Cirque Corporation announces shipment of GlidePoint for Macintosh.SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 18, 1995--Cirque Corporation, the original developer of GlidePoint(R) technology, Monday announced shipment of the Cirque GlidePoint(R) Desktop trackpad for Macintosh. GlidePoint is a stationary pointing device that translates finger movement across a touch surface into cursor movement on a screen. "This new product for Macintosh users reinforces Cirque's leadership in the growing trackpad market," said Jim O'Callaghan, Cirque's vice president of marketing and sales. "Cirque's GlidePoint Desktop for Macintosh offers new features that make navigating the Macintosh environment simple and intuitive." Building on its experience as the leader in the fast-growing trackpad market, Cirque has developed GlidePoint(R) Desktop for Macintosh offering the same easy installation, wristrest, and interactive tutorial the company provides with its IBM compatible (computer) IBM compatible - A computer which can use hardware and software designed for the IBM PC (or, less often, IBM mainframes). This was once a key phrase in marketing a new PC clone but now in 1998 is rarely used, the non-IBM wintel personal computer manufacturers such products. Cirque GlidePoint(R) Desktop for Macintosh currently ships with an SRP SRP - A data link layer protocol. of $99.00. NEW FEATURES GlideExtend(TM) When dragging or highlighting using a trackpad, a finger's motion may be interrupted by hitting the edge of the pad. Cirque's patent pending GlideExtend senses when to continue drag, draw, or highlight functions by extending these functions until the user signals that the operation is completed. This feature holds down menus and keeps the cursor in position as the user naturally moves the finger. "Other approaches to overcome the physical edge of the trackpad force the user to think in 'joystick mode,' slowly steering the cursor and constantly overshooting Overshooting The tendency of a pool of MBS to reflect an especially high rate of prepayments the first time it crosses the threshold for refinancing, specially if two or more years have passed since the date of issue without the weighted average coupon of the pool crossing the the mark. While this motion removes the boundaries of the pad itself, we feel GlideExtend offers a more intuitive approach. GlideExtend consistently maintains the same smooth and comfortable cursor control used for all pointing functions," stated Jim O'Callaghan. GlideSets(TM) With GlideSets, users may customize the trackpad for individual applications. For example, buttons programmed for a frequently used word processing word processing, use of a computer program or a dedicated hardware and software package to write, edit, format, and print a document. Text is most commonly entered using a keyboard similar to a typewriter's, although handwritten input (see pen-based computer) and program may be saved independently from those used in a spreadsheet or graphics program. "Intensive Macintosh users require distinct tools for multi-tasking. As users move between applications such as Photoshop, Quark quark (kwôrk): see elementary particles. quark Any of a group of subatomic particles thought to be among the fundamental constituents of matter—more specifically, of protons and neutrons. , and Microsoft Word A full-featured word processing program for Windows and the Macintosh from Microsoft. Included in the Microsoft application suite, it is a sophisticated program with rudimentary desktop publishing capabilities that has become the most widely used word processing application on the market. , GlideSets enable them to save favorite shortcuts See Win Shortcuts. , increasing efficiency in each program." Split cable for multiple devices Cirque GlidePoint(R) Desktop for Macintosh ships with a split cable, allowing users to "daisy chain Connected in series, one after the other. Transmitted signals go to the first device, then to the second and so on.  A SCSI Daisy Chain Both internal and external SCSI devices are daisy chained together. " multiple devices. "Use of Cirque GlidePoint with a mouse or other conventional tool allows users to make an easy transition to the trackpad, on their own terms," said Jim O'Callaghan. "By providing simple connectivity, we support constant communication with the computer as the user becomes accustomed to the more natural feel of the trackpad." HOW IT WORKS GlidePoint technology achieves high internal resolution (1,000 cpi) using a patented mutual capacitance Mutual capacitance is intentional or unintentional capacitance that occurs between two charge-holding objects or conductors, in which the current passing through one passes over into the other. Unlike mutual inductance, mutual capacitance only works along short distances. sensing system. A grid of electrodes lies hidden beneath the touch surface. Presence and movement of a finger alters mutual capacitances between the electrodes, which are measured by precision electronics. Wherever a finger goes on the surface, the cursor goes on the screen. Tapping on the pad simulates button "clicks." GlidePoint is a solid-state technology with 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. to clog or break down. Mechanical buttons are available for optional use. CUSTOMER SUPPORT All GlidePoint trackpads are manufactured in the USA and come with a lifetime warranty, a guaranteed service program, and toll-free technical assistance (1-800-GLIDE-75). Cirque, a privately-held Utah corporation, was founded in 1991 with a mission to provide the highest quality input technologies that simplify human control of computers. As the original developer of GlidePoint technology, Cirque manufactures a broad product line of trackpads for mobile and desktop environments. Cirque currently licenses GlidePoint technology to Alps Electric Inc. and other non-disclosed companies. CONTACT: 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. , Salt Lake City Kristiana Ellis, 801/467-1100 |
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