Do you suffer from the pain of your index finger palm joint (index metacarpophalangeal joint) after intensively using mouse scroll wheel? Unfortunately, many people did.
This is because in the scroll motion, your third section of your index finger bone (Proximal) and palm bone (Metacarpal) formed 180° and even beyond, casuing hyperextension that over extends your ligament and soft tissue, resulting injury and fatigue.
Magician Pro is an ergonomic mouse that addresses this hyperextension issue.
The innovative ascending surface design reduces the degree index finger scrolls (only 165°), the haptic motor delivers the precise tactile feedback of scrolling and provides more layers of interaction.
These Professionals use scroll wheels intensively, they rely on the precision and long-time confortness
Typical types of mouse on the market
To the pros, high demand for precision and reliability need, the most popular form of mouse,
Palm ergo mouse is the go, what will it be like?
Among four types of basic surface for scrolling purpose, No.3 is the top choice
Indent surface study using MX master 3 as base template to understand problems
Switchable plate are designed to test different indent surface options. Although hyperextension is avoided, the concave surface is not comfortable when using. The surface change is too much and finger cannot move easily across sections.
Design Inspiration
Development milestones
With all the study and test, further refinement let me find out the keys are the vertical and straight distance between finger tip and palm rest surface. The larger the both distances are, hyperextension will be more less. But balanced overall ergonomics and aesthetics are important.
Intuition design: Scroll surface need finger recognition and raised bar is most natural and comfortable
Flat scroll surface cannot be differentiated without looking at it. Sunken surface sounds correct but the sides will cut into the finger tip which is too noticable. 0.5mm raised surface is the best, finger tip will only glide on the top smooth surface.
Ergonomics validation assembled prototype: Hyperextension margin is avoided with much safe space
At scroll motion ending stage, Magician Pro does limit the degree by a lot (10-15 degrees) which feels very obvious hands on because 180 degree margin is avoided.