Last week’s big Microsoft Surface event brought us a slew of new products that will hit store shelves this month. The stars of the show were Microsoft’s Surface devices, from the Surface Pro 9 (now with optional 5G connectivity) and the impressive Surface Laptop 5 to the unexpected but intriguing Surface Studio 2+ all-in-one.
Everyone will start appearing on store shelves later this month with Windows 11 pre-installed, and I’m excited to get some to test so we can see how these stack up against the best laptops and PCs on the market. But as stylish as these new PCs look, to me they are far from the most exciting product Microsoft talked about last week.
No, I’m more excited about the show Microsoft Adaptive Extensions (Opens in a new tab). Originally announced in May, Microsoft’s Adaptive Accessory Kit is a small set of components that you can use to create custom input devices for your PC. This allows you to design controls that may be more comfortable or easier to use than a traditional mouse and keyboard, something I am deeply interested in as a professional writer with hand and wrist issues.
Last week, Microsoft finally gave us pricing and availability details for the Adaptive Extensions, and they’re arriving this month – October 24, to be exact. Pricing is in line with what I was expecting as well: $60 for a Microsoft Adaptive Hub that can sync wirelessly with other adaptive components and connect to existing third-party assistive technology, $45 for an adaptive mouse (with an optional $15 detachable tail for thumb support) and $40 Each piece has a joystick and adaptive buttons.
This sounds like great news for any PC user who has trouble using a keyboard or mouse, and it’s good to see Microsoft expand its lineup of adaptive hardware. I already own an Xbox Adaptive console, and while I don’t have an obvious handicap, I’m seriously considering getting a slew of adaptive accessories for my gaming PC later this month. Here’s why – and why I think you should pay attention to this stuff, even if you (currently) don’t have any issues with your mouse and keyboard.
Why are these adaptive accessories important
Microsoft’s adaptive hardware expands the ways in which you can interact with your PC, and that’s a good thing, no doubt. While there are already many organizations working to make computers more accessible to more people, the fact that a computer industry giant like Microsoft is publicly highlighting the limitations of the traditional mouse/keyboard combo is significant.
When these devices hit store shelves, owners will have access to a set of customizable controls (usable on both Windows and macOS) that allow you to assign computer commands and macros to keypresses and joystick input. Since they can connect via Bluetooth 5.1, you can also use them with the phone, which is a nice bonus. The ingredients themselves look elegant and professional while being bulky and accessible, which is a winning combination in my book.
Obviously, people with health conditions or disabilities that affect how they use a mouse and keyboard are probably way ahead of the rest of us when it comes to these things. Microsoft announced adaptive accessories in May during its annual Capability Summit (Opens in a new tab), where she spoke about the Inclusive Tech Lab and the ongoing efforts to make technology more accessible. But even if this is your first time hearing about any of them and you don’t think this technology was made for you, I think you should pay attention and consider investing in some – either now or in the future.
As a writer in my mid-30s, I’m undoubtedly a millennial (trust me I’ve tried) and our generation is one of the first to grow up with PCs. This means we are among the first to know what a lifelong keyboard and mouse habit does to the human body – and in my experience, that’s not great!
I don’t know about you, but after three decades of banging on a rectangular sheet of plastic, my hands and wrists are aching for change. I’ve spent the past few years exploring alternative inputs and lifestyles in an effort to return to pain-free PC use, and so far a major factor (in addition to physical therapy, stretching, and responsible work-life balance) has been finding new ways to use my PC without a tablet. Traditional keys and mouse.
This includes investing in an Xbox Adaptive console for PC gaming and a variety of ergonomic consoles, including the Microsoft Sculpt. But it also includes the use of Voice Access, a new feature for Windows 11 that recently changed the way I work by making speaking typing a possibility rather than a nightmare. And when Microsoft’s Adaptive accessories go on sale, I plan to buy a Hub, some buttons, and a pair of joysticks so I can test them out as PC gaming accessories.
I’ve spent my whole life playing games, and one of the hardest things for me, as an elderly human with RSI and carpal tunnel, is holding the gamepad for more than a few minutes straight. While a Microsoft representative assured me that the new Microsoft Adaptive accessories unfortunately do not work with the Xbox Adaptive Controller, I can still use them to create a console-free PC gaming setup.
Hey, if I can assign a few Word or Excel macros to the joysticks for easy access when I’m on the clock, that much better! These new accessories seem like a welcome addition to Microsoft’s catalog of accessible technology, and I can’t wait to see what else the company can do to make PCs more comprehensive and accessible.
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