Question Scrollwheel peripheral?

[ComputerWhiz305]

I was recently told that I made have early-stage arthritis in my index finger, which is pretty shocking because I'm only in my mid-20s. The theory was that it was likely caused by overuse of the computer mouse due to both my hobbies and career as a software developer. I've used a vertical mouse for many years to defend against certain long-term damage, specifically carpal tunnel.

My theory is that the majority of the damage is being caused by use of the scrollwheel instead of the actual clicking of the mouse, since I'm constantly scrolling through lines of code. Rather than getting a new mouse with a scrollwheel positioned at the thumb (which I honestly can't really find a good mouse for that), I was thinking that maybe having an independent scrollwheel that I can use with my left hand may be better. I remember in college that our school had some gaming keyboards that had a 2 inch wide scrollwheel in the top-left corner for volume control. Something like that would be great for scrolling.

As far as I can tell (with just a quick search online), there don't seem to be any additional peripherals that are just a scrollwheel and keyboards that have volume wheels like I described don't have any hardware method to bind it to the mouse scrollwheel instead of volume control. Does anyone know of any devices like this, bearing in mind that it must be a purely hardware solution since I cannot install software for rebinding?

I figure that I could probably DIY it using an old mouse and just disconnecting the laser and buttons, but I'd prefer an existing piece of hardware if possible.

 

[dwd999]

I was recently told that I made have early-stage arthritis in my index finger, which is pretty shocking because I'm only in my mid-20s. The theory was that it was likely caused by overuse of the computer mouse due to both my hobbies and career as a software developer. I've used a vertical mouse for many years to defend against certain long-term damage, specifically carpal tunnel.

My theory is that the majority of the damage is being caused by use of the scrollwheel instead of the actual clicking of the mouse, since I'm constantly scrolling through lines of code. Rather than getting a new mouse with a scrollwheel positioned at the thumb (which I honestly can't really find a good mouse for that), I was thinking that maybe having an independent scrollwheel that I can use with my left hand may be better. I remember in college that our school had some gaming keyboards that had a 2 inch wide scrollwheel in the top-left corner for volume control. Something like that would be great for scrolling.

As far as I can tell (with just a quick search online), there don't seem to be any additional peripherals that are just a scrollwheel and keyboards that have volume wheels like I described don't have any hardware method to bind it to the mouse scrollwheel instead of volume control. Does anyone know of any devices like this, bearing in mind that it must be a purely hardware solution since I cannot install software for rebinding?

I figure that I could probably DIY it using an old mouse and just disconnecting the laser and buttons, but I'd prefer an existing piece of hardware if possible.

Perhaps something with a track ball; there are lots of them on amazon.

 

[ComputerWhiz305]

Perhaps something with a track ball; there are lots of them on amazon.

As far as I understand it, the trackball mice use the trackball as a replacement to moving the mouse. I may be entirely wrong about this because I've never actually seen a trackball mouse in the wild, but can it be used like a conventional mouse with the trackball only being used to control the scrolling?

 

[dwd999]

As far as I understand it, the trackball mice use the trackball as a replacement to moving the mouse. I may be entirely wrong about this because I've never actually seen a trackball mouse in the wild, but can it be used like a conventional mouse with the trackball only being used to control the scrolling?

Yeah, its been a couple of decades since I've used a trackball so my memory's foggy and I can't find my portable keyboard that has the scroll wheel in it. It would depend on the software you're using. If its something where you would click on the page of code and then moving the mouse down would scroll through the code then the trackball would have the same effect. But maybe you're right and it might be better to use something like a track pad where you could just use other fingers and other hands. Or something like the joysticks they have on amazon.

 

[USAFRet]

As far as I understand it, the trackball mice use the trackball as a replacement to moving the mouse. I may be entirely wrong about this because I've never actually seen a trackball mouse in the wild, but can it be used like a conventional mouse with the trackball only being used to control the scrolling?

A trackball uses the ball as the mouse movement.
They generally have a scrollwheel, similar to a regular mouse.

For your issue, what about a second regular mouse, under the left hand, for the scroll function?

2 mice...right hand for movement and clicks, left hand for scroll.


Or, just one in the left hand. Give your right hand a rest for a few weeks/months.

 

[BFG-9000]

The Kensington Expert and Orbit trackballs use a ring around the ball as the scroll wheel. You spin it clockwise or counterclockwise.

 

[ComputerWhiz305]

...it might be better to use something like a track pad where you could just use other fingers and other hands.

Wow, I totally forgot that they sell external trackpads for desktops. You're right, that sounds like almost exactly what I'm looking for.

For your issue, what about a second regular mouse, under the left hand, for the scroll function?

Yeah, that is essentially what I was planning to do if there was not better purpose-built solution. I was just going to tape over the laser on the left mouse so that it doesn't move the cursor.

The Kensington Expert and Orbit trackballs use a ring around the ball as the scroll wheel. You spin it clockwise or counterclockwise.

This is an interesting option. I've never used a trackball before, but it's something work looking at for sure.

 

[Sarah Jacobsson Purewal]

There are also alternative input devices, such as foot pedals and joysticks, which can be programmed with scroll functions.

 

[ComputerWhiz305]

There are also alternative input devices, such as foot pedals and joysticks, which can be programmed with scroll functions.

Although I don't know if I would use that scrolling, I actually have been looking into foot pedals for some games that heavily require using the triggers on a controller.

 

[BFG-9000]

This is an interesting option. I've never used a trackball before, but it's something work looking at for sure.

Yes, especially because the scroll rings can not only be operated with a thumb but also even the edge of a hand (karate-chop pinky side) with surprising precision because they are so large. And because also having a completely different type of input plugged in like a trackball means that any time your hand starts to get tired, you could switch to using entirely different muscles, even more so than the usual ergonomic alternatives such as your vertical mouse--and even the other hand (vertical mice are obviously not ambidextrous).

But what you say you want came out last year in the $27 Cooyoo Crazy Small Wheel, designed to be operable by feet and with only scroll and middle-click functions. It is pretty limited production, doesn't come with any Type-C to Type-A USB cable so you'd have to supply your own, and you'd probably have to figure out how to tape or stick it to the floor.

However a commercial product is way more convenient than DIY hacking the scrollwheel out of a mouse to embed into your desk or keyboard or floor, making your own scroll dial, or trackball where you twist the ball.