Computer accessory maker Logitech International SA is introducing a mouse with a free-spinning motorized scroll wheel it believes will help people more efficiently race through pages on their computer screens.
The company said Thursday it is launching cordless laser mice with an alloy wheel that spins for up to 7 seconds and can scroll through up to 10,000 Microsoft Excel lines with a single flick. Users can stop the wheel by tapping it.
The desktop model can automatically switch back to traditional click-scrolling depending on the application, and can toggle back and forth on its own during a task depending on how fast the user is working.
A software program synched to the mouse can sense the user's application, and sends a signal to a small motor to engage or disengage the ratchets that regulate the wheel's speed during click-scrolling.
Clicking the wheel also allows users to switch back and forth.
Users of the laptop model will need to flip a switch on the base of the mouse to toggle between modes, which the company says is because of its smaller size and lack of internal motor.
Both mice are now shipping in the U.S. and Europe for PCs and Macs. They cost $79 for the laptop model and $99 for the desktop model in the U.S.