ROTATRIX

The trackball that merges pointing and 3D control.

Same hand · Same ball · Different meanings

Invented, designed, and built independently.

Join early access Learn more

Experimental · Limited run

The core idea

One device, many capabilities

Traditional trackballs control 2D pointer movement, largely discarding the third dimension: the twist of the ball.

Rotatrix unlocks that extra dimension.

Using custom hardware and firmware, it measures high fidelity, continuous 3-axis rotation of the ball.

With software context, one device can adapt to tasks that often require additional tools:

  • Regular apps → familiar 2D pointing and scrolling
  • 3D apps → intuitive control of object rotation, translation, and camera navigation

What you can do

Rotate

Orient objects directly with 1:1 ball rotation.

Translate

Push, pull, slide in space.

Navigate

First person — for navigating large spaces: architecture, game design.

Orbit

Rotate and move camera around an object for close-up work: CAD, sculpting.

These are early interaction prototypes. Mappings and behavior will evolve.

Why this exists

Desktop interaction with 3D apps is fragmented.

  • Core actions — rotate, pan, zoom, navigate — are split across modes and modifiers. Each switch breaks flow.
  • Mouse-based rotation requires repeated click-and-drag to overcome its 2D nature.
  • Specialized 3D devices require extra desk space and require your hands to move back and forth to them. They also aren't great for general 2D pointing.

I switched to a trackball for ergonomics, and realized it could be much more. It has a third degree of freedom: why not use it to its fullest?

Early access

I'm looking for ~10 early adopters.

I'm inviting a small group to use Rotatrix and help shape how it evolves. This is for those who value interaction quality enough to accept rough edges in an early system, and who want to help shape how it evolves through real use.

This first run is experimental hardware, built by adding custom hardware and software to a proven, high-end ergonomic trackball base. The original functionality can still be easily accessed.

At this stage the devices are individually built and tested, and early access units are priced accordingly — closer to specialized professional tools than mass-market peripherals.

Not ready? Get updates on future demos and releases instead.

No spam. No hype.