We don't often do hardware reviews on this blog, but they could become more regular as new computer peripherals emerge for use with virtual worlds and MMOs. An example is the SpaceNavigator, which is a product made by Logitech subsidiary 3Dconnexions. I've seen it described as a '3D mouse', in that it's designed to help you navigate 3D worlds more intuitively than you would with the traditional combination of a keyboard and mouse. Anyway, I've been testing one for a few days in Second Life, which is one of the first virtual worlds to support the device.
Besides Second Life, it also works with more than 100 other 3D sites or applications. Many of them are CAD and other design products, although Google Earth and Microsoft Virtual Earth are also supported.
Anyway, the SpaceNavigator isn’t designed to replace your mouse - the idea is to plug it into a USB port on your computer and then have it sitting on the left of your keyboard. It’s small and round, but very heavy, presumably to ensure it doesn’t move around on your desktop - the base stays put, while the controller cap itself tilts, rolls and moves in your left hand. There’s a suitably space-age blue light when it’s in use too, which is nice.
You need to be using the Second Life Release Candidate 1.20 to use SpaceNavigator at the moment, rather than the standard Second Life client. 3Dconnexion has a section of its site explaining how to get it all running, but I had no problems once the client was downloaded and installed - the first time I fired Second Life up, it all worked.
The idea is that SpaceNavigator lets you move your avatar and alter your view of your surroundings easily, without fiddling with keys. There is a learning curve, since for an hour or so I was often tilting the controller cap forward rather than pushing it forward - the former controls your view, while the latter controls your movement. Once mastered, though, the experience is very smooth indeed, as you walk around while panning and tilting the view, and twisting the cap to turn left or right. It was particularly impressive for flying, leaving me swooping happily over the virtual streets.
So, it works well, and the price isn’t bad either - many websites seem to be selling the Personal Edition for around the $50 mark (and £35-40 here in the UK). I guess the wider question is whether its benefits are worth having an extra device plugged into your computer. I’d say yes, although 3Dconnexion’s challenge is to convince experienced Second Lifers that their well-practised keyboard and mouse skills need replacing. But certainly for people new to virtual worlds, SpaceNavigator offers an innovative approach to making your way around 3D environments.
I’m not so sure it would work well for MMOs though, where fast, rapid movement and changes of direction are required. It’s worth pointing out too that it won’t replace your mouse entirely - for example for clicking to select things on-screen. But as an additional navigation aid for more exploratory virtual worlds, it’s very impressive indeed.
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