Orbit Optical Trackball

by Kensington

Additional Resources Accessories

The Orbit Optical Trackball from Kensington offers users an ambidextrous alternative to traditional mice which require a constant grip to be used and a larger amount of space on the desktop. A 40 mm trackball with optical tracking for accuracy is centrally positioned for ease of movement by the fingers. Left and Right buttons are located adjacent to the ball, with the thumb and pinkie fingers naturally dropping into position over them. The Orbit Optical Trackball is sized to best fit the needs of small to average sized hands. Users with larger hands may wish to consider one of the larger trackball options.

Note: Users who perform large amounts of scrolling need to be aware that the Orbit Optical Trackball does NOT have a mechanism to perform vertical scrolling. These users should consider a trackball which includes a dedicated scroll wheel or ring such as the Orbit Optical Trackball with Scroll Ring.

Ergonomic Benefits

Reduces Strain on Arm, Elbow and Shoulder Muscles - Like a touchpad, the Orbit Optical Trackball is a stationary mousing device. (Moving the ball with the fingers moves the cursor on the screen.) Limiting the repetitive movements of the arm and shoulder can greatly reduce the potential for injury and inflammation in these muscle groups. The housing of a trackball can also be angled in any direction, allowing the user to keep the elbow, wrist and hand in a straight line, and to limit ulnar and radial deviation. Learn More About Ulnar Deviation

Reduces Strain on the Hand, Wrist and Arm - Trackballs effectively counter any tendency the user might have to grip the pointing device too hard. This often inadvertent static grip can cause pain and injury to the muscles and soft tissues in the back of the hand and in the wrist and forearm. Trackballs, by requiring a simple spinning motion accomplished with the fingers, eliminate static grip entirely. Learn More About Static Grip Force.

Ergonomic Support - The Orbit Optical Trackball features a contoured housing that provides hands support for small to average sized users. The hand can be relaxed, permitting it to "drape" over the trackball which naturally positions the hand for optimum control.
Note: Users with larger hands may find this support is forfeited as they must move their hand further back, away from the body of the trackball, in order to best position their fingers for cursor control and button activation.

Reduces Reach for Buttons - The Orbit Optical Trackball positions the left and right buttons for natural access by the thumb and pinkie finger (some users may choose to use the ring finger as it has more strength). The available TrackballWorks programming software allows reassignment of trackball buttons and adjustment of tracking speed.

Enables Load Balancing Between Left and Right Hands - The Orbit Optical Trackball features an ambidextrous design and can be placed on the left or right side of the keyboard in the traditional desktop layout. The ability to distribute the workload as desired allows the user to reduce the strain on the muscles of the dominant side.

Can Be Used In Locations Where a Mouse Can’t - This trackall can be used between the two modules of a separated keyboard, on the arm of a couch, or wherever else the user might find convenient and comfortable, providing more options for load distribution than conventional mice.

Lightweight Ball - The 40 mm trackball on the Orbit Optical Trackball is light and features a silky, smooth movement. However, it retains significant enough weight that the fingers feel a level of feedback resistance. This enables a user to exert fine control without the sense of the ball being too light. This noticeably lighter load on the fingers can significantly reduce the potential for fatigue but does not lend itself as well to "spinning" the trackball for extreme acceleration when operating on large high-resolution monitors.

Frees Up Space on the Desktop - Since the trackball itself is the only moving part of this type of device, much less space is required for it on the work surface. A trackball may be the solution if restricted space on the desk top or on a narrow keyboard tray has prevented the mouse and keyboard from being used at the same level.

Software Driver for Increased Productivity - Users can take advantage of the powerful TrackballWorks Software package which can be downloaded from the Kensington website. As the Orbit Optical Trackball only has 2 buttons the software does offer more limited options than other models (i.e. button reassignment and tracking speed control)

Features

Reliable Wired Connection: The Orbit Optical Trackball relies on a wired connection, ensuring reliability in performance.
Optical Tracking Technology: Optical Tracking ensures precision cursor control.
40 mm Trackball: The 40 mm ball can easily be moved by users with any size of hand. The movement requires minimal effort so the load on the fingers is minimal. Although low effort is required the ball still offers sufficient resistance, ensuring that users can retain a high level of control. Movement is smooth and accurate.
Natural Hand Support: The body of the Orbit Optical Trackball is shaped in such a way that it provides a natural support for the hand. Users with small or average size hands can "drape" their hand over the body of the trackball and permit their hand to relax. The thumb and pinkie finger fall into position over the left and right buttons with the remaining fingers centrally located above the trackball for cursor control.
Note: Users with larger hands will not be able to fully benefit from the supportive design as their hands will need to be moved farther back on the trackball in order to position the fingers for button activation and cursor control. As a result they may wish to consider a larger trackball option.
TrackballWorks Software: The optional TrackballWorks Software enables users to re-assign both button commands as well as to adjust tracking speed.
Ambidextrous Design: The symmetrical, comfortable design means that both left and right-handed users are able to enjoy the benefits of the Orbit Optical Trackball.

Images (Click on any thumbnail to view larger image)

Orbit Optical Trackball

Orbit Optical Trackball - Top View

Orbit Optical Trackball - Rear Profile

Orbit Optical Trackball - Side Profile

Technical Specifications

Width: 4.9" (12.5 cm)
Depth (front to back): 5.6" (14.2 cm)
Height: 2.0" (5.1 cm)
Trackball Diameter: 1.57" (40 mm)
Cable Length: 70.8" (180 cm)
Interface: USB 2.0
Compatibility:
Windows: 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP
Mac: OS X 10.11 and up
Chrome: OS 44 and above
Drivers Available: TrackballWorks Customization Software
Note: Current Trackball Works software is certified for the following OS.
- Windows: 10 (32/64), 8/8.1 (32/64), 7 (32/64)
- Mac: OS X 10.11 El Capitan, OS X 10.10 Yosemite, OS X 10.9 Mavericks, OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion
Warranty: 3 Years - Manufacturer Direct
Package Contents:: Orbit Optical Trackball, Documentation

Usage Tips

If you are new to a trackball expect that it will take a while to get accustomed to the different style of control. It is also a good idea to limit the amount of time you use it in the first while. Rather, build up to longer periods of usage by interchanging with a different mousing device or by Load Balancing (see next point).
Load Balance Your Use: The freedom of an ambidextrous trackball lets you easily switch between left and right handed use. Make a point of using it with your non-dominant hand. Not only is this good for your dominant hand, which gets a break from working, it can slowly build dexterity and endurance which your non-dominant hand generally does not have. As a bonus, it is a also a way of stimulating the other half of your brain, never a bad idea.
Take regular breaks. If you find that you are experiencing discomfort in your fingers, especially in the learning stages - that is a good sign that you may want to take a break by switching to a different device or by swapping to the other hand. As with any device, make an effort to regularly change your usage, take breaks, and perform stretches. Some users find that the fingers can benefit from occasionally flexing them through a full range of movement, both extending and contracting them fully.

Models

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Model #	Description
64327	Orbit Optical Trackball