Arms-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 gadget.

I had a hands-on session with the Soften Mouse prototype throughout a briefing with co-founder and CTO Kei Asano, the place I might take a look at 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 type of uncommon prototypes that already feels polished sufficient that I might genuinely love to purchase one.
Editor’s notice: The images proven right here function a working prototype, not the ultimate manufacturing mannequin.

Kei Asano describes it as an try and “break the strict guidelines of what a mouse ought to be”.
“Each mouse appears to be like the identical — two buttons, a wheel, possibly some facet keys,” he stated throughout our assembly in Tokyo. “We thought we might 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 undertaking taught Asano’s workforce how delicate contact sensations might substitute conventional mechanical inputs. Co-founder and CTO Kei Asano remembers that early tasks as a pivotal lesson in interface design.

“When you’re mendacity down or in a restricted place, you notice how laborious 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 aim: a tactile interface that feels intuitive but highly effective, with out including visible muddle.

A Minimalist, Premium Type 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 cut back fingerprints and add a delicate tactile friction.

Asano identified that the workforce examined varied supplies, together with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, earlier than choosing a barely extra versatile glass with effective floor bumps. The curved glass floor was refined by greater than ten prototype iterations to attain a steadiness 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 looks like a click on — however with none shifting components. The click on weight, sensitivity, and scroll suggestions can all be adjusted within the companion Soften Studio software program.

Throughout the demo, Asano confirmed how customers can configure the tactile power: “Some folks like a powerful click on; others favor one thing very gentle. 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 through the assembly, and I discovered the contact responsiveness and haptic suggestions well-tuned. The delicate vibration provides simply sufficient affirmation with out feeling synthetic, and the graceful, barely textured glass floor feels premium and pure underneath the fingers — a mixture that makes the gadget each nice to make use of and intuitive.

The gadget contains an inside rechargeable battery, which might be charged by way of 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 could function as a conventional mouse, remodel right into a trackpad, or reveal an illuminated digital numpad / shortcut keypad immediately on its floor.

In Trackpad Mode, gestures like swiping, tapping, or scrolling are acknowledged throughout the glass floor — perfect 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 shortly enter pixel or vertex coordinates immediately from the mouse.

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

MagSole: Adjustable Really feel and Ergonomics

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

The replaceable MagSole and recyclable aluminum body additionally align with Diver-X’s aim of constructing merchandise that last more and generate much less waste. “Once 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 Operate

As a former designer who as soon as relied closely on Apple merchandise, I’ve all the time discovered the Magic Mouse to be stunning however not comfy, whereas Logitech’s mice, although glorious for productiveness, lack aesthetic attraction. Throughout our dialog, Asano shared the very same sentiment and added that the Diver-X workforce “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, hanging a steadiness between class and usefulness.

In hand, the prototype feels lighter than it appears to be like, with a refined tactile steadiness. 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 by way of Soften Studio

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

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

“I don’t like robust scroll haptics,” Asano admitted. “However my engineers love them, so we made every part 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 attraction 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 %, I feel it’s price it.”

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

“Should you use Photoshop or video instruments daily, 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 can concentrate on translating the corporate’s XR experience into every day productiveness instruments. Future units 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 remains to be potential.

“For many years the mouse has barely modified, but it stays essentially 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 long run.”

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