Trackpad feedback while moving the mouse arrow

[neo2001]

I have some weird issue that the right (and left) track pad slightly rattles, while moving the mouse arrow. When pressing the pad, I get a more distinct feedback (which is fine), but I don't understand why the pad gives a haptic feedback while moving the cursor/arrow? How can I disable this? If I disable haptics, it goes away completely, but also the "press mouse button" feedback, which I of course want to keep.

The usual behavior is to keep still/silent while moving the arrow and only give feedback when pressing down to simulate the button press effect. I'm writing this on a macbook and the pad also only gives feedback when pressing down. Obviously, because a real mouse won't rattle while moving either.

This happens while I hold the STEAM key, enter the Desktop mode or enter a game, like, for example, FTL (Faster than Light).

I've tested all controls through the inbuilt function and everything seems to work fine.

[thetargos]

This is actually the intended behavior for the trackpads (track ball emulation), and as you noted can be disabled by disabling haptics feedback. I do not recall at the moment if the trackpads on the Deck are akin to the ones in the Steam Controller, in the sense that they are actual buttons with button tactile feedback. But I do believe you can tap to click or use the triggers.

[neo2001]

Thanks for your reply!

I also thought that this could be part of the trackball "simulation", but disabling the trackball mode didn't disable the "ticks" I get while moving the arrow with the pad.

If I move the arrow very slowly, the pad doesn't "tick" along the path, but as soon as I go a bit faster it happens again.

I do not have mouse arrow acceleration enabled, so I'm not sure why it depends on the speed of the finger movement.

AFAIK the whole feedback is completely software controlled, since there's no actual button below the pad. Therefore, I would assume that this behavior is implemented on purpose, but I would really appreciate it to be able to turn this function off, because it makes it actually a bit harder to sense the actual button press feedback. Also seeing the arrow move is feedback enough for me.

[thetargos]

Track ball emulation what does is add 'inertia' to your input, in that if you pass quickly your finger on it, the pointer will keep moving in the direction your motion was, disabling track ball emulation, simply causes your pointer to stop as soon as your finger leaves the trackpad surface.

To be honest I did not notice that the trackpads were not buttons as in the SC... will have to verify this when I get back home, as I surely have sensed the 'button actions, and absolutely do not mind (being used to the SC) the movement haptics.

[ugafan]

Settings -> Controller -> Steam Haptics: ON

Then go to the game you want to play and edit the layout. Trackpad: As Mouse
Click gear icon to open settings and turn haptics off.

Trackpad click command settings: Leave haptics on

You can change this on a game by game basis. I recommend saving it as a template if you want it for every game. Desktop layout can also be changed.

[Haruspex]

Originally posted by thetargos:

To be honest I did not notice that the trackpads were not buttons as in the SC... will have to verify this when I get back home, as I surely have sensed the 'button actions, and absolutely do not mind (being used to the SC) the movement haptics.

I assumed they were buttons until I pressed on a trackpad with the device off, and it didn't "click". This was surprising to me, as the distinct feeling of a physical "click" was very convincing. I think that speaks to how good the haptics are.

[neo2001]

@ugafan: Thanks! Thats the way. Just found it out by myself after some more experimenting. The "global" haptics switch does indeed turn of all the haptics, while turning off the haptics for the particular track pad turns off everything except the button press feedback. It's a bit weird, maybe the description for the latter could be improved.

These touch pads with electro-magnetic feedback in general work really well. It really feels like pressing a button. It also took me a while to realize that my laptop, which uses the same kind of technology, actually doesn't have any buttons beneath it, it's just a solid pad.