A computer mouse device for tracking user input and providing tactile feedback.
A housing includes a lower portion designed to move over a flat surface, and a
casing portion engaged by a palm of a user's hand. A sensor is provided within
the housing for tracking the motion of the housing with repect to the flat surface,
where motion data from the sensor is transmitted to a host computer for updating
the status of a cursor on a graphical display displaying one or more graphical
details. The mouse device receives over signal lines a sensory feedback signal
from the host computer when the displayed cursor interacts with a graphical detail
in response to the motion data. An actuator is included within and coupled to the
housing and generates motion of the casing in a direction substantially orthogonal
to the flat surface, delivering a tactile sensation to the user's palm in response
to the sensory feedback signal received over the signal lines.