A Redditor shared their prototype for a true single-handed controller combining the function of a mouse and keyboard in one device. u/Adventurous_Tie_9031, who also called themselves Joe, initially shared their design about a month ago, which they built after losing their right arm in an accident. They discovered that it’s difficult to continue playing games with just a single hand — whether using a mouse and keyboard combo or a traditional controller. Because of this, they decided to take matters into their own hand and created the ERCHAM MK1.
The one-handed gaming controller I designed after losing my right arm just made Top 5 from r/pcmasterrace
The prototype controller is heavily influenced by the Razer Tartarus but is way more than just a single-handed keyboard. It features an optical sensor to function as a mouse, but its keys have been replaced by a fully programmable 28-key keypad, allowing you to assign specific functions to each key. There also appear to be joysticks or thumb-controlled D-pads plus clickable scroll wheels on either side of the controller, allowing for left- and right-handed use without needing any modifications.
This project is a great way to let more people play games and accomplish work comfortably on their computers. Gaming PCs and consoles often require two-handed use, so anyone who has reduced functionality or lost the use of one hand would definitely be disadvantaged. But by combining the keyboard and mouse into a single seamless device, it could allow them to discover or return to gaming. Joe said that the ERCHAM MK1 is specifically created for “amputees, nerve injuries, RSI, stroke survivors, and anyone who struggles with a traditional keyboard and mouse setup.”
Many Redditors showed interest in the project, with the creator saying that their original post reached more than a million views. According to their latest Reddit update, that interest allowed them to hit to reach the fourth place of the Entrepreneur of Impact competition. Should they win the top prize, Joe plans to use the proceeds to “accelerate development and get this project moving faster toward production,” although they also said that they’ll push forward with manufacturing it either way.
Building a gaming peripheral such as this from scratch is already a challenge, but setting up a company to market and sell it will be an even bigger one. Nevertheless, the ERCHAM MK1 already has a potential captured market, especially as most peripheral manufacturers do not sell gaming equipment designed for single-handed users.
