More Than a Presentation Clicker

[JonnyAlpha]

Hi all,

 

I have a requirement in school for a hand held device that teachers can use in the class, that will enable them to walk around the classroom whilst maintaining control of the class laptop connected to the main board.

They need to have the same control as a mouse with a scroll wheel.

I have suggested Wireless Keyboards with built in Mice, but they want something like a presentation clicker, but with more controls.

 

Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

Many thanks

[dhicks]

I have suggested Wireless Keyboards with built in Mice, but they want something like a presentation clicker, but with more controls.

 

I'm guessing you've already looked at the Logitech K400?:

 

https://www.logitech.com/en-gb/shop/p/k400-plus-touchpad-keyboard

 

Keyboard with included touchpad, plus media controls (volume and so on), which is handy for vontrolling videos and so on. We've had them in various classrooms / halls for years, they've worked well.

[SamanthaD]

Back in the day gyro mice were a thing - a quick google shows they still kind of exist.... Might be worth looking at?

[Oaktech]

I've got about a dozen of these...

 

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004868923967.html

 

Act as mouse and powerpoint clicker. came in at £2.10 each delivered. I got the 2,4ghz with dongle version, but the the Bluetooth version would work too. Plus point on these is that you can learn IR commands from the board remote for things like freeze, power on/off and input. We've been running them since christmas and as far as I know they're still on original batteries.

[JonnyAlpha]

I'm guessing you've already looked at the Logitech K400?:

 

https://www.logitech.com/en-gb/shop/p/k400-plus-touchpad-keyboard

 

Keyboard with included touchpad, plus media controls (volume and so on), which is handy for vontrolling videos and so on. We've had them in various classrooms / halls for years, they've worked well.

 

I had suggested Wireless keyboards, but they want something like this:

 

Elecom EX-G Trackball Mouse, 2.4GHz USB Wireless, Ergonomic Design, Thumb Control, Smooth Precise Tracking Roller Ball, 6 Programmable Buttons, Tilt Scroll, Computer Mice for Laptop PC, Windows & Mac : Amazon.co.uk: Toys & Games

 

But I dont want to buy anything without getting feedback.

[Fazza]

Gyration mice were what we used to use (back in the day) not sure if they are still going but you could wave the mouse around in your hand in the air and that would move the pointer on the screen, it also worked as a mouse on a desk and was rechargeable too.

[JonnyAlpha]

I've got about a dozen of these...

 

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004868923967.html

 

Act as mouse and powerpoint clicker. came in at £2.10 each delivered. I got the 2,4ghz with dongle version, but the the Bluetooth version would work too. Plus point on these is that you can learn IR commands from the board remote for things like freeze, power on/off and input. We've been running them since christmas and as far as I know they're still on original batteries.

 

Link did not work for me?

[dhicks]

But I dont want to buy anything without getting feedback.

 

I've used a Gyro mouse years ago and found it just fine, the teachers we tried it with didn't seem to get on with it very well, though. We have also tried with plain wireless keyboards and separate mice - I find I can use a wireless mouse easily enough either on a desk or just by using my leg as a surface, but again any teachers we gave one to seemed to not get on with it and loose / break it within a few days.

[Oaktech]

Working for me... Let's try that again then.

 

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004868923967.html

 

[Ditto]

Working for me... Let's try that again then.

 

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004868923967.html

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]73172[/ATTACH]

This and the original link both worked for me. I'm WfH so no blockers that you might get in school.

[MrEprise]

Gyration mice were what we used to use (back in the day) not sure if they are still going but you could wave the mouse around in your hand in the air and that would move the pointer on the screen, it also worked as a mouse on a desk and was rechargeable too.

 

In my last school I recall their sets were quite expensive so only 1 teacher had the gyro mouse with keyboard set. Looking at Gyration now, looks like they've given up on the gyro mice and just focus on CCTV solutions.

[Fazza]

In my last school I recall their sets were quite expensive so only 1 teacher had the gyro mouse with keyboard set. Looking at Gyration now, looks like they've given up on the gyro mice and just focus on CCTV solutions.

 

They were quite expensive, but they just worked without any jobs logged on our helpdesks over the years! The only issue I've ever seen with them is that the rechargeable battery needed replacing after 5+ years of use and if I remember correctly this could easily be replaced.

[mikeprice]

I used to use them when I was a teacher

they worked fine - I originally used the old Gyration but that was a long time ago

 

there seem to be ones around with trackballs which might be useful

they are quite good in that you can teach from the middle of the classroom - which annoys the kids which is always worth doing - and still control the screen

 

It did get rid of the problem of being fixed to teaching from the front of the classroom if you were using the whiteboard

 

it also meant I could give the mouse to one of the kids and get them to do something without them having to wander all round the classroom to get to the front

 

Might be worth seeing if you can get one to try it out and see if any teacher want one

[Fazza]

I used to use them when I was a teacher

they worked fine - I originally used the old Gyration but that was a long time ago

 

there seem to be ones around with trackballs which might be useful

they are quite good in that you can teach from the middle of the classroom - which annoys the kids which is always worth doing - and still control the screen

 

It did get rid of the problem of being fixed to teaching from the front of the classroom if you were using the whiteboard

 

it also meant I could give the mouse to one of the kids and get them to do something without them having to wander all round the classroom to get to the front

 

Might be worth seeing if you can get one to try it out and see if any teacher want one

 

I used to do some part-time lecturing at a FE College teaching the CompTIA A+ and trying to get a student to come up to the interactive whiteboard was impossible so using a gyration mouse meant they could still interact in the session but from the comfort of their own seat. Not sure how most people would get on with a track ball one though.