Important points
Ploopy Trackpad is an open source DIY device that allows for personal customization and repair. Pre-order the DIY kit for $70 or pre-order the ready-made device for $95. Access to open source materials allows you to tinker with hardware and software.
When was the last time you created a device that you use every day? Some people can’t remember the last time they did something with a driver, while others tinker with the internals of their PC every day. No matter how much you dabble in electronics, this cool DIY trackpad will give you an excuse to create something cool and useful in your daily life.
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Ploopy Trackpad is a cool DIY trackpad with a fun name
As posted on GitHub, the Ploopy trackpad is open source hardware. You may already be familiar with the idea of open source software, but hardware goes a step further by making chips and boards open for anyone to analyze and rebuild. In theory, you could build a Ploopy trackpad for free if you had all the components in advance, but as you’ll soon see, you’ll likely need to purchase some components. .
At least Ploopy uses open source hardware and software, which means you can actually play around with it. For example, if you don’t like the firmware used by the inventor, you can use your own firmware. If a part breaks, you can easily know its name and how to install it and repair it yourself. Open source materials are truly a breath of fresh air as opposed to the proprietary software and hardware we use on a daily basis.
If you want one for yourself, you have a few options. First, you can pre-order the DIY kit for $99.99 CAD (about $70). Once it arrives, you can follow the kit building guide to get it assembled and running. If you like the idea of an open source trackpad but don’t want to bother with wiring it, you can get a ready-made trackpad for $129.99 CAD (about $95). And if you’re really, really brave, you can get a custom PCB made by an expert, buy parts, 3D print a case, and follow our guide to building your own PCB from scratch .
If you looked at Ploopy’s instructions and realized how unsuited you are to this type of project, check out the tools every DIY enthusiast needs.
Ploopy Trackpad (DIY Kit)
Ploopy Trackpad is a large, 3D printed, open source trackpad for use on your desktop or laptop. It runs QMK, supports multi-finger gestures out of the box, and has a great surface for all-day use. This kit must be built by yourself before use.
Ploopy trackpad (pre-built)
Ploopy Trackpad is a large, 3D printed, open source trackpad for use on your desktop or laptop. It runs QMK, supports multi-finger gestures out of the box, and has a great surface for all-day use. Fully assembled and ready to use.
