They really have thought of everything. While this isn’t the first device of its kind I’ve seen, Boox, maker of E-ink tablets and other display devices, has developed Tappy, a device that can wirelessly turn pages or skip tracks with the tap of your finger.
While it sounds like the device that solves a problem that doesn’t exist, it’s useful for those who want to lie back with a tablet or eReader further away from them for better far-sighted viewing, or those with mobility issues who might have trouble with the swipe and scroll motions.
Tappy basically functions as a remote control and has three modes: reading, scrolling, and listening. In Reading Mode, you can easily turn pages in most reading apps. When in Browsing Mode, you can scroll up and down through vertical content like long-form articles, webpages, and presumably also social media feeds, turning doomscrolling into doom-tapping. Finally, Listening Mode works with audiobooks or music, allowing you to skip to the previous or next track.
Connecting to devices via Bluetooth 5.4 using the BT/BLE 2400-2483.5MHz frequency, it has a wireless range of up to 32.8 feet. Tappy can be used with Boox products, of course, but also virtually anything that works with Bluetooth. An indicator light offers feedback on pairing, mode switching, and low-battery alerts. The 95mAh lithium battery fast charges via USB-C and can work for weeks per charge.
Retailing for US$26, Tappy comes in Sage or Citrus, the latter exclusively in a bundle that includes spare keycaps and additional designs.