Slugmouse - a mouse button emulator for hand-tracked cockpit clicking.

[slughead]

By up and down, I mean the up and down of the Slugmouse.

Slugpad is  a game controller rather than a mouse emulator. It's essentially a miniature gamepad hat switch worn on your index fingers. Here's a quick and dirty demo video using a development model of the Slugpad. Like the Slugmouse, it is a  Bluetooth device with the same functionality as the Slugmouse but appears to Windows as a game controller rather than a mouse. This allows it to be seen by applications that do not support mice, e.g. open kneeboard.

 

 

[motoadve]

2 hours ago, slughead said:

By up and down, I mean the up and down of the Slugmouse.

Slugpad is  a game controller rather than a mouse emulator. It's essentially a miniature gamepad hat switch worn on your index fingers. Here's a quick and dirty demo video using a development model of the Slugpad. Like the Slugmouse, it is a  Bluetooth device with the same functionality as the Slugmouse but appears to Windows as a game controller rather than a mouse. This allows it to be seen by applications that do not support mice, e.g. open kneeboard.

 

 

IMG_8621.MOV 21.91 MB · 1 download  

Is it compatible with the Varjo Aero?

[slughead]

It’s independent of any headset. It provides button clicks only not hand tracking. Your headset needs to support hand tracking and HTCC or use a leap motion controller to control mouse movement.

[slughead]

If anyone would like a version of the Slugmouse firmware that does not automatically sleep after 15 minutes of inactivity, I have developed a version with a manual sleep mode. It works by pressing and holding the middle hat button for 5 seconds. The LED will begin to flash red. Once the LED starts to flash, release the button. The device will be placed in a sleep state when the LED stops flashing. To wake up the device, press the middle hat button again.

Battery life will be reduced. However, during early testing while developing the Slugmouse, the device ran continuously for 24 hours. I gave up before the battery did!

Edited October 6, 2024 by slughead
Clarity.

[Gil80]

Hi @slughead

First of all, thank you for your detailed post and for having a solution for the immersion problem we experience with VR.

I want to build my own, as per your opening post, I followed the github project but the design is not the same. Is it possible to buy only the .stl files for printing? For example, the hat switch is something I'd like to have instead of the exposed switches.

Thank you!

[slughead]

2 hours ago, Gil80 said:

Hi @slughead

First of all, thank you for your detailed post and for having a solution for the immersion problem we experience with VR.

I want to build my own, as per your opening post, I followed the github project but the design is not the same. Is it possible to buy only the .stl files for printing? For example, the hat switch is something I'd like to have instead of the exposed switches.

Thank you!

Hey Gil80. At this time only rafgaj’s project is open source.

[slughead]

Halloween Sale! 20% off until the end of October 31st!

[slughead]

All current orders are shipping out in the morning! Today is the last day of the Halloween sale.. you have until midnight Zulu time to place your order and get 20% off!

[t-stoff]

hey! are you uk based? just to check because customs and stuff.
I'm considering it even if I've built sort of a cockpit; mfds, control boxes and stuff. I still think there's probably room for hand tracking (inserting coordinates) and using it on more analog planes. thanks!

[slughead]

Yes, I am UK based.

[slughead]

Slugmouse cases are now available to order at £10 plus postage and packing.

 

[slughead]

*** Christmas Sale 25% discount plus free case! ***

That's a pair of Slugmice and a Slugcase for just £100 plus shipping and packing.

Offer valid until the end of December.

[slparker17]

@slughead Will this work in IL2 to, for instance, expand, contract and move the map.  Currently I use a Varjo Aero and Winwing HOTAS stick and split throttle and have to fumble for the mouse to expand and move and resize the IL2 inflight map, using my right, joystick hand. 

[slughead]

37 minutes ago, slparker17 said:

@slughead Will this work in IL2 to, for instance, expand, contract and move the map.  Currently I use a Varjo Aero and Winwing HOTAS stick and split throttle and have to fumble for the mouse to expand and move and resize the IL2 inflight map, using my right, joystick hand. 

I know it's a real pain! Sadly, according to the HTCC website, the Varjo Aero is not supported by HTCC as it doesn't have the required hardware for hand tracking. You would need to purchase a Leap Motion Controller for hand tracking. I can't say whether it would do what you require, as I don't have IL2, and IL2 isn't listed as supported by HTCC either.

[TimSell75]

vor 1 Stunde schrieb slparker17:

@slughead Will this work in IL2 to, for instance, expand, contract and move the map.  Currently I use a Varjo Aero and Winwing HOTAS stick and split throttle and have to fumble for the mouse to expand and move and resize the IL2 inflight map, using my right, joystick hand. 

Il2 has no clickable cockpits, so even if it would, it would not have any benifit

[slughead]

Current orders are shipping out on Tuesday morning! That's a one-day turnaround for one order and two days (I need a day off now and then) for another.

[MurrayCod]

This has a high probability of making it on to my Wishlist for 2025.  Does anyone have experience with using it in the Apache?  I'm hoping it will be a game changer for interacting with the keyboard unit and MFDs.

[slughead]

12 hours ago, MurrayCod said:

This has a high probability of making it on to my Wishlist for 2025.  Does anyone have experience with using it in the Apache?  I'm hoping it will be a game changer for interacting with the keyboard unit and MFDs.

@TFS is a helo pilot. I'm not sure if he flies the Apache, though.

[Rocho]

Hi slughead.

I am really insterested in your slugmouse, as soon as I have my exact finger size I will place an order.

Have you considered the idea of changing the design to use, for example, a Velcro strap to fit all finger sizes?

[slughead]

It has been considered. I have no plans to incorporate a strap into the design.

[Lt.Face]

Hello.

So what is the actual fee with the 25% offer?

The 134 GBP shown on first page oder the 134GBP -25%?

THX

[slughead]

£100 plus packing and shipping costs.

Edited December 3, 2024 by slughead

[TFS]

On 11/30/2024 at 7:58 PM, MurrayCod said:

This has a high probability of making it on to my Wishlist for 2025.  Does anyone have experience with using it in the Apache?  I'm hoping it will be a game changer for interacting with the keyboard unit and MFDs.

Sorry haven't been around past few weeks. 

 

Yes I have the slugmouse, had it for a few months now, used it daily in DCS, I use it in the Apache a lot. I've gotten extremely good and quick with using it. I just can't get the power levers to move to idle so I use voice attack command for that. Otherwise everything works smoothly and I can't... I repeat CAN'T play without them in DCS. 

Just imagine the benefit of flying with a cyclic in vr in a helicopter and not having to take your hand off the cyclicbto find the mouse, find the cursor. I just use my left hand for basically everything unless I am in a trimmed hover or on the ground. 

 

Any specific questions hit me up, I'll try and pay more attention to the forums. Had some changes in life lately so I've been away from my pc. 

[MurrayCod]

On 12/4/2024 at 6:31 PM, TFS said:

Sorry haven't been around past few weeks. 

 

Yes I have the slugmouse, had it for a few months now, used it daily in DCS, I use it in the Apache a lot. I've gotten extremely good and quick with using it. I just can't get the power levers to move to idle so I use voice attack command for that. Otherwise everything works smoothly and I can't... I repeat CAN'T play without them in DCS. 

Just imagine the benefit of flying with a cyclic in vr in a helicopter and not having to take your hand off the cyclicbto find the mouse, find the cursor. I just use my left hand for basically everything unless I am in a trimmed hover or on the ground. 

 

Any specific questions hit me up, I'll try and pay more attention to the forums. Had some changes in life lately so I've been away from my pc. 

Thanks for the testimonial.  I'll add the Slugmouse to my 2025 wishlist for when the boss gives me approval to buy them.  Might buy her some jewelry of her own to keep things fair 

[Hadeda]

I've been using Slugmouse for a couple of months now and love it. So much more immersive. However, I have a couple of issues.

1) when going to an external view my mouse is still 'tied' to the slugmice, so the view moves around wildly even with the slightest movement of my hands. Quite nauseating! Not sure what can be done apart from re-assigning external view movement to my HOTAS but don't really have the buttons to spare

2) not sure if this is an issue with HTCC or Slugmouse or something entirely different, as I didn't have this issue until recently, but whenever I'm on a menu screen the mouse seems to suddenly link to my VR headset (Q Pro), meaning I have to move my head to the button to activate it. Far from ideal as it can be difficult to physically move my head to get the mouse pointer over the button! What's worse is that movement is in mirror, so left is right and right is left. If I glance at the button from my periphery, I can start using my normal mouse again and get to the button. It's quite a strange and convoluted process! Has anyone else experienced this?

Would welcome any thoughts on how to fix these issues.