Knocking the mouse on the floor in VR annoying you ?

[gonk]

Since reliable hand tracking is years away for all of the VR games I play, and knocking the mouse on to the floor has gotten old, I have decided purchase and use a trackpad.

First, I tried a trackball to replace the mouse. I am not sold of this device, as my mouse real-estate zone is pretty small, and I would still knock that off while fumbling for it in VR.

Now I am testing the humble old (New item) track pad. These have improved a lot over the years, and I see multi-finger tracking is working a lot better than the last time I used one. Which had no multi-finger tracking… yes I am old…

Currently, I am using a very thin track pad with no buttons. I have only been using it for a week and already my old brain has adapted very quickly… 1 finger tap= switch up… 2 finger tap = switch down. Also, I am yet to knocked it off my mouse pad area. Plus as the item does not move I can always find it in a hurry.

Negatives, I am not as precise in placing the cursor (yet). But the switches in BMS are of a magnetic style, so this has not been an issue. Still, the lack of quick precision is still worth noting.

I also use Voice attack for menu driven selections… i.e. COMMs, Ending Missions… etc. I do not want to use it to flip switches in the pit… i.e. KIT, Turn battery ON… :). See I am old.

I hope this helps in giving other VR users some more ideas/options on how to interact in VR.

[Atlas]

@gonk

Trackball velcro’ed to the pit is one option I’ve seen mentioned.

[Snake122]

For me, I have a standard mouse and then a trackball velcroed on my left side since that is typically the hand you will use for a lot of switches. It gets light usage but is handy.

PointCTRL is still the best solution though if it was to be supported and works as mouse input.

[gonk]

@Snake122 I’ll try the track ball on the left side. I was thinking of adding a second trackpad on the left. I’ll give the unused trackball a try, definitely worth adding a second device to the left for the switches.

Thanks for the info.

[Roger]

I am knocking the mouse to the floor WITHOUT VR!
Can you guys recommend some good trackball model? Don`t have to be expensive.

[SemlerPDX]

If you’re already in VR, why not use your gaze to “mouse”? You look at the switch you want to press, mouse cursor is locked to the center of the screen, so when you press Left Click or Right Click (as assigned on a joystick/HOTAS), it’s the same as moving the mouse with your hand then clicking.

BMS in VR has a native option for mouse centering which keeps the cursor locked in the middle of the screen, so whatever you look at is under the mouse.

[gonk]

@SemlerPDX I tried that, however I am twisting my neck too much as it is… :). I also tried the track ball on the left side, and I am not a fan. I got another touch pad for the left side and that suits me, as it reduces the game of twister.

I also inverted the left/right mouse click to match DCS since it has no option to invert mouse clicks. (Thanks BMS).

[AviationPlus]

I also inverted the left/right mouse click to match DCS since it has no option to invert mouse clicks. (Thanks BMS).

@gonk Right click to make a switch go forward is strange to me. Playing DCS has a majority of my right clicks. Glad I don’t have to right click everything when using windows.

[gonk]

@AviationPlus I hear ya…I would of preferred to swap DCS switching over… But currently this is not an option. At least I can standardise the switching mechanics for both games with the bms invert option…

[AviationPlus]

@gonk Ah I see