What are Spacemice?
A typical computer mouse has only two degrees of freedom. Translational motion along X and Y axis. Some would argue that the mouse wheel offers a 3rd degree of freedom, allowing for the input of Z data. Though the rolling of a mouse wheel with your finger isnt exactly intuitive as related to vertical motion as picking the mouse up off the desk would be. In 3D applications, it is more often used to 'zoom' the viewing area in and out.
By contrast, Spacemice allow six degrees of freedom. (6DOF)
The puck or ball of a spacemouse can be moved along X, Y and Z axis as well as being twisted rotationally on each of those axis. (Roll, Pitch and Yaw)
This wiki is dedicated to the gathering of any and all historical information pertaining to the various models of these controllers.
Where to Find Spacemice
- 3DConnexion — Makers of the Space Navigator, Space Explorer, Space Pilot Pro
- Spacial Freedom — Home of the Astroid 6000, Australia
- SpaceControl — Homepage of the SpaceController, Germany
- Trioc AB — Homepage for the Trioc 3D Pro, Sweden
- Axsotic — Not yet released controller.
- Sandio — Makers of the Sandio 3D O2
Driver Software
- 3DxWare — Official drier software for 3DConnexion devices
- 3DxLabs — Beta drivers for 3DConnexion devices
- Spatial Freedom — Drivers and Application plugins for the Astroid 6000
- Trioc — Software downloads for the Trioc 3D Pro
- SpaceController — Software downloads for the SpaceController
- spacenavd — Open source driver for 3DConnexion Spacemice
- spnavkbd — Translates spacemouse movement to keypresses
- LibSBall — Open source driver library for serial Spaceballs
- LibOrb — Open source library files for SpaceOrb/Spaceball Avenger
- Orbduino — Arduino project allowing serial spacemice to be used as USB HID.
- HIDSporb Project — An opensource Windows driver for the SpaceOrb.
Latest Changes
- Apr-18-2013 New Mystery Device!!
- Added Dimension 6 to Mystery Devices
- Added Dimension 6 to Personal Collection
- Added Dimension 6 to the gallery.
- Feb-09-2013 New Device!!
- Added SpaceController GEN to the gallery.
- Aug-24-2012 New User Content!!
- Aug-17-2012 Not Spacemice Update
- Added Logitech Cyberman and Cyberman2
- Jul-14-2012 New Device!!
- Added Spaceball SpaceController to the gallery.
Historical Gallery
1991
1999
2006
2011
Spacemice though the years, arranged chronologically by manufacturer.
Users Gallery
Do you have a spacemouse? Show it to us!
Do you use it in a unique way? Tell us about it!
Mystery Devices
There are many Spacemice of which there is very little information available. Some were prototypes which never went into production, other have simply been lost to antiquity. Please look over the devices in this section and help me document them.
NOT Spacemice...
While some of these devices can add some degrees of freedom above and beyond the normal everyday mouse, they are not truly Spacemice.
