Watch on Vimeo

DataBot Mouse
Data or data-streams are not tangible for us at all. We just see graphical
abstractions of ones and zeros, visualized as folders, files or loading bars
on our screens.
DataBot Mouse is an experiment of giving data physical properties, to make
the communication/interaction between man and data more human and
easier to understand.

The mouse is able to communicate three different properties of data. It can
show you the weight of files and folders, by braking with different force,
according to the file-size.
Or you can set a custom weight for files, just like the color marking function
in MacOSX. So you can find important files more easily.
The third property, the mouse can show you, is the activity of files and
folders. By breathing with different intervals, it shows how much a file was
opened or how busy a folder has been recently.
You can switch between and adjust those features to make the mouse fit
your needs.

The prototype was implemented with VVVV and Arduino. It mainly consists
of a small servo-motor, inside an optical mouse, which brakes a little ball.

Also make sure to check out the DataBot Harddrive: http://vimeo.com/24771868

HfG Schwäbisch Gmünd
Interaction Design
6th Semester

Project team:
Jan Barth
Roman Grasy

Support:
Prof. Hans Krämer
Prof. Steffen Süpple