Palms-on Evaluate: Diver-X Reinvents the Mouse With Its Soften 3-in-1 Design — a Lovely Instrument Designed for Creators

After pioneering haptic gloves for digital actuality, Tokyo-based startup Diver-X is taking purpose at one of the acquainted laptop instruments: the mouse. Its new Melt Mouse, launching on Kickstarter underneath the corporate’s Soften Interface model, combines a precision mouse, a trackpad, and a customizable shortcut keypad into one minimalist aluminum machine.

I had a hands-on session with the Soften Mouse prototype throughout a briefing with co-founder and CTO Kei Asano, the place I may check its haptic suggestions and mode-switching in particular person. I used to be impressed by each the refined, minimalist design and the flexibility of its 3-in-1 performance. It’s a kind of uncommon prototypes that already feels polished sufficient that I’d genuinely love to purchase one.
Editor’s observe: The photographs proven right here characteristic a working prototype, not the ultimate manufacturing mannequin.

Kei Asano describes it as an try to “break the strict guidelines of what a mouse ought to be”.
“Each mouse seems to be the identical — two buttons, a wheel, possibly some facet keys,” he stated throughout our assembly in Tokyo. “We thought we may break that rule through the use of a number of the haptic expertise we developed for VR.”

From VR Gloves to On a regular basis Creativity

Diver-X’s roots lie in XR {hardware}. The corporate first gained consideration in 2022 with ContactGlove, a flex-sensor glove that tracked hand movement and delivered haptic suggestions with out requiring customers to carry a controller. That challenge taught Asano’s crew how delicate contact sensations may change conventional mechanical inputs. Co-founder and CTO Kei Asano remembers that early initiatives as a pivotal lesson in interface design.

“If you end up mendacity down or in a restricted place, you understand how exhausting it’s to seize one thing in VR,” Asano defined throughout our Tokyo briefing. “We realized that the interface—not the headset—is the important thing to increasing {hardware} prospects.”

With Soften Mouse, Diver-X is transferring that analysis from immersive VR environments to the artistic workflow. The objective: a tactile interface that feels intuitive but highly effective, with out including visible muddle.

A Minimalist, Premium Kind Issue

The Soften Mouse is crafted from a unibody aluminum shell, carved from a single CNC-milled block. The highest floor is produced from strengthened curved glass with a micro-textured end to scale back fingerprints and add a delicate tactile friction.

Asano identified that the crew examined numerous supplies, together with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, earlier than choosing a barely extra versatile glass with wonderful floor bumps. The curved glass floor was refined via greater than ten prototype iterations to realize a stability between smoothness and tactile consolation throughout prolonged classes.

“If the floor is just too easy, it feels synthetic,” he famous. “The micro-texture provides simply sufficient friction to really feel pure.”

Beneath the glass sits a customized haptic actuator that replaces all bodily buttons. Every faucet or scroll triggers a vibration that seems like a click on — however with none transferring components. The click on weight, sensitivity, and scroll suggestions can all be adjusted within the companion Soften Studio software program.

In the course of the demo, Asano confirmed how customers can configure the tactile energy: “Some folks like a robust click on; others want one thing very mild. You’ll be able to set it precisely the way you need.”

“THE SUBTLE HAPTIC FEEDBACK GIVES JUST ENOUGH CONFIRMATION WITHOUT FEELING ARTIFICIAL — IT FEELS INTUITIVE RIGHT AWAY.”

I had hands-on expertise with the Soften Mouse prototype in the course of the assembly, and I discovered the contact responsiveness and haptic suggestions well-tuned. The delicate vibration offers simply sufficient affirmation with out feeling synthetic, and the graceful, barely textured glass floor feels premium and pure underneath the fingers — a mix that makes the machine each nice to make use of and intuitive.

The machine contains an inner rechargeable battery, which may be charged through a USB-C connector discreetly hidden beneath the mouse to protect its clear, minimalist exterior.

The three-in-1 Interface: Mouse, Trackpad, and Shortcut Pad

What makes the Soften Mouse distinctive is its multi-mode performance. It may possibly function as a conventional mouse, rework right into a trackpad, or reveal an illuminated digital numpad / shortcut keypad straight on its floor.

In Trackpad Mode, gestures like swiping, tapping, or scrolling are acknowledged throughout the glass floor — superb for searching or navigation when paired with an exterior monitor.

Switching to Shortcut Pad Mode prompts a glowing structure of digital buttons underneath the glass. These can perform as a numpad for knowledge entry or as macro keys for artistic workflows. Customers can assign instruments, macros, or key instructions for Photoshop, Blender, or video modifying. The illuminated 12-point grid makes the numeric pad significantly helpful for artistic software program like Photoshop or Blender, the place customers can rapidly enter pixel or vertex coordinates straight from the mouse.

The rear facet options two customizable facet buttons that additionally assist swipe gestures, enabling features comparable to window switching or app management.

MagSole: Adjustable Really feel and Ergonomics

The machine’s base, referred to as MagSole, is removable and magnetically hooked up. It adjusts the glide friction primarily based on floor sort — easy for common duties or extra managed for precision design work. Diver-X additionally plans to supply elective soles in numerous heights, colours, and textures, permitting customers to tailor ergonomics and aesthetics. The MagSole system has been exactly tuned to stability easy gliding with managed stopping, providing a extra constant really feel throughout totally different desk surfaces.

The replaceable MagSole and recyclable aluminum body additionally align with Diver-X’s objective of constructing merchandise that last more and generate much less waste. “Whenever you use a mouse for months, the underside floor will get worn out,” stated Asano. “With MagSole, you possibly can simply swap it and hold the identical efficiency.”

Designed Between Magnificence and Perform

As a former designer who as soon as relied closely on Apple merchandise, I’ve at all times discovered the Magic Mouse to be stunning however not comfy, whereas Logitech’s mice, although glorious for productiveness, lack aesthetic enchantment. Throughout our dialog, Asano shared the very same sentiment and added that the Diver-X crew “wished one thing that’s each.”

“AS A DESIGNER, I APPRECIATE HOW THE MELT MOUSE MERGES BEAUTY AND FUNCTION WITHOUT COMPROMISE — IT’S A THOUGHTFUL TAKE ON A FAMILIAR TOOL.”

The Soften Mouse maintains clear, uninterrupted strains — no seen seams, no wheel, and no mechanical clicks — but nonetheless provides precision enter. The shape gently curves to suit the palm, putting a stability between magnificence and usefulness.

In hand, the prototype feels lighter than it seems to be, with a refined tactile stability. Even the scrolling movement, pushed totally by haptic suggestions, is silent but expressive. Customers preferring the tactile absence can disable the haptics totally.

Deep Customization through Soften Studio

The companion Soften Studio app (out there for Home windows and macOS) permits full management over how the mouse behaves. Customers can:

Modify haptic depth and click on resistance
Assign app-specific macros and shortcuts
Remap gestures or swipe zones
Change between profiles for various packages

“I don’t like robust scroll haptics,” Asano admitted. “However my engineers love them, so we made the whole lot configurable. You’ll be able to flip it off or make it stronger — it’s as much as you.”

The mouse connects over Bluetooth and helps multi-device pairing for as much as three computer systems or tablets, with a small rear button for quick switching.

Premium Value, Passionate Market

Priced at $230 for early backers ($280 retail), the Soften Mouse occupies a premium area of interest between luxurious peripherals {and professional} artistic instruments. Asano is aware of it is not going to enchantment to everybody, however he believes the viewers for design-driven {hardware} is rising.

“There are individuals who spend over $1,000 on keyboards,” he stated. “If a mouse improves your effectivity even 3 p.c, I believe it’s value it.”

He acknowledged that Diver-X has not but performed formal productiveness exams, however sees potential, particularly in artistic and modifying workflows, the place gestures and macros can save time.

“For those who use Photoshop or video instruments on daily basis, having your shortcuts at your fingertips could make an actual distinction,” he added.

Trying Forward: Past Clicks

Soften Mouse is the primary product in Diver-X’s new Soften Interface line, which is able to give attention to translating the corporate’s XR experience into every day productiveness instruments. Future gadgets are anticipated to discover haptic suggestions in broader methods, bridging bodily and digital interplay. For Diver-X, the mouse is greater than an adjunct — it’s a assertion that innovation in on a regular basis instruments continues to be attainable.

“For many years the mouse has barely modified, but it stays probably the most important instrument on each desk,” stated CEO and co-founder Yamato Sakod. “With Soften Mouse, we wished to make it extra versatile, extra intuitive, and prepared for the longer term.”

Kickstarter campaign link here
Extra information: melt-interface.com