These Ergonomic Mice From ProtoArc Are Designed To Counter RSI And Reduce Injury?

Forbes

5 days ago

Recently, I wrote about some high-end ergonomic mice from Unimouse, but those specialist mice aren't particularly affordable. What are your options if you need an ergonomic mouse that will help with conditions like RSI and carpal tunnel syndrome without breaking the bank? In this hands-on feature, I look at two new ergonomic and affordable mice that could help provide a better way of pushing your cursor across the screen with less risk of pain or injury.
ProtoArc is a brand that's perhaps best known for making a range of folding keyboards and travel mice. However, the company also makes a series of ergonomic mice and input devices that can help people who find using a regular mouse painful or difficult. The brand also produces left-handed mice for the 10% of the population who veer to the left.
A Vertical Mouse
First up from ProtoArc is the EM11 NL vertical wireless mouse that has an extended wrist rest that fits the palm snugly while promoting a more natural and relaxed position of the forearm and wrist. The vertical design helps minimize the risk of injury from RSI and reduces muscle tension in the arm for more comfort throughout the working day.
With a choice of connectivity between Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless, the EM11 NL can connect with up to three different host devices simultaneously. The user can switch between paired devices by clicking on the mode button. The mouse also has left and right buttons, a scroll wheel, a third button, plus forward and backward buttons for when you are browsing the web.
Unlike most mice powered by alkaline batteries, the EM11 NL has a built-in rechargeable 500mAh Li-ion battery that can be charged with a USB Type-C cable. After 30 minutes of inactivity, the mouse enters sleep mode to save energy but will wake up when moved. There's a low battery LED to signify when it's time to recharge the mouse.
Adjustable Resolution
A useful feature on this mouse is the adjustable resolution setting. The optical sensor on the EM11 NL can be set to 1,000, 1,600 and 2,400 DPI, which provides different levels of sensitivity and can be useful when working on precise image editing or when using a design package like Adobe Illustrator or CAD.
The buttons on the EM11 NL are designed to be quiet and programmable, although not with macOS. The mouse works perfectly with a Mac but its buttons can only be customized with a Windows computer. For example, the forward and backward buttons don't work when browsing the web with a Mac. Windows users can extensively customize the buttons and actions without any difficulty.
If you are a Mac user, you simply can't customize the mouse buttons, which is a shame. If you want a fully programmable mouse for your Mac, then look at what Logitech has to offer because it has Logi Options+ software, arguably one of the best mouse and keyboard software packages on the market.
Keeping Track
The second ergonomic mouse option launched by ProtoArc is the EM01 NL, a mouse that's also a trackball. I've been using a Logitech trackball for years now after getting a nasty case of RSI and I wouldn't go back to using a regular mouse. A trackball suits my way of working and it could suit yours too, especially if you find you have a sore arm and shoulders after hours spent working at your computer.
The ProtoArc EM01 NL has the usual left and right mouse buttons, a scroll wheel, third button, forward and backward buttons, plus two more programmable buttons. Once again, the EM01 NL works fine with a Mac, but the buttons can't be customized. That's a shame as this trackball mouse is a clone of Logitech's excellent MX Ergo S trackball.
As with the vertical mouse, the EM01 NL offers a choice of two Bluetooth pairings but also comes with a USB-A wireless dongle for connecting via 2.4GHz. Using the third button behind the scroll wheel you can switch between any connected devices such as a computer, tablet or laptop.
An unusual feature with this mouse trackball is its clickable base plate, which can place the mouse at a 20-degree angle, turning it on its side slightly to make it a little bit closer to a vertical mouse. It's a useful feature and worth experimenting with to see if it helps should you have a problem like RSI.
The EM01 NL includes a built-in 900mAh lithium battery and a full charge will last for a month of average use. The resolution of the EM01 NL's sensor can also be altered adn there is a choice of five resolutions: 200, 400, 800, 1,200 and 1,600 DPI for adjusting the cursor's sensitivity.
A trackball mouse can be particularly useful if, like me, you have a cramped desk and don't have enough room to push your mouse all over the place. A trackball lets the user leave the mouse in one place and the cursor is then manipulated by moving the trackball with the thumb.
One small note for those opting to use a trackball: every now and again, you need to pop out the tracking ball and clean fluff and dust off the tracking sensors inside the mouse. You'll know when it's time to de-fluff as the cursor won't be as responsive and may start juddering across the screen.
The ProtoArc EN11 NL vertical mouse is available now from ProtoArc and Amazon and costs $26.99 / £34.42 / €17,27. The ProtoArc EM01 NL Trackball Mouse is also shipping now and available from Amazon priced at $44.99 / £46.99 / €54,99.