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geekhack Community => Input Devices => Topic started by: Entropia on Tue, 24 October 2017, 03:07:18

Title: Small trackpoint or touch pad?
Post by: Entropia on Tue, 24 October 2017, 03:07:18

I want to be able to control the mouse pointer from my steering wheel. As regard the buttons, there's no problem, because the wheel base has two buttons on the right, which can be remapped to mouse buttons. Now, on the front left of the base, there's room to stick or screw a small device, which could be a trackpoint or a touch pad, or even a very small trackball. Do you know if any of these devices exist as an independent usb device? Any other idea?

Title: Re: Small trackpoint or touch pad?
Post by: 4sStylZ on Thu, 26 October 2017, 17:05:04

You can make a usb trackpoint by yourself. There’s no « Plug and play version ».

That’s some DIY hard work but if you have motivation : 

1) Salvage a broken thinkpad notebook keyboard or buy some OEM replacement keyboard in Ebay. Be carefull with the trace.
2) Buy a Teensy 2 or 2++ (not the arm one who are, for me, not easy to manipulate).
3) Make an adaptator between the Teensy and the trackpoint.
4) Clone QMK Firmware in local and compile the keyboard located at keyboards/handwired/keyboard

That’s the different trackpoint models : https://deskthority.net/wiki/TrackPoint_Hardware
I personnaly have the T40 one, and I have succefully build it and I am able to use it in USB.

Title: Re: Small trackpoint or touch pad?
Post by: rich1051414 on Sat, 28 October 2017, 00:51:03

Trackpoint does sound good. Also the steam controller approach as well, but that may be more challenging to get setup. Either way would need some custom arduino work.

The easiest would be to use directional arrows to control the mouse cursor. The OS has support for that built in.

Title: Re: Small trackpoint or touch pad?
Post by: katushkin on Sat, 28 October 2017, 14:13:07

Have you considered a joystick? I'm sure there would be a way of configuring a small joystick from an old games controller and sticking that to your steering wheel?

Title: Re: Small trackpoint or touch pad?
Post by: typo on Mon, 11 December 2017, 23:23:45

Logitech made a very nice one discontinued check Auction site. It is about 5" square. It does gestures and everything.

Title: Re: Small trackpoint or touch pad?
Post by: Tactile on Mon, 11 December 2017, 23:50:50

I don't know how small you need but Adesso has been making these (http://www.adesso.com/products/product-sort2-12.html) for many years.