Oli v1: A Fist-Grip Mouse That Gives Your Hand a Break
Meet Oli v1, a fist-grip computer mouse with tilt-layer functionality. Designed as a companion to traditional mice rather than a replacement, it gives your hand a break from the open-palm, outstretched-finger position most of us hold all day — and helps curb the repetitive strain that comes with it. It’s live on Kickstarter now.
The project began with a very personal problem. For years, its creator spent eight hours a day, five days a week at a computer reviewing PDFs and building spreadsheets, then unwound in the evenings playing games with friends and family. Through all of it, his hand stayed molded around the same typical mouse shape — open palm, fingers outstretched. Over time, an uncomfortable numbness crept in. It started slow, flaring up in the evenings, but before long it made each workday a struggle and turned after-work games into a no-go. He tried every “ergonomic” mouse he could find, but they all shared the same flaw: they still forced his hand into that open-palm, outstretched-finger position. What he really wanted was a device that let his hand work closer to a fist-grip, and let him switch between hand positions throughout the day to break up the repetition. So he built one.
Behind Oli v1 is Luke Tomashek, a self-taught hardware designer based in New England. Through his small, independent hardware lab, Oli io, he designs input devices with unique form, feel, and function — each one handmade in the USA. You can follow the journey at oli-io.com.
Hardware Used
- Seeed Studio XIAO nRF52840 Sense
- PAW3395 optical sensor
- Tactile switches
- Haptic motor
- Rechargeable 400mAh LiPo battery
- Custom 3D-printed shell
How It Works
Oli v1 controls the cursor with an optical sensor just like a typical mouse — but packaged in a very different form factor, held in a closed-fist position with the thumb as the primary input digit. Left click is operated with the inner side of the thumb, middle click with an upward lift of the thumb, and right click sits where the index finger naturally rests.
Its signature feature is tilt-layer functionality. A built-in 6-axis IMU precisely detects how far the mouse is tilted and remaps the buttons across three distinct modes:
- Normal Mode (flat) — standard left click, right click, middle click, and optical tracking.
- Tilt Remap Zone (17–54°) — a slight tilt unlocks a new set of actions like scroll, copy, paste, and navigation, without lifting a finger.
- Tilt Shift Mode (55°+) — a deeper tilt engages a full alternate layer, confirmed with haptic feedback, for page navigation, task view, or any custom keyboard shortcut.
No software is required to use the device. For customization, a web-based configurator lets you remap the function of each button across all three tilt layers and save up to three presets directly to the mouse.
On the build side, Luke used Autodesk Fusion for the 3D model, KiCad for the schematic and PCB design, a Bambu Lab H2S to 3D-print the shell, buttons, lever, and logo tabs, and a reflow soldering plate and iron for PCB assembly.
Why XIAO
The XIAO nRF52840 Sense was chosen for its combination of power, small footprint, and onboard components — a suite that maps almost perfectly onto Oli v1’s core features:
- The onboard 6-axis IMU was an ideal match for the tilt-layer functionality that defines the device
- Plentiful GPIO pads drive the haptic motor, LED indicator, and left/right/middle click buttons
- SPI-capable pads connect the PAW3395 optical sensor
- The nRF52840 enables wireless BLE connectivity — an absolute must-have
- The built-in USB-C port and battery charging circuitry further reduced component complexity
Together, these onboard features dramatically simplified the PCB design. Packing so many of Oli v1’s required components into such a tiny footprint let Luke keep the whole design lean, and the module has run seamlessly with Zephyr RTOS, which handles the custom BLE HID, SPI sensor management, and multi-threaded motion processing. In his words, for Oli v1 the XIAO module “fit like a glove.”
Beyond the engineering, Oli v1 carries a deeply personal meaning:
“Oli v1 is a passion project that was created during a meaningful time in my life. Oli v1 is named after my fiancee, Olivia, who bravely battled lung cancer until our final goodbye earlier this year. She is my rock, my angel, and my greatest inspiration for this project. I love you forever, Olivia.” – Luke Tomashek
Variety Is the Spice of Mice
Oli v1 isn’t about replacing every other mouse — it’s about variety. Alternating your grip through the day, the way you might switch between a standing and seated desk, gives overworked muscles a break and helps head off repetitive strain. Switch your grip, break up the repetition.
Oli v1 is live on Kickstarter right now, and this is the moment to help bring it into the world. Backing the campaign gets one of these fist-grip mice into your hands early, supports a small independent hardware lab building genuinely different input devices, and helps hit the goals that make wider production possible. If you’ve ever finished a long day at the desk with an aching hand, this is one worth getting behind.
The project is also a tribute. Oli io is named after Luke’s fiancée, Olivia, and the lab donates a percentage of net profits to cancer research in her memory.
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