Contour Mouse Named "The Best Ergonomic Product", First Mouse to Meet Proposed ISO Standard at Worldwide Gathering of Ergonomics Professionals   Salem, New Hampshire, July 15, 1997 -- Contour Design today announced that its Contour Mouse was selected as "The Best Ergonomic Product" at International Ergonomics Association's(IEA), 13th Triennial Congress the largest gathering of ergonomics professionals worldwide. The innovative product also was identified as the first mouse to have met the proposed ISO standard (ISO9241) for input devices, which was discussed at the same event. The Contour Mouse was judged to be the best ergonomic product in ballots submitted by the more than 3,000 professionals convening in Tampere, Finland from June 29 - July 4 for the IEA97 Congress. Attendees selected the product from among a range of ergonomic offerings, praising its design as a "significant advancement in the interaction between humans and technology." The Contour Mouse is the first and only mouse to offer a "custom fitted" feel regardless of your hand size. The mouse comes in FIVE different sizes for the PERFECT FIT. Left handed models are also available. Ergonomists at many FORTUNE 500 companies are standardizing on the Contour Mouse. For Example, Silicon Graphics' has virtually standardized on the Contour Mouse, because of its benefits for heavy mouse users. Julie Kreger King, the company's ergonomics program manager, said, "we use the Contour Mouse, because we have the most consistent positive results and customer satisfaction of any input device we have ever used or tested before.(this includes trackballs and touchpads)" Select IEA Congress attendees also passed a draft of the ISO 9241-9 standard for computer input devices, which when approved will provide internationally accepted objective guidelines for defining ergonomic attributes. The Contour Mouse is the only mouse to have passed using criteria established in this standard. Wanda Smith, principal of Guerneville, Calif.-based Global Ergonomic Technologies, Inc. and a member of the committee preparing the ISO 9241-9 draft standard, tested the Contour Mouse and determined it met the draft standard. Earlier, she compared the ergonomic benefits of the Contour Mouse and the Microsoft ergonomic mouse. Smith concluded that ". . significantly less muscle effort and postural deviation from neutral occurred with the Contour Mouse. . . and (it) was significantly more positively rated for ease of use, comfort, and design." Her complete findings are available here. Versions also are available for the PC and Macintosh platforms and Sun, Hewlett Packard, and Silicon Graphics workstations. Prices for different versions of the product vary, and can be obtained directly from Contour Design. Innovative Contour Mouse Now Available for Left Hand, Additional Hand Sizes, and Macintosh and Workstation Platforms   Salem, New Hampshire, Nov. 1, 1996 -- Contour Design, Inc., a provider of computer input devices designed to maximize ergonomic benefits, today unveiled new versions of its innovative Contour Mouse designed for left handed users and those with extra small hands. The company also announced the product's compatibility with the Macintosh platform and Sun, Hewlett Packard, and Silicon Graphics workstations. The three button Contour Mouse is the only mouse on the market available in multiple sizes. Originally introduced in small, medium, and large sizes for right handed users, market demand combined with the company's vision of a truly ergonomic mouse inspired the expansion of the product line. "Our existing mice did not fit the hands of some people. Moreover, individuals who prefer to use the mouse with their left hand wanted a product with an ideal fit," said Steve Wang, co-developer of the Contour Mouse. "Contour Design is committed to delivering input devices that provide maximum comfort and ergonomic benefit to all users, so we naturally decided to add the new versions to our basic model for the PC platform." Extending the product's functionality to the Macintosh and Sun, Hewlett Packard, and Silicon Graphics workstations likewise evolved from the desire to meet the needs of users who rely heavily on the mouse to complete their work. Additional Hand Sizes, and Macintosh and Workstation Platforms "Macintosh and workstation users typically work with software applications that are very mouse-intensive, which aggravates stresses and strains associated with average mouse use," said Wang. "The Contour Mouse's open hand architecture enables these 'power' users to work longer and with less muscle effort." This open hand architecture provides elevated buttons and support for the hand, wrist, and thumb. It allows the hand to be open, balanced, and relaxed, rather than curved around the mouse, as is typically the case. The fingers are elevated, the palm raised and supported, and the wrist is lifted off the desktop. Another key Contour Mouse feature enables the user to program buttons in order to minimize button clicks. New Ergonomic Mouse Helps Users Suffering From Repetitive Stress Injuries Lowell, Mass., October 30, 1995 -- Contour Design, Inc. a new company founded to provide computer users with input devices designed to maximize ergonomic benefits, today introduced the Contour Mouse. This mouse is designed for two audiences: individuals suffering from the debilitating effects of repetitive stress injuries (RSIs) to the hands, wrists, and arms, and other personal users seeking a more comfortable, higher performance input device. Contour Design worked closely with personal computer users suffering from RSIs, hand therapists, and ergonomic consultants in designing the Contour Mouse. The result is a three button mouse that incorporates two design innovations: multiple sizes and an open hand architecture. These innovations increase control and decrease the strain and fatigue associated with intensive mouse use. The Contour Mouse is the only mouse on the market available in three different sizes: small, medium and large. Product packaging has been designed to allow consumers to measure their hand prior to purchasing the Contour Mouse. Size is measured from the first crease on the wrist (nearest the hand) to the tip of the middle finger. "The prevailing 'one size fits all' approach to manufacturing mice simply doesn't work if maximizing comfort and ergonomic benefits are the goal," said Steven Wang, the president of Contour Design and one of the individuals who developed the Contour Mouse. "We've designed the Contour Mouse in multiple sizes to answer the call for a mouse that better fits the hand. "The product's open hand architecture, consisting of elevated buttons and support for the hand, wrist, and thumb, also evolved in response to interest expressed in a mouse that was comfortable and easy to use. "We found that a number of factors were not being addressed in the design of a mouse," said Les Scenna, a mechanical engineer, RSI sufferer, and co-developer of the Contour Mouse. "Most importantly, the hand needs to be open and relaxed, rather than curved around a mouse, as is usually the case. The fingers need to be elevated, the palm raised and supported, and the wrist lifted off the desktop. These are the kinds of design improvements we've made with the Contour Mouse." The Contour Mouse is equipped with software that enables the user to program buttons, define their own macros, and customize the speed and acceleration of the cursor, among other capabilities. The initial release of the Contour Mouse is for IBM PC's or compatible systems. Its suggested retail price is $89.95. Contour Design, Inc. was founded in 1995. The company plans to introduce a Macintosh version of the Contour Mouse in mid-1996, with additional ergonomic input devices to follow. Home | News | Support | Where to Buy | Contact Us | Contour Store