09. Newton Peripherals - MoGo Mouse
Emerging Technology: Road Warrior
Nearly 10 million Americans fly with their laptops every year.
Newton Peripherals had a simple goal in mind: create a product for laptop users who travel light, but rely on an external mouse for on-the-go productivity. Existing pointing solutions require laptop owners to remain tethered to their machines, requiring awkward cable management and inducing an entirely frustrating experience. In addition, ergonomically-speaking, current mini-mice (walnut shells) feel awkward in the hand, adding even more tension to the uncomfortable experience of portable pointing. Newton Peripherals had just the solution; the MoGo Mouse.
They wanted to develop a pointing device that would feature Bluetooth® wireless technology, entirely eliminating the need for power cables and cords. The solution also had to be compatible with both tablet and notebook PCs, so that on-the-go users could benefit from using the mouse with the latest mobile computing technologies. 
The largest innovation would come in how the mouse would be stored and charged. Taking advantage of the under utilized PC Card slot for these tasks allowed Newton Peripherals to deliver several key differentiating factors. Users would no longer have to store their portable pointers inside a laptop bag or brief case, making them difficult to find later. Rather, the MoGo fits snugly inside its user’s PC, simultaneously charging itself while waiting to be used. The need for power management is eliminated and users are given ultimate access by making the mouse completely accessible from the PC slot.
Working with an international team of industrial designers, mechanical, software, and electrical engineers, the Continuum team was able to integrate a myriad of technologies – RF embedded systems design, Bluetooth® technology, image sensing, and battery management – into a compressed package that could be efficiently manufactured.
The MoGo Mouse has received recognition from a large number of media venues including a “Best of Show” award at the Consumer Electronics Show. MoGo has also been successfully launched by Hewlett Packard.
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