Design a 3D Mouse, Win a $5,000 CAD Workstation

Conventional mice, as many of you know, have been a major source of wrist injuries from repeated motion. True, the invention of computer mouse made text input and selection a lot easier. But it also brought a host of ergonomic dangers previously unknown to computer users. Now, with the emergence of touch-computing, most mobile devices are bypassing the mouse by allowing you to navigate 3D models using your fingertips. (See "The Great iPad Race: DWG on the Go," June 21, 2011; and "The iPad Army's Latest Conquest: Teamcenter," April 7, 2011).

So what should the mouse of the future look like? 3Dconnexion, a specialized 3D mice developer, is going to entice you to get involved in its brainstorm. This week, the company launched another 3D Design Challenge, dubbed "3D Mouse of the Future."

Here's how it works. You download a zip file containing a 3D model of 3Dconnexion's standard controller (affectionately known as "hockey puck" in some circles). The zip file contains several industry-standard 3D formats, including STEP, IGES, OBJ, and SolidWorks. Next, you "design your ultimate 3D mouse -- no holds barred! The only criteria is to ensure your design integrates 3Dconnexion's existing controller cap," the company says in its announcement.

At the end of each month a panel of judges will pick three winners for 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd prizes. If you're picked, you stand to receive a SpacePilot PRO 3D Mouse (for 1st prize), SpaceExplorer 3D Mouse (2nd prize), or SpaceNavigator 3D Mouse (3rd prize).

The challenge will wrap up in September with the selection of the Grand Prize winner, to be picked by public votes from monthly winners. The Grand Prize is a custom workstation valued as much as $5,000.

For more, check out the challenge's home page here.