MAUZ is a new Kickstarter project that turns your iPhone into a mouse for your computer by using a hardware attachment as well as an iOS app. MAUZ’s iPhone app allows you to use your iPhones’s touchscreen as the mouse itself, with both the right and left clickers as well as the scroll wheel on the screen. The hardware attachment that connects to your iPhone via either the 30-pin or Lightning port on your iPhone allows the mouse to track your movements and send them to your Mac or PC.
One nice thing about MAUZ is the fact that you can use its iPhone app to create shortcuts for specific applications. MAUZ’s open SDK will allow developers to create MAUZ shortcuts that are compatible with their Mac or PC applications. For instance, Google could create a new tab shortcut for Chrome that is accessible right on the MAUZ application.
Also, with MAUZ, you’ll be able to control your computer in the third-dimension. By this, I mean that the MAUZ will allow you to use motion and hand gestures to control your computer. With motion controls, you’ll be able to control your computer like you control your Wii with a Wiimote. With hand gestures, you’ll be able to control your computer by moving your hand over your iPhone’s screen and performing gestures.
While I think MAUZ is a good idea and I’d even consider funding it, I do have a couple concerns: comfortability and durability. I have a feeling that my wrist will hurt after holding my iPhone like a mouse for an extended period of time. Also, when using the MAUZ on rough surfaces, your iPhone could get scratched. However, this shouldn’t be an issue for those who use a case on their iPhone.
If you’d like to preorder a MAUZ for your iPhone, prepare to drop $59 via Kickstarter. The iPhone 4/4S model will ship to Kickstarter backers in June of 2013 while the iPhone 5 model will ship in August of 2013. The folks behind MAUZ are seeking $150,000 in funding and have acquired just over $5,200 so far with 58 days left to fund.
