I've been toying around with the idea of making a trackball / arcade controller. I guess I kind of got the idea after seeing those BAT one handed chording boards.
Features I would like to implement besides standard/basic functionality:
>mouse / controller modes, something like switch to change the button bindings sort of like an Fn lock so I can have other keys bound to the buttons to use with games.
>while in mouse mode, one of the thumb buttons can be held to change from pointer to scroll mode.
Basic layout:
not to exact scale, etc.
I intend to use MX switch for the mouse buttons with 1x keys on the fingers, 1.5 keys for thumb and a 2.25 palm button. Asides from that I am not really too sure on other parts I need to source. I want good components but I don't want to pay a fortune for them. Anything I can scavenge from old 'junk' would be most ideal. I want a large trackball, so I can palm it basically. I want something 'accurate' also in case I want to try using it for art work.
Since it's pretty limited in amount of keys and things, I assume doing a platemount and handwire approach will be the easiest thing. I really don't have much experience in designing anything...
I know a lot of people don't feel balls are great for playing games, but the only games I will be likely to play with something like this are sidescrollers and such so I don't think it will really be an issue.