Finger-Nose Stylus for Touch Screens (2011)
Key topics
A tongue-in-cheek invention, the Finger-Nose Stylus for Touch Screens, sparked a lively discussion about accessibility and creative problem-solving. Commenters poked fun at the idea while also sharing their own experiences with adaptive technology, including using a stylus with their teeth or a headband-mounted pointer to communicate. Some saw potential in the concept, with suggestions for improving accuracy and exploring non-capacitive sensors, while others joked about its limitations and potential uses. The thread's lighthearted tone belies a deeper conversation about the importance of accessibility in tech.
Snapshot generated from the HN discussion
Discussion Activity
Active discussionFirst comment
24m
Peak period
12
120-132h
Avg / period
6.3
Based on 19 loaded comments
Key moments
- 01Story posted
Dec 29, 2025 at 2:59 PM EST
11 days ago
Step 01 - 02First comment
Dec 29, 2025 at 3:23 PM EST
24m after posting
Step 02 - 03Peak activity
12 comments in 120-132h
Hottest window of the conversation
Step 03 - 04Latest activity
Jan 4, 2026 at 9:30 AM EST
4d ago
Step 04
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I wonder if the clever interaction designers at Google had this in mind when they put a bunch of key gestures right at the top edge of the device?
1. Add a pointer mode into the os
2. Build touchpad/trackball type sensor tracking gestures using non capacitive sensors probably at the nav bar level and on the bottom edges or just the right edge(sorry left handed folks)
I absolutely have scrolled my phone w/ my nose before. It was never necessary back when phones were a reasonable size to use one-handed. Now that every phone is a tablet-sized monstrosity I resort to nose-scrolling in the few-and-far-between times when I'm forced to use my phone one-handed.