When it comes to laptops say no to nipples!

Published in Laptops +mobile equipment on Thursday, 19 March 2009
by Catherine Albert  |   Post RSS

As laptop use increases manufacturers are always trying to come up with new ways to make them smaller and more compact. One of these is to reduce the input device to minimise space. an example of this is the nipple mouse – the tiny button in the middle of the text keys that allows you to control the cursor, similar to a touch pad that is usually positioned under the space bar.

Some people like the idea that they do not have to move their hand off the keys to activate the mouse, unlike a touch pad. But its not the placement of the nipple on the keyboard thats the problem its how its operated.

Controlling a nipple mouse requires frequent, small bending movements of the finger joint,  which is not what finger joints were designed to do. Some of the symptoms we see include painful, swollen, or tender joints, particularly the middle joint of the third finger. And it tends to be more of a problem for people who use their laptops most of the time even at their desk or for those who do alot of scrolling with spread sheets

Whats the answer to using a nipple mouse.

Surprise, surprise, you need to stop using it. You can do this in a number of ways

1. Buy a laptop/notebook with a touch pad. You can even disable the nipple mouse

2. Attach an external mouse to your laptop whenever you are going to use it for extended periods – say 20 minutes or more. Obviously this is more difficult if you are using it in transit, for example on a train.

3. Organise your computer tasks so when you cannot use an external mouse or a touch pad because you are travelling or working in a car, then choose tasks that do not require constant mouse work. Find tasks that just involve text inputting and save the tasks that require mouse work until you can set up your laptop properly

4. Start using keyboard shortcuts

What about exercises?

Actually exercises are unlikely to help in this case. The problem is caused by overuse and it will resolve when you stop the aggravating factor, in this case using a nipple mouse. Whats difficult to say is how much time you can use the nipple mouse before you get problems. It is likely to vary from person to person but what you should not do is persist with using it if you do get problems.

What about the nipple points on a mouse?

We don't really see people with problems from these so I wonder if they work better as an extra button on the mouse than they do as a complete mouse replacement as on a laptop. It would seem they can be useful but not for constant use.

Comments

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Very interesting, I can see I'm going to have to consider this next time I buy for my company.

MHL (25 March 2009)

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What utter nonsense, the nipple mouse is the best invention on laptops EVER, Ive been using the nipple mouse in excess of 10 years, and never experienced any joints swollen or otherwise. The nipple mouse gives far more control of navigation than the touch pad will ever do. Can you please publish what medical data you have to support your statement. Thanks

Jay (02 July 2010)

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