MBox’s DS21 campaign on Kickstarter introduces a wearable, modular device that combines a desktop mouse with a motion-controlled presentation remote, aiming to disrupt multifunctional input tools.
Crowdfunding is increasingly being used to bundle several input tools into one. MBox’s DS21 follows that pattern, aiming to combine a mouse, a presentation clicker and a handheld remote in a single modular device. The concept is simple: use it as a conventional desktop mouse, or detach the smaller core and turn it into a motion controller for meetings, media and other compatible devices.
The DS21 is built around a magnetic docking design. In mouse mode, MBox says the assembled device weighs about 85 grams and is shaped to support the palm for normal office use. Remove the 35-gram core and it becomes an air-style controller that relies on a six-axis gyroscope to track hand movement. MBox says it can work from as far as 15 metres away, which is intended to let users move around a room while advancing slides or controlling a screen.
That detachable unit also adds touch-sensitive controls for actions such as clicking and volume adjustment. MBox says the DS21 is intended not only for presentations but also for projectors, smart TVs, e-readers and smartphone camera shutter control. Connectivity is via a 2.4GHz USB receiver or Bluetooth 5.3, and the company lists support for Windows, macOS, iOS and Android.
The campaign has already passed its funding target on Kickstarter, with early backers offered the device at a discount to the planned retail price. MBox says production is due to start in September, with shipping expected in November. As with many crowdfunding hardware projects, the final test will be whether the magnetic connection, motion tracking and cross-platform software work reliably once the product reaches buyers. The DS21 enters a crowded niche: other recent campaigns have also tried to merge portable mice with extra functions, from ESR’s MagMouse to modular and presentation-focused devices such as PiMouse and ZeroMouse.
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