Are Those old‑school WASD Controls Heading to Obsolescence?
Enter the WRAEK Tactonic Pad, a fresh‑to‑the‑market gadget that’s about to rewrite how we play on PC. If you’re still stuck in keyboard‑grind, buckle up – it’s looking better than a cheat sheet.
The Brain Behind the Boom
A trio from the National University of Singapore Entrepreneurship Society (yes, that’s NUS‑S, a cleverly cryptic acronym) tossed four years of love for gaming into a startup pot. Meet Ryan Siah, Chik Cheng Jie, and Chen Pinzhang – they’ve cooked up a perk that will light up Kickstarter on January 27.
What’s Inside the Tactonic Pad?
Think of it as a “force‑sensing” controller that isn’t about weightlifting. It records how hard you press and in which direction, then whispers those signals straight to your PC in everyday keycodes. The result? Your movements on screen feel less like a digital wizard and more like a physical remix.
Why It’s a Game‑Changer
- ⌛ Tilt It, Hold It: Playing with the pad’s angle or even mixing it with a keyboard gets you tailored inputs – a nifty trick for mixing strategy with physicality.
- Customizability: Even though the interface wasn’t shown, the team promises you’ll be able to dial in sensitivity, tweak responses, and create your own key bindings.
- Five Quick‑Switch Modes: A single button lets you hop between five pre‑set command sets in an instant.
What’s the Bottom Line?
In a world where PC battles still depend on the same four keys, the Tactonic Pad offers a slick, sensor‑powered alternative. If you’ve ever dreamed of pressing your controller with a dash of personality, this might just be the next hub in your gaming toolkit.
Meet WRAEK’s Tactonic Pad: The Secret Behind the Swoosh
WRAEK keeps the tech details on the down‑low, but the Tactonic Pad already feels like a magic wand for your fingertips. Here’s what we’ve gathered so far:
What’s Inside the Pad?
- Nylon core – the skeleton that keeps everything together.
- Silicone resistance block under the mirror‑polished surface – the secret sauce that lets the sensors pick up every single press.
- Swap‑able surface – choose rubber or silicone if you prefer a different feel.
The creators went with a smooth finish mainly because it keeps grip even when your hands start to sweat. Think of it as the slick surface on a sports shoe that never gives out.
Demo Highlights
During the live demo, the pad pulled off a legendary performance. You can trigger its magic by pressing anywhere—no dead spots here. The only complaint? It’s another cable that will inevitably stick out on your desk along with the rest of the gear.
Legal? Legit?
WRAEK acknowledges that competition rules are still a grey area for the Tactonic Pad. “We’ve built it to respect the spirit of competition, which is why we’re not enabling macros,” they say. Stay tuned for future rulings.
Why You’d Love It Outside Gaming
Aside from rain‑storm gaming sessions, the pad’s versatility makes it a dream machine for productivity tools like Photoshop. Imagine controlling brush pressure or layer toggles with a single pad—what a game changer!
Current Availability
Right now, the pad is sold as a TKL‑sized wrist rest, standing at a modest 22 mm high. It should fit most TKL keyboards comfortably. Designers are still working on shrinking the circuitry further, so keep your eye on potential future releases.
Meet the Fresh Tenkeyless Companion
WRAEK is unleashing a tenkeyless (TKL) keyboard for the usual side‑kick spot, priced at US$149 (S$201)—almost a mirror copy of the Ducky One 3 Daybreak
Why It’s A Good Look‑And‑Feel Choice
The tactile itch of the keyboard is purely functional, but the design lets you plug it onto the controller magnetically, doubling as a wrist rest and keeping things neat.
Solid Tech That Won’t Disappoint
- Factory‑lubed Cherry‑style stabilisers for a whisper‑quiet roll.
- 5‑pin hot‑swappable Cherry‑MX‑style switches keep the board easy to swap.
- Initial switch choices: Gateron Red, Brown and Blue—with on‑demand custom switches coming next.
Keycaps that Stay New
The keyboard sports double‑shot PBT keycaps that’re at least 1.5 mm thick, resisting shine and keeping the RGB legends sparkling through.
Sound Dampening Magic
Adding plate and case foam shrinks the high‑pitch pops and ensures typing does not become a “trigger” noise in the room—if you’re in the know, you’ll feel the difference.
Performance Pee‑Presses
Keyboard: 1,000 Hz polling and 15 ms latency
Pad: 200 Hz polling and 10 ms latency
Even with modest numbers for a gaming keyboard, the performance won’t bite; it’s more than enough for most users.
Price and availability
The Tactonic Pad and Keyboard: Fresh Gear at a Fresh Price
Up for grabs are two slick new gaming accessories:
- Tactonic Pad – priced at US$119
- Tactonic Keyboard – priced at US$149
And if you’re hunting for a combo, the Tactonic Pro pairing brings the whole package to US$259. On Kickstarter, however, you can snag this set for a whopping S$169 once the campaign launches on Thursday, Jan 27, 2022.
When Will Yours Arrive?
The team projects delivery between May and June 2022, so you’ll be able to start racking up those XP points pretty soon.
