Mouse is the most popular pointing kind of input device that gives the users a 2D control. Initially mouse with left and right buttons were available in the market. Now we use wireless scroll mouse. Most of us might have dreamt of an input device that is capable of some sort of 3D control. Let us try to understand this using an example.
We use 3D modelling and animation soft wares like MAYA, 3D-MAX. And lot of 3D games. A pointing device which is capable of 3D control can help us a lot in using the above mentioned applications and games.
What is SUMA?
SUMA is a squeezable mouse-like pointing input device that gives three-dimensional control to its users. The device is called Suma, which is short for satsuma or the mandarin fruit.
The above figure shows SUMA:
How does it work?
SUMA consists of a sensor core. This sensor core is surrounded by light actuators. When the device is squeezed the light actuators detect pressure and movement. Electrical signals are produced by the sensors corresponding to the pressure and movement. Specially designed software inside SUMA process these signals to make it more standardized and is sent to the software program that drives the device (SUMA).
In 2D controllers like mouse only motion is taken into account, not pressure. But as far as SUMA is concerned pressure applied by the user’s finger is also taken into account.
This additional factor ‘pressure’ helps in the manipulation of the shape of the objects other than its motion.ie SUMA would be a great help in using 3D animation and modelling softwares and games.
SUMA can be recognised as a standard input device by laptops and PCs. SUMA can run off the USB power.
SUMA can also be used in medical field to help the disabled.
Tags: device, input, input device, Suma
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