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Ergonomics / Re: The PalmPuk (with MS Paint graphics)
« Last post by TheSoulhunter on Sun, 31 May 2026, 09:57:47 »The bearing ball must be touching directly the table (or some big pad (cushion) put on the table) to provide easy movement. Your design provides easy movement only withing the cushion area which is drawn about the same size as the whole device for one hand. Also the balls must be able to move around in the device if you want to use only rolling friction. Your proposal does not handle this at all.
In the second design, the ball is captive in the upper half (blue color, with orange cushion on top) where the hand rests on.
The upper part slides in the lower part which is basically a cup (grey part...).
So, the balls roll on a stationary (non moving) metal base.
This allows the upper part to slide...
The size difference between upper and lower part dictate the freedom of movement.
The balls are held in the bearing surfaces (pink) that sit in the upper part (blue/cyan).
You can simply lift the upper part (which holds the balls) out of the lower part (grey).
This allows cleaning or lubricating the inside of the lower part.
In the first version it's the same, just reversed...
Balls are held captive in the lower part, and the upper part rides on them.
But, as mentioned, this would make the upper part tilt in extended position (moving to the outside).
The goal is to be able to slide your palm about 1 Inch in all directions...
On a 60% board, resting your palms on a palm rest, fingers on home row, about 1 inch is all it takes to reach any key.
The Puk is not meant to slide your hands across the table (going Alphas to Numpad or similar) but just for typing in the Alpha-Area.
Hope this makes it more clear...
Maybe I should make a animation or something?

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