SteelSeries WoW mouse-- will it be effective for people with limited usage of hand?

[bleedredstars]

I'm guessing most of you have heard about the Steel Series mouse for WoW by now. The mouse boasts 15 programmable buttons (http://www.amazon.com/SteelSeries-Special-World-Warcraft-Mouse/dp/B001H31B2A) including a functional D-Pad on the side. Also, supposedly you can set it up for up to 15 different characters for on the fly character switching. At $99 the price is pretty steep, and I'm sure many are saying, "I'm fine with my current setup," which I understand. However, I'm wondering about the potential for someone who has limited use of one of their hands or perhaps just isn't quite up to par with the mouse and keyboard setup.

Myself, I have very limited use of my right hand. I could get by playing WoW with the mouse and keyboard, but it was mostly by the dreaded switching, using one hand for the mouse and the action buttons on the keyboard while trying to at least get use out of my right with the arrow keys. I know, I know I'm supposed to be using WASD, but it'd still be a pain. This is why the potential of this mouse excites me.

I'm wondering if anybody has used this mouse yet (I heard it was on display at Blizz Con) or have similar mice or really just want to speculate how useful something like this would be for someone looking to use it predominately? Meaning, very little use of the keyboard while instead using the D-Pad buttons to move and the other action buttons for the actions. Currently, I've taking a hiatus from WoW, but something like this could make me take another look as it did get frustrating feeling like I couldn't quite do everything well enough.

:wave: Thanks for any help.

-Dustin

[Twoflower]

i dont know that mouse.

but have you tried using the keyboard with your right hand and switching the mouse to the left ? you have only told us about your right hand, but if you can operate the arrow keys with it, maybe you can also operate the rest of the keyboard ?

[bleedredstars]

I apologize for the confusion. I do use the mouse with my left hand, as it would be impossible with my right. For, say, normal walking around routine stuff, I can usually function with my right. However, in the heat of action or anything more than walking in a straight line, it is terribly ineffective and I usually have to pull my left hand off the mouse and do everything, which is just inefficient and slow!

I'm just imagining how great it would be if I could somehow have the movement mapped to this mouse along with action keys and be able to move the camera/target all with the mouse, but I have no experience with it and don't know if it's even possible.

[Dakiter]

I would love to try that mouse but I play on MACs and as far as I can see on there site there is no MAC support.

[Renata]

Just wondering what the limitation is on your right hand, and whether a product such as the Fang Gamepad for your left hand might be an option to consider.

I don't have a serious hand problem that truly limits my mobility, but I do understand your issue to a small degree because I have arthritis in both thumb basal joints. Mostly it limits my ability in the areas of pinching or gripping, but it also limits what mouse and similar types of products I can use comfortably. It's hard to buy something like that without trying it to know if it would work for you or not.

Have you tried writing to the makers of this product and asking them? I'm sure they have done some ergonomic tests. Maybe they'd even send you one to try it out. ;)

...Ren

[surodat]

I would get it - simply because it might be perfect.

I don't know if you're going to be able to find someone who can speak directly to your concerns - I don't know many people who are looking for a mouse that will replace their keyboard.

But, if you're current setup is not working well for you, this seems to be the mouse with the largest number of programmable buttons.

Also, have you thought of something like these keyboards (http://www.specialneedscomputers.ca/kb-s35.htm):

There are also some mass-produced keyboards with trackballs near the centre of the keyboard, allowing for your hand to be in the middle of many different keys. And your right to be in charge of the shift/ctrl modifiers.

[bleedredstars]

Oh wow, thanks for all the responses!

Dakiter--

From what I've read, drivers for Macintosh will come along about a month after release. Apple user here, too.

Reneta--

Completely understand what you mean about comfortable mice, I have a family member who has arthritis that has gone through dozens of them.

Something like the Fang, I'm assuming, wouldn't work. Basically, I come from console gaming where I can loosely use my right thumb for the buttons on triggers having the pad held in my hands. Using my fingers for the keys on a keyboard or moving a mouse around on a surface (not to mention the right and left clicks) is impossible with it.

I haven't even considered writing them about it, but that is a good idea. Maybe they have no clue what type of market the mouse could really benefit and would be able to modify them to do so. Also, a free mouse would be a fair trade in exchange for my information hehe. :grin:

Surodat--

I had just hoped somebody who attended Blizz Con and handled the prototype would be able to come in and provide more information.

The trackball keyboards are interesting, I've never seen them situated on a keyboard. Like the mouse, it leaves me wondering how well it would work, I just wish like video game kiosks there were somewhere I could try these out.


I think I'll end up just getting the mouse. Worst case scenario, it doesn't work out and I give it to my sister who plays WoW as a gift. Best case scenario, it all works out and I can go back to being the bad ass rogue that I love. :cool:

-Dustin

[Dakiter]

bleedredstars - thanks for the info and I hope this works out for you.

[elsegundo]

My mouse is used only to look and turn in most situations and to "drive" or run forward. oh and i do have one button on my mouse to auto-run and one to mount/dismount.
that's all i use my mouse for. if what you're having trouble with is the movement of the mouse, perhaps you can try a trackball.

on my left hand i use the Nostromo N52. been trying to break it for the past year so i can have an excuse to buy the N52te, but no luck. the thing's still going strong. the D-pad on the nostromo means easy strafe left and right so movement is a non-issue really. with 15 or so keys at my figertips, all lined up, i have no problems pressing keys.

[surodat]

Bleed:
Although this link is to another Wow fan site, I think that it would be of very much use to you. Check it out. (http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/12/02/15-minutes-of-fame-disabled-player-goes-hands-on-with-joystick/)

[asdaa]

you could buy some cheap mouse with a couple of configurable buttons on the side and if its comfortable the SS mouse will probably be too.

[bleedredstars]

Bleed:
Although this link is to another Wow fan site, I think that it would be of very much use to you. Check it out. (http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/12/02/15-minutes-of-fame-disabled-player-goes-hands-on-with-joystick/)

Oh wow! It looks like you could do so much with this software. In fact, I think one might just use a 360 controller. On the surface it is limited, but you could use trigger modifiers just like one might use shift. The hardest part I think would be the analog sticks, if somehow you could make it mimmic the mouse. The sticks are also clickable so one might even be able to click it and use it to change the camera.

This news has given me much hope, thank you.

[surodat]

You're very welcome :D