Finger movement detection devices

Question

Let's consider a device such as a game controller or a standard remote control, but which is not controlled by "standard" keys. Instead, the idea is to minimize finger movement, such as in a keyer. What would be the best way to detect rather small finger movements - things like these come to my mind:

• TPA511GLFS

• JS1300AQ

Some notes on what I'm thinking about:

• Doesn't necessary need to be a mechanical device
• It would be good to support more then 4 / 5 directions - e.g. 9-way (i.e. w, nw, n, ne, e, se, s, sw + down) would be much better
• While I'd like to hear experiences about these types, it would be better to have a way to either prevent or at least detect accidental "typing"
• Obviosly, finger movement is the variable to minimize - I'd say 1/2" would be the threshold here
• Let me know if I'm thinking in the wrong direction (too hard? better in some other way? etc.)

I'm mostly looking at your past experience in this area:

• Did you ever have to build / maintain anything remotely similar?
• Why would or would not you use the same component / process?
• How did the final product turn out (e.g. in terms of ease of use)?

Answer 1

Maybe you could use capacitive sensing. It is non-mechanical and could be used for any surface shape (in theory). A tiny array of sensors may deliver the resolution you need. Accidental typing could be detected by requiring unlikely touch combinations or having a locked mode, like on (old) mobile phones.