This horizontal mouse concept claims to be ergonomic—we’re not so sure

A strong ergonomic PC peripheral makes usage feel as natural as possible. That means avoiding strain and unnecessary pressure, lots of support, minimal movement, and, if you're at a desk, helping to maintain 90-degree angles in the arms and legs. Vertical mice, for example, make the palm face more sideways, resulting in less forearm pronation and accommodating a 90-degree angle with the rest of the arm. But what about a horizontal mouse?

On Sunday, the ConceptPix Horizontal Mouse launched on Kickstarter, as spotted by Geeky Gadgets. Like any crowdfunding project, I won't get my hopes up for this product hitting the market. I might even have less hope here than with some other crowdfunding projects, as ConceptPix hasn't launched anything else on Kickstarter (at least not under the ConceptPix name). Other red flags include: the ConceptPix brand lacks much of an Internet presence, and its profile is private on Kickstarter; the project creator is listed to be in Hong Kong, but ConceptPix's bio claims Miami Beach, Florida; and the crowdfunding goal is an absurdly low $119.

Still, less likely products have been born of crowdfunding. And the creators at least shared a video on the Kickstarter showing a supposed working prototype. Regardless, a horizontal mouse is intriguing to anyone who's used a vertical mouse or seeks a more comfortable or less painful alternative to traditional mice.

Similar to how a vertical mouse is taller than it is wide or long, the Horizontal Mouse is wider than it is long or tall. According to the Kickstarter, the peripheral is 3.15 inches wide, 1.57 inches long, 1.18 inches tall, and weighs 1.36 ounces.

The Horizontal Mouse stands out.

Credit: ConceptPix/Kickstarter

In comparison to other miniature wireless mice, the Dell MS7421W is 2.4 x 4 x 1.4 inches and 2.82 ounces, and the Razer Pro Click Mini is 2.5 x 3.9 x 1.3 inches and 3.1 to 3.9 ounces, depending on if you use one or two AA batteries.

Vertical mice have also become a trendy design. We recently reviewed the Logitech Lift, a smaller take on a Logitech's MX Vertical mouse. Lenovo and Anker make vertical mice, and the category is Evolunet's specialty. That's just to name a few.

But examples of so-called horizontal mice are scant, and most take a different approach than ConceptPix's device.

It's hard to imagine a longer "mouse" than Counter Design's RollerMouse Free 3, which measures 19.25 inches horizontally. But one look at it, and you can tell it works much differently from a traditional PC mouse or even the Horizontal Mouse.

The RollerMouse Free3 goes in front of the keyboard instead of to the side.

Credit: Contour Design

3Dconnexion's SpaceMouse Wireless isn't wider than it is long but is equally wide and long (3.1 x 3.1 x 2.1 inches).

The SpaceMouse series targets 3D application navigation.

Credit: 3Dconnexion

Still, it functions more like a large knob and as a companion to another mouse.

ConceptPix claims its horizontal mouse concept reduces the amount of squeezing required to use the peripheral. It also claims the mouse puts your hand in a more favorable position. One of its supposed features is that the mouse puts less pressure on your wrist since the wrist isn't supporting the mouse as much. Further, the Kickstarter says the mouse "prevents the fingers from being too warped."

ConceptPix claims the hand in the bottom image is more comfortable than the hand in the top image.

Credit: ConceptPix/Kickstarter

But there may be good reasons horizontal mice haven't taken off in the ergonomic peripherals space. Vertical mice, contrastingly, have earned cred with research confirming that vertical mice reduce forearm pronation, complementing the idea that the mice enable more neutral positioning. Reduced forearm pronation makes a 90-degree bend, which the US Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration say is important for good desk posture.