mxink

Design Guidelines

We’re preparing samples and additional documentation on these topics …

Stylus Analog Inputs

There are two pressure sensitive inputs on the stylus. The Pressure Button is used with the index finger for in-air interactions. The Tip is used for interacting with a real world 2D surface such as a table or whiteboard. The response curves and the initial activation force for both these inputs can be modified by the user in Quest Stylus Settings.

This page provides more detail on the stylus analog inputs: Analog Pressure Inputs

Stylus Buttons

Control Description
Grab Button (front) The user’s rest position is typically on the middle pressure button. As a result, for index finger usage, this front button is ergonomically the easiest for the user to reach from their rest position. While the button can be assigned any function within an app, it is typically assigned to a high-frequency interaction such as Grab. The Grab Button allows users to intuitively grab virtual objects. When used in conjunction with a Touch Controller Grip button in the non-dominant hand, it allows the user to scale and rotate objects. If there is no Grab functionality within an app, then this button can be used for an alternate higher frequency interaction.
Options Button (rear) This rear button is more ergonomically difficult for an index finger user to reach than the front button. This button is typically used for tertiary controls like opening a menu. It can also be used for press-and-hold interactions, i.e., press to show a menu, and hold to spatially nagivate the menu, and release to select the desired menu option.
Meta Button This button is not available for developers. This is equivalent to the Meta button on the Meta Touch controller, i.e., press to show system menu, long press to recenter. Press-and-hold this button for 5 seconds to power off the stylus. Press-and-hold for 3 seconds to power on the stylus.

Double Tap (rear)

The double tap functionality should be used with care in applications. Due to users handling a stylus, there is a risk that accidental double tap events can occur. As a result, it should not be assigned to a destructive operation. Double tap is also slower, and more effort for the user, than a double click.

Users can adjust double tap speed in the Quest Stylus Settings UI.

Haptics

The stylus has a single LRA motor. The actuator performance and parameters are tuned so that it will work by default with haptic effects designed to work with Quest Touch Controllers ,i.e., if you have haptics working on Quest Touch controllers, those same effects will translate to the stylus.

Dynamic Switching Between Stylus and Touch Controllers

Two Touch Controllers and one MX Ink can be paired to the same Quest headset. However, only two devices can be tracked (active) at the same time, e.g., For a right hand stylus configuration you can use the both of the Meta Touch controllers at the same time; or you can use both the MX Ink and the left Touch controller at the same time. You cannot have all three used at the same time.

Stylus Handedness

MX Ink can be used in either hand. The default setting has MX Ink assigned to the right hand. This can be changed to left hand usage in the Meta Quest Stylus Setting page. If you change to a left hand setting, then the Menu button is also switched to the right hand.

Stylus UI & Visualization

Interaction Profiles

Stylus Intercations

Multimodal: Stylus + Tracked Hand

Academic studies on use of a 6DoF stylus