Portable wireless mice have a problem: most of them rely upon disposable batteries, which often wind up in landfills as e-waste. Adele Peters’ Corky mouse aims to change all that — it’s a kinetic energy-harvesting mouse that is powered with a flick of the wrist. One of 18 finalists in this year’s Greener Gadgets Design Competition, it’s also made from 100% recycled plastic components and recycled and biodegradable cork.
The Corky mouse uses piezoelectric elements to generate energy every time you click or move it around on your desk – even rolling the scroll wheel will generate a few watts. We’ve seen many watches that harvest kinetic energy, so the technology is definitely available, and it makes a lot of sense in this application. Since computer mice function through movement, why not harness that expended energy?
Adele is also considering the device’s sustainability from a systems-based approach – something we love to see in industrial design. Plans are included for regional sourcing and assembly, product take-back and recycling, and disassembly data will be easily accessible for recycling centers. That last point is important, because a big issue with electronics recycling is that disassembly information is often considered proprietary and not disclosed, which makes the process of dismantling and recycling a device difficult if not impossible.
If you’re a fan of Corky, be sure to vote on it in this year’s Greener Gadgets Design Competition!
+ Corky
Great idea. It would make sense for all wireless mice to move to this kind of technology, for user convenience alone.
BRAVO WE REALY NEED THIS TYPE OF GADGETS KEEP IT UP BUDDIES
The big difference between a watch and a mouse is the power draw from the wireless transmitter to the laser.
Why do you think you need to replace the two aa batteries every 4-7 months or so while a watch can function off of a tiny nicd battery for 5+ years
fun4you, you have a point!
maybe the mouse can draw more energy from the operator by being “harder” to move.
i have one question: Where can i buy it ???!!!
So where do I buy it?? Nothing gets my vote if its not for sale. Its not doing any good on a green website and how doI know if it even works or will hold up or can compete against the competition. Nice concept no doubt but that is all.
Kinetic watches store energy through a rotating counter-weight that is set into motion when your arm swings. Kinetic watches in no way demonstrate that this device is practical. The writeup mentions piezoelectric, but anyone who has used a piezo lighter knows the force required is way more than anyone would tolerate with a mouse-click.
Better to use one of those “jiggle-generators” that are used in flashlights, then the would-be porn-surfer with a dead mouse could fap his mouse full of “juice”.
I am truly sorry for that last image in your mind, but that just proved why this device is doomed to failure.
I love those free battery stuff but where can I buy it in Europe ?
Hi
How can contact the inventor of this thing. I wanna buy this mouse and I wanna work on it if it is satisfactory. By the way what is the power consumption of a mouse in watt. How we can get some detail of this nice mouse.
Yeah, where do we buy one??
Dear Sirs:
I am a contributing writer for Yahoo and I would like to write about Corky. I would also like to know if you have an affiliate program where I could direct buyers to a link. I also have a blog called greenpowergas which is involved in greenproducts.
Sincerely,
Larry Van Leuven
I am involved with sustainability at Evergreen State College in Washington state. I think this item would be a HUGE hit at our greener store.
DC