Apple Magic Trackpad
Apple Magic Trackpad

Money

Technophile: Ditching the digital age's 'right-hand man'

Curt Brandao reviews three touchpad devices that give our hands a rest from that ever-present mouse.

Curt Brandao

January 21, 2012

Apple Magic Trackpad

What it is Ever since Apple's Macintosh computer introduced the world to the graphical user interface in 1984, the mouse has literally been the digital age's "right-hand man". It's no coincidence that sometime later, many of us also became familiar with the term "carpal tunnel syndrome", due in large part to the repetitive motions our mouse often induces. Touch pads like the Apple Magic Trackpad give our wrist and hand muscles more creative and varied ways to interact with our computers.

What it can do The Apple Magic Trackpad brings all the multi-touch functionality of Apple's laptop computers to your desktop, allowing you to click, scroll, swipe, pinch and rotate files on your screen by connecting wirelessly to your computer via Bluetooth. It provides a 5-inch-wide interface and runs on two AA batteries.

Who it's for Apple desktop users who find their laptop's trackpad interface is both more functional and easier on their wrist muscles than their traditional mouse. The trackpad can also be used with Windows PCs, but with only limited functionality.

Dh370

Logitech Wireless Touchpad

What it is Logitech's Wireless Touchpad offers Windows desktop users the ultimate wireless, multi-touch experience, with the complete range of gesture-based controls on its 5-inch touch surface.

What it can do The Touchpad replaces your mouse, allowing you to point, scroll and swipe between software programs. However, the battery-operated device connects wirelessly to your computer via a small USB "unifying reciever" - not Bluetooth.

Who it's for Repetitive wrist injuries aren't the sole burden of Apple fan boys - Logitech's Touchpad offers solid multi-touch performance for Windows users.

Dh150

Adesso Easy Cat 2

What it is The Adesso offers a very flexible and programmable touchpad experience, and its two buttons on the bottom make it a kind of hybrid touchpad-mouse device in a small, portable package.

What it can do It offers touchpad functionality for both Macs and PCs. Users can "right click" by tapping on the upper right corner of the device. However, the Easy Cat 2 is not wireless - it connects to your computer via USB.

Who it's for Computer users on the go who often switch between Mac and PC operating systems and are willing to cope with its relatively small interface.

Dh150

Analysis

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WISH
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”