M5StackCore2 - Trackpad

At the beginning

I'm studying IT in school and we had a practical project using M5Stack Core2. Since I put a lot of effort into the piece I created, I've decided to submit it to a contest.

The Inspiration Behind the Project

I decided to make a trackpad because of my personal setup at home. I have a tablet arm installed by my bed with an iPad attached, which I use to browse, watch anime, and YouTube while lying down. When doing this, constantly tapping the screen with my finger became tiring and bothersome. I felt it would be much more comfortable if I could operate my iPad hands-free from a trackpad right next to me, without having to reach out. That's why I decided to build a trackpad using the M5Stack Core2.

How the Project Works

First, power on your M5Stack Core2. It will immediately enter a Bluetooth waiting state. Open the Bluetooth settings on the device you want to connect to (e.g., your iPad). You'll see "M5Core2 Trackpad" appear as a discoverable device; proceed with pairing. Once pairing is successful, you can begin using the M5 as a trackpad to control your mouse cursor.

The device is designed to be used in portrait orientation.

Basic Cursor Movement

To move the cursor, drag one finger across the M5's screen.

Scrolling and Right-Click Functionality

While I've attempted to implement a two-finger drag for mouse wheel functionality, its behavior is currently unstable. For reliable scrolling, press and hold the "wheel" virtual button located in the bottom-left corner of the M5's screen, then drag with one finger.

For other two-finger operations, the primary function is a two-finger tap for a right-click action.

iPad-Specific Features

When connected to an iPad, you can perform a long-press tap by positioning the cursor and then pressing the "wheel" button. This feature is particularly useful for accessing context menus on iPadOS, which behave similarly to a right-click on Windows, allowing you to call up various options and menus.