2025, September 2
Share this articleNearly 60 years after its invention, the design of the computer mouse has remained virtually unchanged – and this negatively affects users.
Research led by Jose Berengueres, Associate Professor at the School of Engineering and Digital Sciences of Nazarbayev University (NU), emphasizes the urgent need for ergonomic redesigns that take into account hand comfort and natural movement.
The numbers are striking: studies show that about 20 percent of computer users develop a chronic disorder linked to input devices, posture, or repetitive movement. In a study conducted at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Professor Berengueres surveyed 28 graduate and postgraduate students. Among them, 11 reported chronic discomfort from mouse use and four had clinically diagnosed RSI. Many were gamers, and all were under 30.
“The flat, rigid shape of today’s mouse forces the hand into an unnatural position,” said Professor Berengueres. “Over time, this causes continuous stress on the forearm and wrist. If we want to prevent injury, we need to rethink the design from the ground up.”
To test alternatives, Berengueres developed the Fleximouse, a squeezable mesh-body mouse that allowed finger joints to move more naturally. The prototype encouraged the use of a palmar grasp - a low-effort, instinctive hand movement - while reducing the need for wrist adjustments. However, the design had trade-offs: it was slower to use, fragile, and not compatible with standard clicking and scrolling.
Seeking a more practical solution, Berengueres collaborated with Tony Yu of the University of Melbourne’s School of Design to create the A-frame hinge mouse. With a vertical orientation and fewer moving parts, the A-frame design reduced strain while being cheaper to manufacture and more compact.
But one crucial insight emerged from testing: fit matters. Even a difference of less than a centimeter in hand size significantly affected comfort and control.
“Traditional rigid mice are forgiving,” Berengueres explained. “But flexible or ergonomic mice are highly sensitive to hand size. This means future designs will need to be adjustable or come in multiple sizes.”
The research highlights a paradox: while computing power, connectivity, and interfaces have advanced rapidly, the humble mouse has been largely frozen in time. With new tools such as 3D printing, flexible electronics, and advanced materials, researchers see an opportunity to finally re-engineer an input device most of us use every day.
“The mouse is long overdue for reinvention,” said Berengueres. “Done right, it could make computing healthier and more comfortable for millions of people.”
The study was published in ACM Interactions magazine.
