"Ploopy, the Canadian open-source hardware company known for its lineup of trackballs and trackpads, has changed that with the Bean. It's a standalone external pointing stick that connects over USB-C and sits flat on a desk. Think of it as a TrackPoint you don't have to buy a ThinkPad to access, with a few deliberate improvements added to address the weaknesses that nub has always had."
"The Bean measures 84mm x 64mm x 16mm and houses a red pointing nub near the center of its flat, 3D printed case. Unlike the fixed nubs built into laptop keyboards, this one has additional travel in its movement, which Ploopy says helps reduce fatigue from pushing a stiffer stick over long sessions. Four buttons flank the nub, covering the standard left, right, middle click, and scroll by default."
"None of those defaults is locked in. The Bean runs QMK open-source firmware on a Raspberry Pi RP2040 microcontroller, and remapping any of the four Omron D2LS-21 buttons takes just a few minutes using the free VIA web app. There are no drivers to install and no proprietary software to deal with, just a browser-based tool that reads the device and lets you assign functions however you like."
"For anyone who finds the conventional mouse hard on their wrist, or simply prefers keeping their hands positioned in front of them rather than reaching out to one side constantly, a pointing stick can make a noticeable difference over long sessions. You nudge the nub, and the cursor moves without your palm going anywhere. It's a small thing until it isn't, especially f"
A standalone external pointing stick called the Bean connects over USB-C and sits flat on a desk. It uses a 3D printed case with a red nub near the center and includes additional nub travel to reduce fatigue during long sessions. Four buttons flank the nub for left, right, middle click, and scroll by default. The device runs QMK open-source firmware on a Raspberry Pi RP2040 microcontroller. Button functions can be remapped quickly using a free, browser-based VIA web app, with no drivers or proprietary software required. The design supports cursor movement without lifting hands from a comfortable position, potentially reducing wrist strain compared with conventional mice.
Read at Yanko Design - Modern Industrial Design News
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