For nearly 60 years, the computer mouse has been a constant companion at desks worldwide. Yet despite countless changes in technology, the mouse itself has barely evolved.
This lack of innovation is now coming under scrutiny, as new research highlights its role in causing pain and injury for millions of users.
A study led by Jose Berengueres, Associate Professor at Nazarbayev University in Kazakhstan, together with Tony Yu from the University of Melbourne, stresses the urgent need to rethink mouse design.
Published in the journal Interactions, the research argues that better ergonomics could protect users from repetitive strain injuries while making computing more comfortable.
Repetitive strain injuries, or RSIs, are becoming a serious global health concern.
They are particularly common among younger people, who spend long hours at computers for study, work, or gaming.
Studies suggest that almost one in five mouse users develop chronic hand or wrist problems.
Tests with students at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden showed especially high levels of discomfort among gamers under 30, who often use a mouse for many hours at a stretch.
Professor Berengueres and his colleagues tested two new prototypes that challenge the traditional mouse shape.
The first, called the Fleximouse, uses a squeezable mesh body that encourages a more natural hand grip, known as a palmar grasp. The second, developed with Yu, is an A-frame hinge mouse.
This design positions the hand vertically, reduces the number of moving parts, and could be produced at lower cost.
A striking finding was that even small differences in hand size made a big impact on comfort. Just one centimeter in hand length could affect how well a person adapted to a given design.
This suggests that a one-size-fits-all approach is flawed, and that future mice should be adaptable to individual users.
Thanks to advances in 3D printing, flexible electronics, and new materials, the researchers believe customizable computer mice are within reach. Such designs could be tailored to a person’s hand size, grip style, or even the type of work or gaming they do.
“The mouse is long overdue for reinvention,” says Berengueres. “Done right, it could make computing healthier and more comfortable for millions.”
With computers now central to daily life, redesigning something as familiar as the mouse may seem small. But for users battling discomfort, the benefits could be enormous—reducing medical costs, boosting productivity, and making screen time a little easier on the hands.
