Alps Electric Announces Portable Numeric Keypad with Embedded Glidepoint Touchpad for the Macintosh; Two Unique Products Combined Into One Integrated, Compact Design.

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 7, 1995--Alps Electric (USA), Inc., a leading manufacturer of peripherals, keyboards and pointing devices, today introduced a Macintosh compatible full-size numeric keypad with an embedded Alps GlidePoint touchpad.

Designed for portability and durability, the Alps GlidePoint Keypad features a protective cover that folds under the device to become a stand. Alps will release a PC version of the GlidePoint Keypad in September.

The Alps GlidePoint Keypad features a standard Macintosh 18-key keypad layout and Alps' premium mechanical keyswitches for a solid feel and long life. It comes with a 2.5-foot cable with an ADB pass-through connector. It also comes with enhanced Macintosh control panel software for customized programming of the GlidePoint buttons.

The Alps GlidePoint Keypad solves two common problems many portable computer users face -- the lack of a full-size numeric keypad and the lack of a reliable, easy-to-use pointing device.

"This unique keypad/touchpad combination offers the convenience and functionality of a full-size keypad, and the precise cursor control of the revolutionary Alps GlidePoint touchpad," said Lance Ohara, product manager for Alps. "No more hunting and pecking for numbers -- all 18 keys are in one convenient location. Now portable computer users can crunch numbers and have precise cursor control from one integrated platform."

The Alps GlidePoint touchpad is a truly intuitive pointing device for controlling a cursor. Simply gliding a finger across the GlidePoint surface moves the cursor on the screen. Ease of use, and a sleek, compact design, make GlidePoint the perfect replacement for a mouse or trackball.

With an innovative feature called "taps," selecting text and objects with Alps GlidePoint is also intuitive -- simply tapping a finger lightly on the GlidePoint surface is just like clicking a mouse. If users would rather click than tap, Alps GlidePoint has two programmable buttons, which can be programmed to perform specific functions.

The Alps GlidePoint features 400 dpi resolution, and works with System 6.0.4 and above. Although GlidePoint works with the standard Mac mouse control panel software, for the best performance, Alps provides software optimized for GlidePoint. With the GlidePoint software, users can change cursor speed and sensitivity, orientation, and program each of the buttons to perform specific functions, such as "double clicking."

GlidePoint's design also makes it exceptionally reliable. With solid state construction and almost no moving parts (only the buttons), there is very little wear, and contamination from dirt is virtually eliminated. It's also small, measuring just 1.56" x 2.13".

"GlidePoint offers the Macintosh user the same technology as the latest 500-series PowerBook," said Ohara. "In fact, our product goes further by offering the `taps' feature and the ability to reprogram the GlidePoint buttons."

Price and Availability

The Alps GlidePoint Keypad has a suggested list price of $149.95, and comes with a lifetime warranty. It will be available in October through national distributors, large computer chain stores and computer superstores.

The Alps GlidePoint Keypad is one of several in a family of Alps GlidePoint products. The complete line, with PC and Macintosh versions of each, includes: the Alps GlidePoint Keyboard, the Alps Adjustable Desktop GlidePoint, the Alps GlidePoint Keypad, and the Alps Portable GlidePoint that was announced last October.

Alps Electric (USA), Inc., located in San Jose, Calif., manufactures and markets peripherals, including pointing devices and keyboards, floppy drives, and other electronic components for the computer market through OEM, reseller, government, and direct channels.

Alps Electric (USA), Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Alps Electric Co., Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo. Alps Electric Co., Ltd. is an almost $4 billion Fortune International 500 company.

For more information, contact Alps Electric (USA), Inc. at [phone].

Alps GlidePoint Technology

Alps GlidePoint works its magic through a technique known as field distortion sensing, a form of capacitance-sensing technology. Under GlidePoint's sealed surface are two layers of fine electrical conductors, arranged in a grid pattern. This grid of conductors creates an electrical field over GlidePoint's surface.

When a fingertip touches the GlidePoint surface, the fingertip distorts the electrical field at that spot. By scanning the grid and sensing the strength of the distortion on each conductor, GlidePoint precisely locates the position of the fingertip. As the fingertip moves across the pad, GlidePoint tracks the motion by following the changes in the electrical field, detecting even very small movements (400 points per inch). Note that this technology depends on the interaction between a finger and the electrical field over GlidePoint's surface. If the pad is touched with the eraser end of a pencil, for example, GlidePoint won't sense it. Also, the surface is not pressure-sensitive -- it detects touch but not the strength of a touch -- so a light touch is all that is necessary. -0-

Note to Editors: GlidePoint is a registered trademark of Cirque Corporation. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

CONTACT: Alps Electric (USA), Inc.

Lance Ohara, 408/432-6000

or

De Anda Communications

Jennifer De Anda, 408/253-7924

e-mail: [e-mail]