Cirque
Power Cat
Smart Cat
Easy Cat
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Touchpads are relativley new out on the market as stand-alone devices
(versus imbedded in laptops). Most users either swear by them, or at them.
Touchpads seem to get better in their size and capabilities evertime I
turn around. As these devices do not require any force to operate, they have reduced
the finger and hand stresses related to grasping and moving the mouse, and button
clicking. However, the knack of the finger tapping used on the touchpads seems to
escape some people. Early versions did not sense when your finger reached the edge
of the finger pad (this was a problem when you were not yet where you wanted to go!).
Many improvments have increased touchpad usability and capabilities of late.
Hints:
Don't hold your smaller fingers straight, up out of the way
during use as this places a static stress on the fingers' extensor muscles (curl the
fingers down and under - in a more natural posture).
Some have also found that slanting the touchpad towards the hand
helps hand posture in its use.
Fine cursor movements can be accomplished by rolling your finger
tip on the pad, as the program calculates the center of your finger impression.
 Cirque
Corporation
Salt Lake City, Utah 84115
(801) 467-1100, Fax (801) 467-0208
http://www.cirque.com/
 Power Cat Touchpad
- Compatiblity: Dos, Win 3.1, 95, NT
- Estimated price: $79.94
- Availablity: Retail
Cirque's fourth generation GlidePoint touchpad offers all three operations right on the
pad's surface. With a simple glide of the finger you'll quickly maneuver through Windows
95 and the web for the easiest surfing and editing ever. And for a personal touch, open
Cirque's signature software and paste your John Hancock on-screen with the first touchpad-
compatible pen. There's no need to print! Add right taps, edge extenders and eight
assignable button commands and you'll get input power from this touchpad like you've never
seen before.
Powerful New Features:
Sign: Signature tool and software accept your signature as a graphic for
placement into any compatible application. An icon on the Windows toolbar allows access to
the signature program. Feature requires installation of Cirque driver.
Surf: Internet navigation buttons (''back'' and ''forward'') are operable in
Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator. Glide your finger along the upper edge
of the touchpad to activate page back and forward surf. The surfing area is labeled on the
touchpad surface; feature requires installation of Cirque driver.
Scroll: Horizontal and vertical scroll commands are operable in most '97
applications and many non-'97 applications. Just glide your finger along the right and
bottom edges of the touchpad to activate up/down or sideways scrolling. Scroll areas are
labeled on the touchpad surface; feature requires installation of the Cirque driver.
Zoom: Magnification feature is operable in most '97 applications. Glide your
finger along the left edge of the touchpad to activate zoom in/out. Zoom area is not
labeled on the touchpad surface; feature requires compatible applications and installation
of the Cirque driver.
Other: Right Tap Zone and GlideExtend edge extenders are Plug-and- Play
features. Custom virtual button and GlideExtend settings require installation of Cirque
driver. Sounds and custom speed, sensitivity, and orientation settings also require
installation of Cirque driver.
(see website for more manufacturer product
information)
Smart Cat
- Compatiblity: Dos, Win 3.1, 95, NT
- Estimated price: $59.95
- Availablity: Retail
Cirque Smart Cat Touchpad Cirque Smart Cat sets a higher standard of performance and
comfort with the new generation of GlidePoint technology. That old mouse or trackball
can't compete with effortless control like this... Intelligent software you can
personalize, one-touch scroll and zoom in most applications, distinctive sounds for each
operation, and more make the Cirque Smart Cat the most precise, easy-to-use pointing
device in its class.
Powerful New Features:
Scroll: Horizontal and vertical scroll commands are operable in most '97
applications and many non-'97 applications. Just glide your finger along the right and
bottom edges of the touchpad to activate up/down and sideways scrolling. Scroll areas are
labeled on the touchpad surface; feature requires installation of the Cirque driver.
Zoom: Magnification feature is operable in most '97 applications. Glide your
finger along the left edge of the touchpad to activate zoom in/out. Zoom area is not
labeled on the touchpad surface; feature requires compatible applications and installation
of the Cirque driver.
Right Taps: Right ''clicks'' can be activated by tapping your finger in the
upper right corner of the pad. The area is marked on the pad surface with a change of
color and texture, and is a Microsoft Plug-and-Play feature. Customizing the feature
requires installation of the Cirque driver.
GlideExtend: Edge extenders are activated when your finger reaches the pad's
edge. The area is marked on the pad surface with a change of texture, and is a
Plug-and-Play feature. Customizing GlideExtend requires installation of the Cirque driver.
Other Sounds and custom speed, sensitivity, and orientation settings also require
installation of Cirque driver.
(see website for more manufacturer product
information)
 Easy Cat
- Compatiblity: Dos, Win 3.1, 95, NT
- Estimated price: $39.95
- Availablity: Retail
Cirque Easy Cat Touchpad NEW! Why push a mouse around when you can just point? Cirque's
patented GlidePoint technology makes it easier than ever to control your PC. Simply glide
your finger over Cirque Easy Cat's surface and gently tap on the pad or click on the
buttons to perform all mouse functions. Plus, its solid-state design keeps Cirque Easy Cat
working without breakdowns-there are no moving parts to clean!
Powerful New Features:
Right Taps: Right ''clicks'' can be activated by tapping your finger in the
upper right corner of the pad. The area is marked on the pad surface with a change of
color and texture.
GlideExtend: Edge extenders are activated when your finger reaches the pad's
edge. The area is marked on the pad surface with a change of texture.
Other: Right and left button ''clicks'' can be activated both on the touchpad
surface and on the lower button set. Drag, draw, and highlight functions can be activated
by double-tapping and holding your finger on the pad, or by holding the left ''click''
button as your finger glides.
(see website for more manufacturer product
information)
Comments
Cirque licenses their technology to Alps for their GlidePoint product. Alps had
innovationed with an adjustable, weighted stand and a programmable "click lock"
function which I really like. However, it appears that Cirque has just taken the
lead in pushing this technology to its current leading edge. So far I see no mention
of Mac compatibility -KSW-
Product Reviews
Ergonomic Sciences Corp's Review of the Glidepoint 2
http://www.ergosci.com/gliderv.html
(Information last checked: Nov'97)
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 Interlink
Electronics
546 Flynn Rd., Camarillo CA 93012
(800) 340-1331 or (805) 484-1331
Fax (805) 484-8989
http://www.interlinkelec.com/
VersaPad's patented Semiconductive Technology delivers versatility previously
unavailable in conventional touchpads.
- New Semiconductive Technology for smooth, precise cursor control with finger or
stylus—even gloves
- Pressure sensitive Pan and Scroll Bars for one-touch browsing and editing
- Personalize-able Toolbar
- Pop-UP utility to capture sketches and signatures
(see website for more manufacturer product
information)
(Information last checked: Nov'97)
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