Question I want to make my PC ignore mouse movements on one axis. I want Left/Right not Up/Down, (win10) and maybe a hardware solution?

[KallieK]

OK, I play a game where I need to move the mouse to control an Avatar. (in Second Life).

I only need left/right. When I move the mouse the up/down just makes life hard.

I did make a solution with Auto Hotkey but although Windows loved it, Second Life ignored it?

I have a mechanical solution, I bought an old Ball mouse and modified it blocking the sensor, is OK but Mice with Balls?? Horrible and surpassed by led/laser for many good reasons.

No, I do not want to write a Windows Driver.
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My thoughts are, something like Raspberry Pi Pico. Pico is a HID device and could look like a Mouse to my PC, well and PC etc.

Maybe I can plug my mouse in to another pico or ?? and take the data stream from the mouse, remove or fix the Up/Down values to zero or some other value and pass the rest on to the PC otherwise unchanged.
Maybe even a Bluetooth mouse, and only one Pico (open to suggestions as to hardware).
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What am I asking for??

Well, Hey, here is your solution would be nice and I would take that but; I am, looking for the "HOW to even START".

I have my basic idea, see above but where can I go to find out how the mouse communicates, how to decode the data and well, Were To Start.

I have programmed python, C++ (and even assembler years back) but I am not mega skilled.
I have made and set up my own IOT with esp32, and Pi's so not novice.

This is just something I do not know where to even start.

Any help, will be welcome.

I will build and learn from that.
K

 

[boju]

There's a golf game i played using a ruler as a guide to keep mouse movement straight when taking a swing. You could do similar lol making something out of thin wood that forces movement physically.

 

[Ralston18]

Seconding @boju 's suggestion. Simple and "straightforward". Pun intentional.

Start with a ruler and a couple of small clamps (or even masking tape) to keep the ruler from moving.

See how it works and adjust as necessary. Play long enough to ensure that there are no consequences - e.g., hand cramps, etc..

Once the physical setup is in place then you can focus on a more permanent solution.

Plus easy to "undo" when you move on to other games.

 

[TerryLaze]

I have a mechanical solution, I bought an old Ball mouse and modified it blocking the sensor, is OK but Mice with Balls?? Horrible and surpassed by led/laser for many good reasons.

You can use that same principal on optical mice.
They all use a light-detector chip and you can search for the pinout on google.

Just a random example:

http://bdml.stanford.edu/twiki/pub/Rise/OpticalDisplacementSensor/ADNS2051.pdf

"The output format is two channel
quadrature (X and Y direction)
which emulates encoder phototransistors. The current X and Y
information are also available in
registers accessed via a serial port."

So you can just unsolder the one or two pins (two in this example) that correspond to the horizontal movement so they always show no change.

Don't quote me on any of that, I'm just wildly guessing here that it would work.

 

[KallieK]

There's a golf game i played using a ruler as a guide to keep mouse movement straight when taking a swing. You could do similar lol making something out of thin wood that forces movement physically.

I like the idea, I do tend to play the game on a soft surface. OK, Yes, I sit on a sofa and roll the mouse over the seat next to me (Wonders where all the dirt on the ball comes from??)
So as much as I like this simple and certain to work solution, I will pass.
Thanks.

 

[KallieK]

Seconding @boju 's suggestion. Simple and "straightforward". Pun intentional.

Start with a ruler and a couple of small clamps (or even masking tape) to keep the ruler from moving.

See how it works and adjust as necessary. Play long enough to ensure that there are no consequences - e.g., hand cramps, etc..

Once the physical setup is in place then you can focus on a more permanent solution.

Plus easy to "undo" when you move on to other games.

Thanks for the detail, my reply to Ralston18 applies.

You have thought this through and you are right, very non invasive and well workable.

I am honest, physically making it follow only one axis like this never occurred, so nice to see other ways to solve x

Thanks .

 

[KallieK]

You can use that same principal on optical mice.
They all use a light-detector chip and you can search for the pinout on google.

Just a random example:

http://bdml.stanford.edu/twiki/pub/Rise/OpticalDisplacementSensor/ADNS2051.pdf

"The output format is two channel
quadrature (X and Y direction)
which emulates encoder phototransistors. The current X and Y
information are also available in
registers accessed via a serial port."

So you can just unsolder the one or two pins (two in this example) that correspond to the horizontal movement so they always show no change.

Don't quote me on any of that, I'm just wildly guessing here that it would work.

OK, this is closer to what I thought, if it works I will quote you, if not, I will make sure no one ever finds out it was you

Maybe a resistor to hold line low or high I am thinking but hey, who know; yet.

Thanks for link and I will get a donor mouse and have a play. x