Hi everyone,
I’ve been thinking about how digital navigation could be more intuitive and safer - especially for users who feel overwhelmed or misled by unclear buttons, inconsistent interfaces, or deceptive websites. What if our mouse cursor could help us instead of just pointing?
Imagine a smart cursor that changes color when hovering over clickable elements, gives feedback when a click fails, and even warns us when we’re about to interact with a suspicious link or fake site. It could reduce digital fatigue, improve accessibility, and enhance online safety - all without requiring websites themselves to change.
Here’s a concept I’d love to see developed. I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Key features:
- Change color based on element type (blue for links, green for confirmation, red for error-prone zones)
- Pulse or vibrate when clicking on inactive or misleading elements
- Display tooltips on hover, such as “open PDF” or “submit form”
- Warn users when hovering over suspicious links or visual imitations of trusted websites (phishing detection)
- Dim or simplify in focus mode to reduce digital fatigue during reading or typing
Why this is valuable: Many users experience frustration due to unclear buttons, excessive click layers, and cognitive overload. A smart cursor can provide intuitive feedback, reduce mental strain, and even enhance digital safety. It’s a low-barrier way to improve user experience without requiring websites themselves to change.
Technical feasibility: This could be implemented as a browser extension or integrated at system level, using existing APIs for fraud detection and visual feedback. Rather than adding another visual layer on top of systems like Edge’s SmartScreen or Safari’s fraud alerts, this concept turns the cursor itself into a smart, responsive guide - more immediate, intuitive, and user-friendly.
Warm greetings,
Femke