3D Mice Can Now be Used with Any Application

By DE Editors

3Dconnexion has announced 3DxWare 10, a driver platform that it says extends the usage of 3D mice to any application. With more than a million units sold, 3Dconnexion 3D mice are used by engineering and design professionals working in sophisticated 3D environments. Now with 3DxWare 10, 3Dconnexion 3D mice can also handle everyday applications.

Previously, only users of specialist 3D applications benefited from the six degrees-of-freedom 3D navigation. Now, the 3DxWare 10 interface allows users to assign keyboard strokes and traditional mouse or joystick movements in any combination to the 3D mouse. The choice of application and assignment of the six axes and up to 31 function keys (depending on the 3D mouse model) is up to the user.

“The 3DxWare 10 driver platform represents a new era for our 3D mice,” says Dieter Neujahr, president of 3Dconnexion. “Our customers have told us they want to be able to use their 3D mice with everyday applications. This technology lays the foundation for our products to be used far more widely, ultimately allowing us to extend the advanced features of our 3D mice to anyone who works with a computer.”

The 3DxWare 10 beta platform for PC and Mac is available for download at www.3dconnexion.com/anywhere and is compatible with 3Dconnexion’s current line of 3D mice, including the SpacePilot PRO ($399), SpaceExplorer ($299), SpaceNavigator ($99) and SpaceNavigator for Notebooks ($129).

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company's website.