Joysticks Expansion Modules

The Joysticks Expansion Modules (also known as "My Laptop Has Ears") are pair of expansion card modules that add analog joysticks to the Framework Laptop 13, enabling handheld gaming use¹². Developed by Wiktor Tomanek and first announced in October 2023, the modules plug into the left and right expansion card slots and function as a pair of USB game controllers¹.

In Development

The project reached working hardware in March 2024. No further public updates or video demonstrations have been published as of July 2026².

Design

Each module is a self-contained USB joystick built around an STM32F042F6P6 microcontroller, appearing to the host as a generic composite USB device (mouse, keyboard, and joystick) with no drivers required¹. The modules work on Linux, Windows, BSD, and macOS¹.

A fifth button on the top switches between operating modes¹:

• Joystick mode — Functions as a standard game controller
• Mouse mode — Programmable mouse buttons
• Keyboard shortcuts mode — Preprogrammed keyboard shortcuts
• RGB mode — RGB LEDs indicate the active mode and power status

Each module also includes a trigger button¹.

Ergonomics

The modules are designed to be used with the laptop resting on the user's palms, with fingers wrapping around the joysticks². The joysticks are made of thick plastic and the author reported carrying the laptop in a bag with joysticks plugged in for days without issue, with a single module capable of supporting the full weight of the laptop².

Specifications

Specification	Details
MCU	STM32F042F6P61
Interface	USB HID composite (joystick, mouse, keyboard)1
Modes	Joystick, mouse, keyboard shortcuts, RGB indicator1
Buttons	Mode switch (top), trigger, programmable1
LEDs	RGB (mode and power status)1
Compatibility	Linux, Windows, BSD, macOS1
Availability	Hardware prototype complete as of March 2024; planned Kickstarter12

Development

The project was first teased on the Framework Community forum in October 2023 as "Framework Joystick Modules — Turning your Framework 13 into a Handheld"¹. In March 2024, Tomanek posted a follow-up titled "My laptop has ears!" confirming the hardware was complete and testing had begun². Framework VP nrp praised the project as "amazing"².

A video demonstration and a Kickstarter campaign were planned but no public links have been shared¹².

Related Projects

Project	Description
PSP Joystick Expansion Card	Single-joystick expansion card using a PSP analog stick and CH32V003 MCU
DongleHider+	LeoDJ's expansion card for hiding USB dongles inside the card

Footnotes

1. Framework Joystick Modules — Turning your Framework 13 into a Handheld — Framework Community (Wiktor_Tomanek, October 2023) ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³ ↩¹⁴ ↩¹⁵

2. My laptop has ears! — Follow up on the Joystick modules — Framework Community (Wiktor_Tomanek, March 2024) ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸