That the evolution of digital interfaces does not potentially sound the death-knell for the conventional mouse is evident from the fact that a bigwig company like Microsoft has launched a new mouse – the ARC Touch Mouse which is a shape-shifting ‘pop-up’ mouse that can be folded flat and carried around easily!

The new Microsoft Arc Touch features a touch scroll strip which enables users to run their finger down a section of the mouse, for scrolling through documents and flicking through web pages sans the need of a button click.

The device makes use of haptic technology to provide a sense of physical feedback indicating to the users that they have clicked on something; and also functions like the traditional mouse when the strip is tapped by the users.

Featuring a capacitive sensor to facilitate touch scrolling and picking up velocity to correspond with mouse scroll speed, the Arc Mouse is equipped with Blue Track technology that allows it to be used on any surface.

The two AA batteries of the Arc Mouse – which will likely ship for $69.95 in the US on 1 December; and elsewhere in January - give the device a comfortable six months’ use.

Noting that “Microsoft is to continuing to bring great new mice to consumers,” Brett Ostrum, the general manager of hardware division at Microsoft, said: “The reasons people need external mice will not change: comfort and precision.”