The PalmPuk (with MS Paint graphics)

[TheSoulhunter]

So, I got an idea I want to share with you...


The PalmPuk

A sliding palm rest that lets you move your hands without lifting them.
It is basically a combination of resting and hovering...


The device consists of two main parts:




Upper Part (with cushion pad) -> Where your palms or the base of your hands rest.
Lower Part -> Contains three captive steel balls arranged in a triangle.
The upper part glides smoothly on these balls in two axes...




This should create a low-friction "hover" effect...
Your hands stay supported, while the whole assembly slides with your natural hand movements.

It should feel like your hands are floating...
Combining the benefits of a palm-rest with the freedom of hovering.


This probably only works for 60% size boards... and split-ergo ones...
The perfect size of the Puk, the freedom of movement, and the exact design...  have to be worked out.
If someone wants to produce the PalmPuk, feel free to do so (credit and free sample would be nice tho).


What do you think? Input? Criticism? Suggestions?

[TheSoulhunter]

As tipping might be a concern in the extended positions,
flipping the design upside down might be a good idea...

[TheSoulhunter]

If we use split spherical bearing seats, machining would be easier,
and we could use a soft base-material like Aluminum...




Or does someone have a better idea for the seating?

[vvp]

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.

You can provide easy "friction less" movement with magnets (magnetic levitation), air cushion (you need air pump somewhere), ultrasound levitation or some omnidirectional wheels touching directly to the table.

But if you are lazy to move your hands around then you can also get a keyboard which does not require any palm movement while typing, like e.g. K80CS: https://deskthority.net/viewtopic.php?p=250605#p250605