Microsoft Research and the Applied Sciences Group have developed five input device prototypes that combine a variation of multitouch sensing to the standard capabilities of a typical computer mouse. Microsoft believes these prototypes have the potential to set a new standard for "expressive interaction." Each device explores a different touch sensing strategy via a different form factor. Microsoft sent us a short five-minute video that demonstrates each of the five prototypes. The prototypes shown are really cool so we've embed the video for your viewing pleasure:

If video isn't your thing, here's how Microsoft describes each of the five mice:

FTIR (Frustrated Total Internal Reflection) Mouse: FTIR Mouse is a mouse design that uses the principle of frustrated total internal reflection and a built-in camera to sense user's touches on top of an arc-shaped piece of acrylic. This approach provides a very robust means of detecting touch events.

FTIR Mouse is a mouse design that uses the principle of frustrated total internal reflection and a built-in camera to sense user's touches on top of an arc-shaped piece of acrylic. This approach provides a very robust means of detecting touch events. Orb Mouse: The Orb Mouse uses a hemispherical surface with an IR-sensitive camera for multi-touch capabilities. This design provides an easy to grip form-factor and the constant curvature of the shape ensures that the user's fingers are comfortable, with a smooth gradient while moving from side to side and front to back. The Orb Mouse allows all fingers and the whole hand be engaged in multi-touch interactions.

The Orb Mouse uses a hemispherical surface with an IR-sensitive camera for multi-touch capabilities. This design provides an easy to grip form-factor and the constant curvature of the shape ensures that the user's fingers are comfortable, with a smooth gradient while moving from side to side and front to back. The Orb Mouse allows all fingers and the whole hand be engaged in multi-touch interactions. Cap (capacitive) Mouse: The Cap Mouse tracks the position of multiple fingers on its surface through the use of a flexible matrix of capacitive-sensing electrodes just under the top surface of the mouse. The Cap Mouse is compact, uses little power, and is insensitive to ambient lighting conditions.

The Cap Mouse tracks the position of multiple fingers on its surface through the use of a flexible matrix of capacitive-sensing electrodes just under the top surface of the mouse. The Cap Mouse is compact, uses little power, and is insensitive to ambient lighting conditions. Side Mouse: Side Mouse is designed to rest under the user's palm and it allows the fingers to touch the table surface directly in front of the device to create a multi-touch area that is not restricted to the physical surface of the device. The mouse senses the proximity of the user's fingers as they touch the table surface instead of the mouse. Side Mouse is capable of larger sizes of extended gestures and even two handed input.

Side Mouse is designed to rest under the user's palm and it allows the fingers to touch the table surface directly in front of the device to create a multi-touch area that is not restricted to the physical surface of the device. The mouse senses the proximity of the user's fingers as they touch the table surface instead of the mouse. Side Mouse is capable of larger sizes of extended gestures and even two handed input. Arty (articulated) Mouse: The Arty Mouse takes the notion of Side Mouse one step further with a base for the palm of the hand to rest on and two "arms" that can be freely and independently moved on the table by the thumb and index finger. This design allows a high-resolution optical mouse sensor to be placed underneath two of the user's fingers for extremely high sensing fidelity. This prototype can support subtle and fine-grained multi-touch gestures.

The following people contributed to these prototypes: Nicolas Villar, Shahram Izadi, John Helmes, Steve Hodges, Alex Butler, and Xiang Cao of Microsoft Research; Hrvoje Benko of Microsoft Research; Dan Rosenfeld, Jonathan Westhues, Eyal Ofek, and Billy Chen of Microsoft. They’re presenting their prototypes and their findings at this week’s User Interface Software and Technology conference in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.