Ploopy Introduces New Desktop Accessory: The Ploopy Knob
Canadian tech company Ploopy has unveiled a new desktop accessory named the Ploopy Knob, designed to function as a control dial for adjusting volume, scrolling documents, or scrubbing through media. While Ploopy is not as well-known as industry giants like Logitech, its open-source peripherals offer extensive customization options, allowing users to personalize the appearance of the Knob through 3D printing.
The Ploopy Knob is currently available for purchase at a price of $49.99 CAD (approximately $37 USD). Unlike many of Ploopy’s other products, which are typically offered as DIY kits requiring assembly, the Knob comes fully assembled with pre-installed software that is ready to use immediately. However, due to its open-source nature, consumers can access design files and software on Ploopy’s GitHub page to create their own versions if desired.
Equipped with a Raspberry Pi RP2040 microcontroller, the Ploopy Knob employs a position sensor with a 12-bit resolution and a polling rate exceeding 1kHz to monitor its rotary movements. Ploopy claims that the Knob supports high-resolution pixel-by-pixel scrolling on Windows and Linux systems, although users may experience limitations on Apple computers. “macOS does smoothing for input devices automatically. This interferes with the code that runs on the Knob, meaning that pixel-by-pixel high-resolution scrolling doesn’t work on macOS. It still functions as a scrolling device, but the scrolling is in discrete steps,” a representative stated.
Like Ploopy’s other peripherals, the Knob operates using open-source QMK firmware, which functions entirely on the device, eliminating the need for any additional software installation on connected computers.
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