Teasing us with this conceptual device, Benny Lee is sort of pointing to the future of mice and of productivity. Why are we still using these blockish, left-click-right-click devices? Trackpads (as much as I despise using them) brought us a step closer to a palpable future laden with possibilities, but then pulled back almost immediately, giving way to the touch-bar with its very limited potential. So what is the future of the mouse? Mustn’t it change? Lee says it should. He’s created a concept of his vision too… meet the Kosmos.
The Kosmos is, broadly putting it, a desktop controller. Designed for designed for 3D artists, industrial designers, engineers, video producers, and architects, it unleashes what the mouse is capable of. For years we’ve seen software upgrades to make life easier… the Kosmos is a hardware design upgrade. It puts everything you need right under your hand, from a joystick-esque controller with a scroll wheel and 6DoF movement. It even packs a touchscreen on the top for intuitive control, giving you precision and power-usage in just one half of the mouse, because the other half is all about productivity. The left-half of the Kosmos is a dynamic display, divided into four quadrants. These quadrants are almost like a dashboard in their own right, giving you tools and shortcuts you need right under your fingertips… and the touchscreen display itself feels intuitive, and allows you to work without even looking at your monitor. All the control and information you need lies right under your hand, be it a shape-shifting keyboard/display, or a joystick/mouse that gives you incredible precision over cursor movements, making work a breeze. Now that’s a future I’d bet on too!
Designer: Benny Lee