Palms-on Assessment: Diver-X Reinvents the Mouse With Its Soften 3-in-1 Design — a Stunning Software Designed for Creators

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

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 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 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 needs to be”.
“Each mouse seems the identical — two buttons, a wheel, possibly some aspect keys,” he mentioned throughout our assembly in Tokyo. “We thought we might break that rule through the use of a few of the haptic know-how 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 mission taught Asano’s group how delicate contact sensations might exchange conventional mechanical inputs. Co-founder and CTO Kei Asano recollects that early tasks as a pivotal lesson in interface design.

“When you’re mendacity down or in a restricted place, you understand 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} potentialities.”

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 Kind Issue

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

Asano identified that the group examined varied supplies, together with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, earlier than choosing a barely extra versatile glass with high quality floor bumps. The curved glass floor was refined by way of 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 transferring components. The click on weight, sensitivity, and scroll suggestions can all be adjusted within the companion Soften Studio software program.

Through the demo, Asano confirmed how customers can configure the tactile power: “Some folks like a powerful click on; others desire one thing very gentle. You possibly can 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 throughout 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 sleek, barely textured glass floor feels premium and pure beneath the fingers — a mix that makes the system each nice to make use of and intuitive.

The system consists of an inner rechargeable battery, which could 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 function as a conventional mouse, remodel right into a trackpad, or reveal an illuminated digital numpad / shortcut keypad instantly on its floor.

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

Switching to Shortcut Pad Mode prompts a glowing format of digital buttons beneath 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 notably helpful for artistic software program like Photoshop or Blender, the place customers can shortly enter pixel or vertex coordinates instantly from the mouse.

The rear aspect options two customizable aspect buttons that additionally help swipe gestures, enabling features equivalent to window switching or app management.

MagSole: Adjustable Really feel and Ergonomics

The system’s base, known as MagSole, is removable and magnetically hooked up. It adjusts the glide friction primarily based on floor sort — easy for normal duties or extra managed for precision design work. Diver-X additionally plans to supply optionally available 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. “While you use a mouse for months, the underside floor will get worn out,” mentioned 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 at all times discovered the Magic Mouse to be stunning however not snug, 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 group “needed 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 presents 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 seems, with a refined tactile steadiness. Even the scrolling movement, pushed completely by haptic suggestions, is silent but expressive. Customers preferring the tactile absence can disable the haptics completely.

Deep Customization through Soften Studio

The companion Soften Studio app (obtainable 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
Swap between profiles for various packages

“I don’t like sturdy scroll haptics,” Asano admitted. “However my engineers love them, so we made all the things configurable. You possibly can 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 won’t 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 mentioned. “If a mouse improves your effectivity even 3 p.c, I believe it’s price it.”

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

“Should you use Photoshop or video instruments day by day, 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 deal with translating the corporate’s XR experience into day by 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 remains to be potential.

“For many years the mouse has barely modified, but it stays essentially the most important instrument on each desk,” mentioned CEO and co-founder Yamato Sakod. “With Soften Mouse, we needed to make it extra versatile, extra intuitive, and prepared for the long run.”

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