Trackbar
Trackbar is an ergonomic computer mouse – a centered pointing device. Being placed in front of the user it gives a comfortable and relaxed working posture and acts as a palm rest. Trackbar also provides several extra functions that a regular mouse lacks.
Many people working in offices keep a static, unnatural posture in front of their computers several hours per day. This can result in wrist and shoulder injuries that are difficult to heal. Eurooffice asked us to design an ergonomic mouse that helps reducing these risks.
Trackbar is a computer mouse with a roll bar, positioned in front of the user, for a relaxed and natural work posture. It not only gives a comfortable work situation but also offers more ways of interacting with the computer, such as extra buttons on scroll wheels on the sides.
Design process
After extensive user studies including interviews with doctors, ergonomists and regular users we could define the requirements and needs from the users. We also gained a very detailed understanding of the ergonomic requirements for office work: facilitate a relaxed position, avoid continuous and repetitive motions and allow for the user to change position.
Sketches were made with a wide variety of ideas, and then quick foam mockups were built for further user testing. Iterations later we could land in a final design proposal that fulfilled the needs and gave the user a great experience and many options for a dynamic work day.
