RollerMouse

I've had a couple of days "off blog", awaiting my new Roller Mouse. If you're not familiar with this helpful tool, it's a combination of wrist-rest and mouse that you put in front of your keyboard, with mouse-functions in the middle, so that you can keep your arms in the same position and don't have to use a mouse on the side. 

I had an early version at work back in my working days (as medical secretary in the 1990s); then also got one as handicap aid ("on permanent loan") to use at home. When that one got worn out, I bought one of my own, in 2012. That one has worked very well, except that for the last couple of years, it has had its wrist-rests mended with duct tape. The photo below is from 2023:

Recently, the tape too came loose - and when trying to remove and replace that with new tape, all the rest of the "cushions" sort of disintegrated as well... So time to search the internet for a whole new "thingy"...

I managed to find a newer version that seemed to be roughly the same shape and size - available from more than one company, but I chose one that claimed to have it in stock within Sweden and would send it within 2-3 days. (It's sometimes hard to know these days.)

Only after I completed the order did it hit me that I had still forgotten to check their definition of "standard delivery". I know it wasn't too long ago that I ordered some small item online, convinced that it would be delivered by ordinary post - but it turned out I had to go to a shop "across town" (not at all convenient to me) to collect it... 

So I've been keeping my fingers crossed for a couple of days (as well as basically off my keyboard!) ... But this morning I got a text message that I could pick up the parcel at my nearest convenience shop, just some 5+ minutes walk away.  (Phew.)

The product itself also turned out to be what I had expected; and easy enough to install, as it's still of the "plug and play" kind (no need to download extra software). 

PS. Some observant reader might notice that there is also a separate mouse in my photos. It came with my bluetooth keyboard, but no need to use it when I have the RollerMouse...

 

Rollermouse

About ten years ago, I got a wrist-rest like this with built-in mouse – called a Rollermouse – as a handicap aid to use with my computer. I got it on ‘permanent loan’ for free and very grateful for that, because back then I had very little money and an uncertain future (this was before I got my handicap pension) and it was a big help since I had (still have) problems using a regular mouse.

I should perhaps add that back then I had an old desktop computer. Now I use it together with a separate keyboard when I use the laptop in the study.

A few years ago, the Rollermouse showed a tendency to sometimes go partly on strike. It was the clicking of the roller-bar that stopped working. It was like that for a while, on and off, with my old laptop. But when I got my new laptop – ‘Bella’ - two years ago, then suddenly the Rollermouse started to work perfectly again with that computer; and has continued to do so, until a few days ago. I’ve connected and disconnected it any number of times during the last two years without problems. Until…

…. the other day it suddenly partly went on strike again, and wouldn’t reconnect whatever I did. When I realized how long I’d had it – really, 10+ years is quite a long time for any computer-related device! – I decided to just buy a new one of my own, since I can now afford it. Last night, I searched and found a web-shop from where I could order and pay by invoice, and on top of all it was on sale just now, and no extra freight cost. So I ordered one.

It’s just that… Guess what I just realized? In the meantime, the old one has once more mysteriously popped back into working order and is again responding as it should! Well, never mind… Actually the gel filled wrist-supports are getting worn too.

Anyway, it struck me that some of you might never have heard of the Rollermouse, and as I also happened last night to come across some YouTube demos of it, I thought I’d introduce it to you.