BLOG – TRACKBALLS USED BY PROFESSIONALS – 9 May, 2016
The Trackball Mouse in Aviation and Military
A trackball mouse offers more control, is more ergonomic and takes up less desk space than a regular computer mouse. No wonder that trackballs are sometimes used in aviation and the military as well.
Take a look at these three examples of the trackball in high tech situations: the control rooms of a Reaper military drone, a Dutch warship and Heathrow Air Traffic Control.
Logitech TrackMan Wheel Optical
Control Room of a Remote Drone Operation
The high-tech Control Room of a Reaper drone contains a Logitech TrackMan Wheel trackball mouse.
The General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper (formerly named Predator B) is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), or more widely know as a ‘drone’, capable of remote controlled or autonomous flight operations. The aircraft is monitored and controlled by aircrew in the Ground Control Station.
In these Ground Control Stations, full of high-tech equipment, we can spot a familiar device: a Logitech TrackMan Wheel Optical trackball mouse!
Logitech TrackMan Wheel Optical trackball
As can be seen in the photos above and below, the Logitech trackball is positioned on the right side of the desktop in the control centre. The trackball is vertically mounted with the ball on top, a rather unusual location. The ball can still be moved with the thumb while holding the hand sideways, making this basically a vertical mouse with a trackball.
The cost of an MQ-9 Reaper including the necessary 4 (!) Ground Control Stations? About $120.000.000 (according to a calculation by Time magazine).
The cost of the Logitech TrackMan Wheel trackball mouse? About $30 on eBay.
There are many photos of Reaper drone Ground Control Stations online, and most of them clearly show a Logitech trackball on the desk.
You can still easily find the Logitech TrackMan Wheel Optical on eBay for around $30, or consider one of the alternatives mentioned below.
Alternative recommended trackballs
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Logitech M570 Wireless Trackball | Read review |
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Speedlink Aptico Wireless Trackball | Read review |
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Elecom EX-G | Read review |
The Logitech TrackMan Wheel Optical is a thumb-operated trackball, which means that the ball has to be controlled with the thumb, and buttons need to be clicked with the middle fingers. It has an ergonomic body which fits nicely in your hand (although people with large hands might prefer a bigger trackball), useful scrollwheel, and two buttons (enough for most users).
The Logitech TrackMan Wheel Optical is not produced anymore, but its wireless successor, the even more smooth Logitech M570 Wireless Trackball, is currently the best selling trackball, read the review here.
Control Room of a Warship
The Dutch have a long and proud naval history. A press photo of a NATO exercise reveals that their Amphibious Warfare ship HNLMS Rotterdam L800 is equipped with ITAC Mouse-Trak trackballs.
HNLMS Rotterdam is a Landing Platform Dock (LPD) amphibious warfare ship of the Royal Netherlands Navy. The ship is equipped with a large helicopter deck and a dock for large landing crafts. The ship has a complete Class II hospital, including an operating theater and intensive care facilities. A surgical team can be stationed on board. The ship also has a desalination system enabling it to convert seawater into drinking water.
A photo taken during a NATO Response Force (NRF) exercise “Destined Glory 2004” in Sardinia reveals that the control room is equipped with black ITAC Industrial Mouse-Trak trackballs.
ITAC Industrial Mouse-Trak trackball
The ITAC Industrial Mouse-Trak trackball is one of the most solid and high quality trackballs available. The ITAC is designed for harsh environments and high use applications.
It is claimed that the ITAC trackball survived a demonstration drop of 500 feet into a plowed field from an airplane.
Advantages of this trackball include:
- Less tiring than a wrist and elbow powered mouse.
- Integrated hand support reduces the risk of carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Click, Double-Click, and Click & Drag without complicated driver setup.
- Super strong case.
- Reliable stainless steel shafts and bearings.
At $315, the ITAC Industrial Mouse-Trak is one of the most expensive trackballs on the market. If you’re considering an ITAC, it might be more economic to buy the ITAC Professional Mouse-Trak (white case, slightly less advanced) for $169 or find it on eBay. If you want to use it with your own personal computer, make sure it has a USB connection, because the ITAC trackballs are available with several connections, including PS/2 and Serial.
The more popular brands Kensington and CST offer some good alternatives, priced between $99 and $150.
Alternative recommended trackballs
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Kensington Expert Mouse Wireless Trackball | Read review |
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Kensington Slimblade | Read review |
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CST2545-5W (GL) L-Trac Glow Laser Trackball | Read review |
Heathrow Air Traffic Control Tower
Amidst the computers and screens in London Heathrow Air Traffic Control Tower, a Logitech TrackMan Marble trackball can be spotted.
The photo below is from 2010, taken in the main control tower for London Heathrow airport’s air traffic tower.
We can spot an older model Logitech Marble with light grey body and dark grey buttons. The current Logitech Marble trackball has a darker body and lighter buttons.
Logitech TrackMan Marble trackball
The simple but very good Logitech TrackMan Marble is the trackball that started it all for me. I’m happy to see that even in London Heathrow’s Air Traffic Control Tower, they use a Logitech Marble trackball.
If you don’t want to spend a lot of money on a trackball, and don’t want to read all the trackball reviews on this website, just buy this one.
At $20, this Logitech trackball is one of the cheapest trackballs available. Get it on Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk or Logitech.com, or read my review of this popular trackball.
Alternative recommended trackballs
Other good options in the same price range are the Kensington Orbit with its excellent and very useful Scroll Ring (Editor’s Choice winner for Best Value Trackball), and the very basic Kensington Orbit Optical.
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Kensington Orbit with Scroll Ring | Read review |
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Kensington Orbit Optica | Read review |
More about Trackballs
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Compare trackballs, see the Top 10 Trackballs or Editor’s Choice Winners.
