The mouse really hasn't changed much over these last few decades: you roll it about on a flat surface, use your index finger to click a button or two, and a mouse pointer does your bidding on the display unit of your choice.

Now Simtrix, a New Zealand-based computer peripheral developer, has introduced its Swiftpoint line of pointing devices. Simtrix claims that the design of their new products "represents a radical new mouse technology poised to finally allow consumers to enjoy the full power of a desktop mouse & keyboard within a mobile environment."

It's a bold claim, and one that becomes more intriguing when you actually see what the devices look like. The Swiftpoint TriPed slips over the thumb and is primarily meant to be used with touch tablets, tablet PCs and other devices that generally rely on a pen or stylus for input. When it's not being used and is "at rest" on a desk or table, the gadget resembles a prosthetic device that an injured Pokémon may use to hobble between matches.