Recreation mini lightning ball + graphic tablet = nutsness

Waoh! I just discovered something cool!

I use a Wacom graphic tablet with my laptop, and it comes with a special kind of mouse (that uses Wacom's same technology it uses with the pen and tablet).

About two weeks ago I got myself a Plasma Ball, which is a lil 3 inch wide version of those cool, electric lightning balls on a stand.

Just now, I was scrolling around the site using my special mouse, and I felt like playing with my lightning ball with my other hand. I noticed that my cursor was highlighting words on the screen for no reason. That's when I realized, it was cuz I was touching my lightning ball! I guess just enough electric/magnetic charge can pass through the glass of my Plasma Ball, enough to set off the left-click mechanism in my wireless/batteryless mouse in my other hand. You peeps should try it sometime!

Edit: Sometimes it won't work. But just by moving my scroll button it seems to reactivate! And I discovered that I need at least two fingers on the mouse, at the sides, as low as possible.

 

I think I'll wait for a while, just to see if you have any awful side effects

 

Nah, I doubt it. The mouse itself doesn't have any power source. And whatever passes through the glass on the lightning ball is really weak. I can put it against my chest and all that happens is that it gets warm.

It would be cool though, if I could touch it with one hand, and light up a light bulb in the other hand.

 

ill sure try it when i get a tablet and a lightning ball

ps. damn, i want a tablet!

 

BAD IDEA BAD IDEA BAD IDEA!!!

You'll VERY likely fry out either that tablet, or the port that it's hooked into, or your whole motherboard. Don't try this at home unless you like paying for new parts.

- Ark

 

For reals? Meeeean! Don't worry, my computer is strong, and the charge is weak.

 

Here's the tablet, the pen, and the mouse.



The faint, white rectangle on the tablet is the sensitive area. You can actually hover the mouse about 1/3 of an inch over that area, and it'll work! With the pen, you hover the tip about 1/3 of an inch (or less) over the tablet to move the cursor, tap the tip to the tablet to left click, and slide the tip over the tablet to click-n-drag. You can do the same with the eraser end of the pen!

 

Your computer is strong right up until the path of least resistance for the electrical charge you're building goes through a critical component. Seriously. Why do you think people wear anti-static straps when working on computers?