Trackball support

[bremoran]

Disclaimer: I have yet to build a concertina.

I've started using a vertical mouse; it's great, but the transition from using a keyboard to using a mouse requires lifting my hand over the mouse, often knocking it over. With a split keyboard, there would be the option of putting the mouse in the middle, but with a vertical version, like the concertina, this just recreates the same problem. It seems to me that the answer is probably to embed a trackball in the concertina. I wondered if you had considered that or if you had any thoughts about trying it.

[veikman]

I have the same issue with tall (vertical) ergonomic mice, but I still use such mice with both of my Concertinas, and it has turned out to be less of a problem than I thought. I do use the mice relatively little though, so your mileage may vary.

I have tested a separate trackball by the side of a Concertina for some months. I have found it less attractive than a mouse, and it would take up a lot of space if integrated into a thumb cluster.

I am currently waiting for QMK to merge full support for RP2040. When that happens, I plan to start experimenting with an old trackpoint I have lying around. That thing should fit well into a thumb cluster, replacing about three keys.

[bremoran]

I was also very much hoping for RP2040 support!

I had a sub-optimal idea for what to insert into the thumb cluster: https://shop.pimoroni.com/products/trackball-breakout?variant=27672765038675

The ball is a little small for my taste, but it might get the job done, and it's much smaller than the conventional ones. That breakout isn't great; it occupies far more real estate than I would hope for. If you used just the bare sensor, it looks like it's about the same size as a key switch, so it might only occupy one space.

I've seen a few dactyl builds that install a rather large trackball in the thumb cluster, with a PWM-3360 motion sensor. Obviously, this drastically alters the thumb cluster. I'm not sure this is a net good thing. The pimoroni one has a much lower impact, but the ball is much smaller, which makes me suspect it will be worse to use.

When I get around to building a concertina, I think I'll experiment with the mini track ball and see how far I get.

edit: Probably relevant drawing: https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0174/1800/files/trackballbreakout.png?v=1599645804

[laur89]

Hi @veikman, did you ever get around playing with trackpoint support? Note support for RP2040 was merged upstream 3w ago: https://github.com/qmk/qmk_firmware/pull/17893

[veikman]

I’ve made no progress on it in the past 11 months, but over in https://github.com/veikman/dmote-keycap, I’ve taken the first steps toward a new build with Kailh BOX switches. I still plan to experiment with a trackpoint as I prototype that build.