Project Name: Ego! Smartmouse(Opens in a new window)

Category: Hardware

Goal: £20,000 ($30,254)

Currently Funded: £28,348 ($42,882.02)

Deadline for Pledging: April 12, 2013

Why Should You Care:

In a 1984 San Francisco Examiner article(Opens in a new window), PCMag columnist John C. Dvorak predicted the Macintosh “may not become the raving success hoped for by Apple,” in part because of the “experimental pointing device called a ‘mouse’.”

Well, the “experimental pointing device” has come a long way since Dvorak’s doubts. There are Bluetooth mice, gaming mice, and mice made for the touch-based Windows 8.

Now there’s a mouse that puts even those to shame. The ergonomic Ego! Smartmouse(Opens in a new window) by the Italian firm Laura Sapiens can be used as a standard table mouse, but also automatically switches into “air-mouse” mode to use as a Smart TV remote or game controller, and is designed for both left- and right-handers. Working on multiple systems? No problem, the smartmouse recognizes the device you want to connect to and stores data, which you can easily transfer to another system.

“You can use it as a key to authenticate a number of services,” explains designer and co-founder Stefano Salati in the Kickstarter video. “Your digital identity follows you; you can find your MP3s, documents, favorites, and folders on every screen you interact with.”

The device is Linux-based with a 400MHz ARM9 microcontroller and up to 4GB of flash memory. An integrated accelerometer, gyroscrope, compass, and optical mouse sensor make all the 3D features possible.

The 2GB unit retails for €149 ($191.14) while the 4GB unit is €189 ($242.45); additional cloud storage is available. Early Bird backers can catch the mouse (black or white, 4GB flash drive with 2GB cloud space included) for £85 ($128.58) with an estimated delivery date of June 2013. You can also up your pledge all the way to £900 ($1,361.43) and collaborate with the team for twelve months to develop a new application using Ego! resources.