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Few technologies are as wonderful as the computer mouse, which has been a desktop mainstay since its introduction over 60 years ago. The fundamental shape has stayed consistent throughout trackballs, lasers, cable and wireless connections, and a number of ergonomic adjustments. According to experts, the mouse may be about to undergo its most drastic overhaul to date. Two novel prototypes, a squeezable mesh body and a vertical A-frame form, were developed to alleviate wrist injuries and repetitive strain pain, which existing designs frequently fail to avoid.
New flexible mouse prototypes promise relief from wrist strain, researchers say
According to results published in the journal ACM Interactions (Sept.-Oct. 2025 edition), previous ergonomic approaches, such as angled grips or trackballs, have not addressed the fundamental issue of wrist repositioning. Scientists believe that hard mouse casings are the primary problem, requiring users to raise and reposition the gadget hundreds of times every hour. They claimed that advances in 3D printing and soft robotics now enable the construction of mice that are more adaptive to the human hand.
The Fleximouse, the first prototype, has a malleable mesh that moves the pointer in response to grip changes rather than surface movement. The second, the A-frame, developed with the Melbourne School of Design, puts the hand vertically, keeping the forearm bones aligned and decreasing strain.
To reduce wrist repositioning and pain, KTH Royal Institute of Technology is doing research on two mouse models, the Fleximouse and the A-frame. The designs attempt to reduce pain. Furthermore, researchers seek to improve these notions with personalized fits, making extended computer hours less taxing on the human wrist.
