
Still, The Z looks like an excellent computer mouse with innovative features that may find their way into other mice as well in the future.
Now You:What's your take on The Z?
Umm… it has a tail.
No, please.
Thanks Martin for this interesting article on the “The Z” mouse.
You’ve got me intrigued, and I will certainly read up more about that mouse.
I’ve been actually using the “Razer Deathadder Chroma” mouse for the last couple of years (complete with it’s awesome embedded LED lights that slowly cycle through the color spectrum!).
I have to say that I ABSOLUTELY love it, and could NEVER EVER go back to a cheap mouse ever again.
Although, having lived with LED lights embedded within my mouse, I’ve come to appreciate the awesomeness and also utilitarian nature of those LED lights late at night…
So any mouse (and keyboard) I consider in the future, MUST have awesome glowing LED light capability!
Actually, I use a DeathAdder as well on one of my PCs ;)
I’ve always hated moving a mouse around cluttered desktops and my hand tends to hurt after a full day of mousing while holding onto the thing.
So my mouse of choice has been an Alps or Cirque touchpad for probably 20 years now. Sits next to my keyboard, both on a pullout shelf and the only thing that has to move are my fingers on the touchpad. I never have any wrist or hand pain with this approach.
1) You should never have to look at your mouse–at all.
2) Simpler is better. One button should do one thing, work one way. The fewer functions, the better. (You shouldn’t have to actually think about your mouse either.)
3) The Logitech MX518 is just about the most perfect mouse ever made.
4) Most people don’t position the mouse–or the keyboard for that matter–in a properly ergonomic position, which usually results in some type of–usually minor–stress injury.
Speak for yourself Earl!
I look at my mouse ALL THE TIME late night, as it glows beautifully in a cycle of LED color spectrum.
When I invite people to my home, they are often astonished and in awe at my keyboard and mouse!
I have a RAZER Deathadder Chroma mouse — it’s high performance, and multi-feature buttons are awesome!
I also have a RAZER Blackwidow Keyboard… that glows even more gloriously at night, and clicks/clacks with it’s mechanical keys that reminds me of the old IBM PC keyboard!
I’d never give them up, and couldn’t go back to cheap/simple/unappealing/un-interactive-keyboards-mice… and couldn’t disagree with you more!
not sure why you have to look at the mouse or think, once you get used to where everything is. you can just feel where things are with your hand. if you need all those extra buttons in the 1st place.
then again, even though i use a logitech mx master, i only use one of the thumb buttons (as middle button and i never use the scroll wheel as that) and can’t find a decent use for the thumb wheel.
After a repetitive stress injury, I moved into using a vertical ergonomic mouse. It would be nice to see some reviews on ergonomic hardware too. I’d recommend you look into the vertical Evoluent mouse and similar products. After hurting the supinator muscle in my forearm, my vertical mouse has been a real life saver that allowed me to keep using my computer.
If you would like to expand on ergonomic hardware, I’d also recommend you look at the Autonomous Smart Desk and similar products. They’d be worth the look and allow you to review some interesting new products.
I also advocate ergonomic equipment. The 3M vertical mouse is very good.
Hi Martin, your title should read “innovative” rather than ‘innovate’. :-)
Thanks ;)