The “4D” in the name of a 4D mouse refers to four directional movements. This pointing device can scroll a page either vertically or horizontally, or up/down and left/right. Having an additional direction of motion is useful not only online, but also in spreadsheet applications and graphing programs. It’s also good for quick mouse positioning in games or for drawing large designs in graphics programs.
A 4D mouse can help prevent carpal tunnel syndrome.
Scrolling is an extremely useful feature, especially when browsing the Internet. Most websites require visitors to repeatedly click the little up/down arrows in the window or drag the vertical bar to scroll down the page. A 4D mouse makes this repetitive and somewhat cumbersome task as easy as rolling a ball with your fingertip. A page that does not fit in view horizontally can be viewed using the horizontal scroll ball.
Studies have shown that repetitive movements, such as clicking the mouse button, can cause carpal tunnel syndrome and finger pain. For those who only spend a few hours or less a day on a computer, this might not be a problem. The millions of people who spend eight or more hours a day in front of the screen can find this type of mouse very beneficial.
In addition to the physical relief, scrolling with a 4D mouse is easier and faster than repeatedly clicking an arrow or dragging a scroll bar. The screen moves smoothly and can be effortlessly stopped at any position, stopping the scrolling motion. No more “screen jumps” when the mouse accidentally slides off the arrow or vertical bar.
This mouse may also include programmable buttons that can be used for page before and after functions or other tasks. It can be wired, wireless or optical. Many laptops have a 4D mousepad built into the keyboard. Swiping horizontally along the bottom edge of the panel scrolls the screen left and right, while swiping up or down along the right edge of the panel scrolls vertically. Some keyboard manufacturers also offer desktop keyboards with integrated 4D pads.
