Wireless with Wires

Posted on Aug 9, 2010 in Ideas, Opinions, Technology, Thoughts, Usability

When charged, no wires; when charging, wired.

The only thing I hate more than wires around my computer are wireless devices. They run out of juice constantly, and recharging them is a hassle. Your options, depending on your wireless device, are:

Destroy the environment—and your wallet—with traditional batteries
Use rechargeable batteries which last about 3 hours, have a 6-month total lifespan, and require you to keep extras on hand so you can keep working when they run out
Plop one of those recharging bases on your desk, thus adding clutter (and wires!) to your workspace, and again taking your device out of commission during charging.

My proposal is to do something similar to game controllers: when your device is charged, it works wirelessly just like it should. When it runs out of juice, you simply plug it into your computer, turning it into a regular wired device while it charges. Once it’s done charging, simply unplug it and go back to working wirelessly.

It’s the 21st century. I find it hard to believe no one has done this yet. (Am I mistaken?)

Update: Yes, I was mistaken. I turns out there actually are some wireless mice (mouses?) that can be used in a tethered mode while charging…or so it appears, though I can’t seem to find adequate product descriptions to confirm whether, when tethered, they are also charging. One would assume so.

9 Comments

graham
10 August , 2010
Why not just have a solar powered mouse that charges from any light source? Or one that charges from kinetic energy created when you move it? Watches do both of these things.
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Chance Bliss
10 August , 2010
I have a hardwired mouse on my iMac in the event that the batteries on my magic mouse go out and I’m too lazy to change them. The hardwired mouse is like my backup pistol stored in my right boot.
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Renee
9 August , 2010
Oh physics, why must you constantly thwart our great ideas? The good news is – in somewhere under 18 months, Moore’s-willing (or one of his technical cousins) – your idea will be technically feasible….oh wait, that’s right, battery technology hasn’t changed in about a hundred years – so scratch that.
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carl
9 August , 2010
My guess is that it’s (currently) difficult to fit all the requisite parts that your design would require (bluetooth, charger, battery, usb) into the standard-sized mouse.
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- Michael McWatters
  9 August , 2010
  For keyboards there should be plenty of room for the items you mention.
  
  For a mouse, the only item that would need to be added would be the USB socket, and there are already mice that have everything you’ve outlined…their only drawback (difference) is that they have a very short tether for charging, making them unusable when being charged: http://j.mp/c5R8vc
  Reply
  - carl
    10 August , 2010
    Doesn’t that mouse you linked to have a retractable cable? That’s what it looks like to me. That would make it technology of the now, available right away!
    Reply
    - Michael McWatters
      10 August , 2010
      I think you’re right, the cable is retractable. Here’s another one: http://j.mp/9svtMH
      
      Amazing…you’d think they’d do a better job advertising the fact that you can use the mouse wirelessly or wired, depending on your battery charge!
      Reply
Corey
9 August , 2010
Interesting idea. Certainly sensible and clean in terms of approach and desktop clutter. The battery/environment issue is still there, but at least you take out one plastic/metal object (the charger) in the process. I’d buy it.
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Dan
9 August , 2010
Wow, such a great idea. How does not exist yet?
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