Current Tetent stack (ordered most to least portable):
- Input element: #Tetrinsic [gd0041]
- Wearable: #Tetent TimerSpy [gd0136]
- Pocketable: #Tetent Tiny [gd0040]
- Semi-portable: #Tetent [gd0090]
- Desktop: #Tetent TestCut
Tetrinsic and TimerSpy have become the main projects as of Jan 1 2023, so go there for the latest updates.
The initial requirements
Even before writing all these Hackaday logs, I knew my future was going to be full of typing. I needed a new character input method that satisfied most or all of the requirements:
- Easy to learn (research unveiled that stenography/charachorder is slow to learn to a usable level),
- Small enough for use with a smartphone, so that I didn't have to learn a mini and regular layout,
- Max theoretical of over 240wpm, ideally 320,
- 1 handed mode,
- Wireless and wired,
- Usable with fingernails,
- and ideally LED backlit.
Tetent is primarily for #Teti [gd0022], and it's a good idea to think of Tetent as an input device for Teti similar to how the PS5 Dualsense Controller is the input device for the PS5.
The current deliverable
Tetent can be used single-handedly or dual-wielded. It is also ambidexterous. I'm going to aim for wireless initially, and try and see if I can also get wired support. Tetent uses #Tetrinsic [gd0041] slide encoders which allows for software adjustable actuation force and haptic feedback adjustment, meaning that weight and tactile feel can be changed when desired. They're inspired by the SmartKnob View, but I only considered it because of this keyboard.
Because of the motorised slide encoders, a handful of different behaviours can be used, such as momentum, dedents, free scroll and return to position. Due to the rubber belt (GT2), there should be substantially more grip than with plastic keycaps.
Along with my keyboard, I intend to use Tetent as a replacement for:
- My mouse
- I'm almost never on a hard, flat surface anyway, so it makes little sense to look for a new mouse anyway.
- Even if I was looking for a new mouse, there's no ambidextrous 12-side-button "gaming" mice.
- The planned implementation strategy of the mouse is having X(or Y) on Finger2, Zoom (the nice, pinch-to-zoom kind, not the jaggedy scrollwheel kind) on Finger3 and Y(or X) on Finger4.
- My spacemouse
- I've got an old Space Explorer and it's annoying because it takes up limited desk/table/lap(?) space and I constantly have to be switching between it and the keyboard.
- The planned implementation strategy is to only control either rotational or translational axes if only 1 Tetent is in this mode.
- If both Tetents are in Tri-Axis mode, one will be what the other isn't. (Eg, if Tetent-L is rotation, Tetent-R is translation)
- The touch element of my touchscreens
- I really like touchscreens but the issue with them is the lack of precision and the abundance of fingerprints.
- The lack of precision means that I need to spend more time refining my finger position.
- The planned implementation strategy is to set the vertical position with the left and the horizontal with the right Tetent. See [T] Alternative Mouse Control for more details. A tweaked strategy is used for #Tetent Timespy [gd0136], as there is only 1 Tetent layout. This wearable PDA doesn't have a touchscreen because I intent to use this strategy instead.
- The inbuilt speakers in my touchscreens
- This is due to the limited amount of additional things I can fit into Teti's compartment bay area.
- My drawing tablet I rarely use
- I mainly got it for Teti when in triple monitor mode (so that it was faster than using the touchscreen) and slightly for writing digital maths notes.
- I've already mentioned the touch, but I also intend to input equations effortlessly with Tetent.
- The XBox controller I rarely use
- I think it'll be nice to bring over some of those Dualsense controller features over to Tetent. It's unlikely to be as sensory, but it's likely better than 0...
I'm very intrigued by this project, but I can't find any mention of the motor used. Could you at least fill out a preliminary/partial components list, please?