Alps Electric announces a desktop version of its GlidePoint touchpad for the PC; features an adjustable base for added convenience and control.SAN JOSE San Jose, city, United States San Jose (sănəzā`, săn hōzā`), city (1990 pop. 782,248), seat of Santa Clara co., W central Calif.; founded 1777, inc. 1850. , Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 7, 1995--Alps Electric (USA), Inc., a leading manufacturer of peripherals, keyboards and pointing devices An input device used to move the pointer (cursor) on screen. The major pointing device is the mouse for the desktop computer and the touchpad for the laptop, although many road warriors bring along a mouse. , today introduced a desktop version of its popular Portable GlidePoint touchpad A stationary pointing device that provides a small, flat surface that you slide your finger over using the same movements as you would a mouse. You can tap on the pad's surface as an alternate to pressing one of the touchpad keys. See mouse, trackball and pointing stick. for the PC. The Alps Desktop GlidePoint features an adjustable base for convenience and control, three programmable buttons, enhanced Windows(R) control panel software for Windows 3.1 and Windows 95, and a six-foot cable with a PS/2 connector A 6-pin Mini-DIN plug and socket used to connect a keyboard and mouse to a computer. First introduced on IBM's PS/2 desktop PC, the port was later used by everybody else, first on laptops, then on desktops. Subsequently, many PS/2 connections have been replaced with USB. See DIN connector. and a serial port adapter. Alps also plans to release a Macintosh(R) version of the Alps Desktop GlidePoint this month. The Alps Desktop GlidePoint works on or off the weighted adjustable base. The base has three settings allowing for customization of height and angle. The GlidePoint touchpad can also pivot around the base for an additional four positions. The Desktop GlidePoint touchpad measures 3.5" x 4.35" -- 40 percent larger than the original Alps Portable GlidePoint. "Users of the Alps Portable GlidePoint were using the device on their desktops as well as on their portable machines," said Dennis Steele, senior channel product manager for Alps. "We feel that a larger touchpad surface will allow for more comfort and accuracy, while the adjustable base will add additional convenience and control for desktop computer users." The Alps Desktop GlidePoint 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 desktop mouse or trackball A stationary pointing device that contains a movable ball rotated with the fingers or palm. From one to three keys are located in various positions depending on the unit. Years ago, Kensington Microware popularized the trackball with its Turbo Mouse for the Macintosh. . 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 three programmable buttons. Two of the buttons are initially set up like mouse buttons, but all three can be programmed for specific functions. The Alps Desktop GlidePoint features 400 dpi resolution, is DOS, Windows 3.1 and Windows 95 compatible, and will work with standard Windows NT (Windows New Technology) A 32-bit operating system from Microsoft for Intel x86 CPUs. NT is the core technology in Windows 2000 and Windows XP (see Windows). Available in separate client and server versions, it includes built-in networking and preemptive multitasking. (TM) and OS/2(TM) drivers. Although the Desktop GlidePoint works with standard mouse drivers, for the best performance, Alps provides a driver optimized for GlidePoint. With the GlidePoint driver, users can change the acceleration curve, choose between various cursor sizes, or select "hot spots hot spots acute moist dermatitis. " for instant cursor positioning. GlidePoint's design also makes it exceptionally reliable. With solid state construction and almost no moving parts Moving parts are the components of a device that undergo continuous or frequent motion, most commonly rotation. "Parts" only include the mechanical components which does not include fuel, or any other gas or liquid. (only the buttons), there is very little wear, and contamination from dirt is virtually eliminated. "Unlike a desktop mouse or trackball, the GlidePoint won't get clogged by the dirt associated with normal use," said Steele. "The user can simply wipe the surface with a damp cloth if cleaning is necessary." Pricing and Availability The Alps Desktop GlidePoint has a suggested list price of $89.95, and comes with a lifetime warranty. It will be available later this month through national distributors, large computer chain stores and computer superstores. The Alps Desktop GlidePoint 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 A small keyboard or supplementary keyboard keys; for example, the keys on a calculator or the number/cursor cluster on a computer keyboard. See programmable 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 See floppy disk. floppy drive - disk drive , and other electronic components for the computer market through OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) The rebranding of equipment and selling it. The term initially referred to the company that made the products (the "original" manufacturer), but eventually became widely used to refer to the organization that buys the products and , reseller, government, and direct channels. Alps Electric (USA), Inc., is a wholly owned subsidiary Wholly Owned Subsidiary A subsidiary whose parent company owns 100% of its common stock. Notes: In other words, the parent company owns the company outright and there are no minority owners. 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 (800) 825-2577. 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 fin·ger·tip n. The extreme end or tip of a finger. 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 Cirque Corporation is a Salt Lake City, Utah-based company which developed and commercialized the first successful capacitive touchpad, now widely used in notebook computers. . All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. CONTACT: Alps Electric (USA), Inc. Dennis Steele, 408/432-6000 or De Anda Communications Jennifer De Anda, 408/253-7924 e-mail: 74654.3571@compuserve.com |
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