Comment by fwlr | Hacker News Reader

Comment by fwlr | Hacker News Reader

From the way the cursor moved on the screen and the visualization of input with those orange squares, it looks like it operates similar to the thinkpad trackpoint. (There’s a dose of serendipitous humor here - the trackpoint has an infamous anatomical nickname, and this device seems to be reminding some commenters of a related activity.)

I wonder if they’ve explored trackballs? Conventional trackballs are operated with a single finger, usually the thumb, and proponents of trackballs claim it’s the equal of (or even superior to) a mouse, while touchpads and trackpoints do seem slightly limited compared to full-fledged mice. Controlling a trackball with your tongue instead of your thumb seems like it might be just as effective - maybe even more effective! This might be an avenue to make this device even more capable.

(Did I just compare the cunnilingus touchpad to the clit mouse, and then suggest adding “licking balls”? Goddamnit, lol)

From the descriptions on the website they claim it controls like a touchpad, not a trackpoint. (touchpad means tongue distance == cursor distance whereas trackpoint means tongue distance/pressure == cursor speed)

That being said trackpoint-style movement sounds better to me since my tongue has such limited motion compared to a large trackpad surface. Unless it is about to be much more dexterous than my finger (which doesn't seem right to me, but impossible to say without trying) it would be annoying to make large movements and repeated large movements seems like it would be tiring quite quickly.

> I wonder if they’ve explored trackballs?

I'd be concerned with the mechanical interaction of saliva with any mechanism, size concerns (this seems like it could be operated with clenched jaws if needed, opened mouth for extended periods of time can cause pain), and having moving pieces that can break or be lost (hopefully not during operation, that could be hard to swallow).

What if that part would be in software - interpret the movement of the tongue as if it was rolling a ball vs sliding across a surface. The device could have a spherical-shaped sensor pad instead of a flat one.

Don't feel too bad, in the video on their website one of the users mentioned using it to control her dildo.

Vibrator. :-)

It's impossible to discuss this thing with a straight face

I think moving a ball would require more effort that sliding your tongue over a static surface, but I suppose it would be a better workout!

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