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I posted to hackaday.com

Mouse controlled manipulator arm

http://hackaday.com/2010/07/22/mouse-controlled-manipulator-arm/

[Oleg] worked out a way to use his USB mouse to control this manipulator arm. Using a Lynxmotion AL5D (we’ve seen the AL5A previously) he drives the six servos with an Arduino servo shield. A USB host shield handles the HID end for connecting the mouse. The video after the break says it all, [Oleg] has no problem picking up that figurine quickly and accurately. Sliding the mouse controls horizontal movement in all directions. The scroll wheel moves the claw up and down. And holding the left or right buttons what using the control wheel closes or rotates the claw. All we can say is: Bigger, BIGGER!
- Tags:
- robots hacks
- arduino
- servo
- shield
- arm
- mouse
- usb
- lynxmotion
- claw
- host
- al5d
July 22 2010, 11:00am | More »
I posted to hackaday.com

Hands-free input

http://hackaday.com/2010/07/20/hands-free-input/

This is a concept input device that [Tech B] built for disabled users. The device uses an accelerometer along with a piezo sensor (right click) and a push button (left click) to function as a mouse. The Arduino that resides in a breadboard on the side of the hat communicates with the computer over a serial connection, using PySerial to translate the microcontroller data into cursor commands with the power and ease of the Python programming language.

During development [Tech B] made a proof-of-concept video using a Basic Stamp which you can watch after the break. He found that this input device was less complicated, more accurate, and much less resource intensive than his webcam IR tracking system.
- Tags:
- peripherals hacks
- mouse
- hands free
- accelerometer
- handicapped
- diabled
July 20 2010, 12:42pm | More »
I posted to hackaday.com

Super quick and cheap trackball

http://hackaday.com/2010/05/18/super-quick-and-cheap-trackball/

[Elgatoandaluz] has posted this guide on how to tear apart a standard optical mouse and build a custom trackball. He’s using a ping pong ball , mounted above the laser as the trackball itself, which seems like it would be a little lite, but functional. The case is scrap cardboard. We really like that you could toss this together relatively quickly and have a custom layout. He recommends using Sakasa Mouse for inverting the axes and X-control for mapping the buttons(direct download).
- Tags:
- peripherals hacks
- trackball
- mouse
- trash
May 18 2010, 9:53am | More »
I posted to hackaday.com

Custom controllers for PlayStation 3

http://hackaday.com/2010/04/25/custom-controllers-for-playstation-3/

[Matlo] worked out a way to use a PS/2 Keyboard and USB mouse with a PlayStation3. The hard work is handled by a Teensy board, which is becoming a popular choice with controller hacks. It interfaces with the keyboard and mouse, translates their input, and sends joystick button commands to the PS3. He is limited to mapping the inputs from a PS3 controller but that is still enough options to work beautifully with first person shooters, especially if you’re used to gaming on a PC instead of a console. If you want to give this one a try, head over to the google code page to download the source code.
- Tags:
- playstation hacks
- controller
- mouse
- ps2
- usb
- ps3
- playstation 3
- Teensy
April 25 2010, 11:45am | More »
I posted to hackaday.com

DIY scratch controller

http://hackaday.com/2010/03/11/diy-scratch-controller/

There’s something viscerally pleasing about simple solutions. [Kip] came up with one in the form of a scratch controller. The spindle from an optical drive is used to hold a CD in place, which acts as the LP for scratching. The sensor from an optical mouse is mounted upside down below the CD and detects the rotation of the disc. From there it’s just a matter of setting up your software to get the reading from that mouse. He’s had some trouble finding disc surfaces that the mouse sensor will read reliably. We’d recommend trying some of those stick-on inkjet CD labels.

This is similar to a scratch controller we saw in 2008. That one was actually repurposing the IR encoding from inside of a mouse. We’re not sure which method would work better, but either controller will make a nice addition to a Flexi Knob setup.
- Tags:
- peripherals hacks
- mouse
- dj
- optical
- scratch controller
March 11 2010, 1:00pm | More »
I posted to hackaday.com

Will this mouse get me kicked out of the coffee shop?

http://hackaday.com/2010/03/09/will-this-mouse-get-me-kicked-out-of-the-coffee-shop/

This [Dwight Shrute]-esque project will let you try out your taxidermy skills. Apparently you can acquire a ‘wetware’ mouse fresh or frozen from pet stores. We just need to wait until fall when our pantry is visited by the less-domesticated variety.

A travel-sized optical mouse acts as the replacement guts. Some creative dremeling brings the plastic housing down to a more acceptable shape. The furry bits need to be processed using the mouse taxidermy guide before they are fit over the electronics. What you end up with is a creepy peripheral that nobody wants to use.
- Tags:
- peripherals hacks
- mouse
- creepy
- taxidermy
March 9 2010, 6:00pm | More »
I posted to hackaday.com

Python IR tracking for the handicapped

http://hackaday.com/2010/02/25/python-ir-tracking-for-the-handicapped/

[Techb] had a friend who was paralyzed after an accident and could no long use a computer. He rigged up an amazingly simple mouse interface using python to implement infrared tracking. The controller was built from an old hat by adding an IR LED and wireless mouse modified so that the button could be clicked by the user’s mouth. A webcam with exposed film used as a filter can track the IR LED and take input from the wireless mouse buttons.

This setup, which draws inspiration from Wii Remote white boards, is much simpler than the Eyewriter (and doesn’t shine an IR LED into your eye). Although [Techb] wants to add facial recognition to the system, there’s something to be said for such a simple implementation.

[Thanks Wolfmankurd]
- Tags:
- peripherals hacks
- ir
- mouse
- tracking
- handicapped
February 25 2010, 3:02pm | More »
I posted to hackaday.com

Flexi Knobs

http://hackaday.com/2010/02/19/flexi-knobs/

These boxes, called Flexi Knobs, work like a wireless Atari paddle and mouse rolled into one. Each has a rotary encoder that can also be clicked like a button. On the inside is a wireless optical mouse which controls an on-screen cursor which matches the color of the knob. In the video after the break you can see these are being used as midi controls. Each cursor can be locked onto a virtual knob, giving it a physical interface. Because there are several units being used on one machine this creates something of an abstract multi-touch system. This would make a nice interface for other applications with a plethora of settings, like Blender.
- Tags:
- peripherals hacks
- mouse
- multi touch
- multitouch hacks
- flexi knobs
- rotary encoder
February 19 2010, 10:55am | More »
I posted to hackaday.com

Glove mouse

http://hackaday.com/2010/02/19/glove-mouse/

[thetanktheory] sent us his glove mouse modification. He has gutted his mouse and mounted the parts on a glove. This is interesting, as he doesn’t have to place his hand on the mouse any more, he just plops it down on any surface and starts mousing. He claims that it is helping his twitch reactions in gaming as somehow it requires less force, but we still see the circuit and batteries mounted on the back of his hand, so we’re not sure how it is helping. Maybe if he moved the laser to his finger tips, he’d be more accurate.
- Tags:
- peripherals hacks
- mouse
- glove
February 19 2010, 9:02am | More »
I posted to hackaday.com

Hackaday links: January 17th, 2010

http://hackaday.com/2010/01/17/hackaday-links-january-17th-2010/

Apple Magic Mouse on Windows

Looks like some folks snooped around the latest Bluetooth update from Apple and managed to extract the Magic Mouse drivers. Now you can use them to take this complex peripheral for a spin on Windows. [Thanks Juan]

Component jewelry: From geeky to gross

[Nikolaus] made a pair of 300k Ohm earrings for his wife. That’s three Brown-Black-Yellow resistors per ear. It’s geeky but in a subtle way. Much more refined than the gross outcome of this other guy’s crass nipple experiments. Need to get the image of nipple-jewelry out of your head? [Nikolaus] has you covered with some 3d printed earrings.

GTK GPS

Need your GPS data to be accurate within a centimeter? We don’t either but if you ever do, Real Time Kinematic GPS is what you need. Now you can build one yourself using the RTLIB package. This is based around the powerful and powerfully-inexpensive Beagleboard. [Thanks Jan]

Messy music

It warmed up here a bit this week and things got slushy. Our Galoshes are nice and water-tight but [David's] have a big hole in the side and are filled with a mini-keyboard. He’s chosen a rubber boot as the housing for a circuit-bending project. It’s a nice touch that the hidden keys are still playable through the flexible rubber.
- Tags:
- Jewelry
- mouse
- circuit bending
- beagleboard
- Hackaday links
January 17 2010, 11:00am | More »
I posted to hackaday.com

How to use Wiimotes w/ Linux

http://hackaday.com/2009/11/28/how-to-use-wiimotes-w-linux/

[Sprite_tm] has whipped up yet another interesting tutorial – software-based this time. He basically describes how he connected his Wiimotes to an HTPC. A USB Bluetooth receiver, and a little bit of Linux scripting, was all that was necessary to get the system up and running. To add to the fun, [Sprite_tm] configured a the controllers to work with MAME (an arcade machine emulator), allowing one to play Duck Hunt on a computer in its full glory!
- Tags:
- Software
- Linux
- wii hacks
- wii
- nintendo
- mouse
- linux hacks
- pointer
November 28 2009, 9:55am | More »
I posted to hackaday.com

Tiny keyboard/touchpad has “hack” written all over it

http://hackaday.com/2009/11/26/tiny-keyboardtouchpad-has-hack-written-all-over-it/

Yes, we know, this is not a hack, yet it just has the vibe of something we’ll likely be seeing in many small form-factor systems and wearable hacks in the future.

The USB Wireless Handheld Keyboard is a diminutive keyboard and mouse replacement with a passing resemblance to a BlackBerry PDA — where the screen has been replaced with a laptop-style trackpad sensor. This seems a shoo-in for home theater PC use; it’s unobtrusive and won’t look out of place on the coffee table alongside the universal remote. But any tiny system requiring only occasional input could likely benefit.

The keyboard layout is funky as heck, though likely adequate for its intended use of couch web-surfing and interactive messaging (or whatever wild applications our readers will surely come up with). A USB wireless receiver and a charging cable are included in the $62 package. Video after the break…

[USB Geek via Engadget]
- Tags:
- wearable hacks
- peripherals hacks
- keyboard
- wireless
- pcs hacks
- wearable
- mouse
- usb
- trackpad
- htpc
November 26 2009, 9:52am | More »
I posted to hackaday.com

[M]ouse: a PS/2 to c64 adapter

http://hackaday.com/2009/11/14/mouse-a-ps2-to-c64-adapter/

[svofski] has a friend who is a pixel artist. They really wanted to try out their skills on a c64, but were missing a mouse. The original mouse for the c64 was not only serial, but used a different method of communication than more modern mice. [svofski] built this adapter to translate the ps/2 data to something the c64 can use. The writeup describes the build in detail and even has the PCB and source code available for download.

[via flickr]
- Tags:
- peripherals hacks
- mouse
- c64
- commodore
- classic hacks
November 14 2009, 8:11am | More »
I posted to hackaday.com

Magic Mouse and MacBook teardowns

http://hackaday.com/2009/10/22/magic-mouse-and-macbook-teardowns/

The folks at iFixit must hold some kind of record for fastest-voided warranty. It’s been less than 48 hours since Apple unleashed a torrent of new computers and peripherals, and they’ve already set upon the new wares like a pack of ravenous, spudger-wielding Velociraptors, photoblogging the splayed entrails for our edutainment.

The refreshed MacBook holds few surprises, resembling a Star Trek teleportation mix-up between the prior 13″ white MacBook and the current 13″ MacBook Pro. It retains a white polycarbonate case much like its predecessor while adopting a subset of the Pro’s components — CPU and GPU, glass trackpad, Mini DisplayPort, and the long-lived but sealed battery. Internally the system is still a maze of different-sized Torx, Phillips and tri-wing screws, but they do report this latest revision to be easier to dismantle for repair.

More novel inside and out is the new Magic Mouse, which early reports suggest may finally redeem Apple’s eleven year train wreck of mice. There’s not much to see on the bottom half — it’s a typical wireless mouse consisting of batteries, laser tracker and a Bluetooth chip. The top is something to behold though, with nearly the entire surface encrusted in capacitive sensors capable of gestural input. It resembles a miniature version of this electrostatic interface we saw in April.

No teardowns of the new iMacs, Mac mini or Time Capsule have taken place yet, but it’s surely just a matter of time. Even Velociraptors need to eat and sleep.

Update: 27″ iMac teardown added. Rawr!
- Tags:
- peripherals hacks
- apple
- laptops hacks
- macs hacks
- teardown
- mac
- macbook
- mouse
- magic mouse
October 22 2009, 10:00am | More »
I posted to hackaday.com

3D Magnetometer mouse in processing

http://hackaday.com/2009/10/18/3d-magnetometer-mouse-in-processing/

[etgalim] works in Solidworks extensively and wanted a more intuitive way of rotating objects onscreen. To do this, he created a mouse that responds to rotation. He put a 3D compass module inside an old mouse and wired it up to an Arduino. The Arduino then relays the I2C sensor data to the computer. So far, he has a Processing script that uses the mouse to rotate a cube, but eventually he wants to write a Solidworks plugin. It’s a bit shaky, and we think it would be a bit smoother (and cheaper) if he used gyros like the jedipad. Video after the jump.
- Tags:
- peripherals hacks
- arduino
- 3d
- cad
- gyro
- mouse
- processing
- arduino hacks
- accelerometer
- magneto
- magnetometer
- solidworks
October 18 2009, 5:00pm | More »
I posted to hackaday.com

Mouse runs through VR maze

http://hackaday.com/2009/10/16/mouse-runs-through-vr-maze/

In an effort to determine the brain of animals during movement, scientists have built this contraption. It is a VR pod for a mouse. While we’re pretty sure/hopeful that none of you need a mouse VR system, we think the rig is interesting enough to stand on its own. It appears to be a convex mirror setup, projected in a dome. The controller is interesting in that it looks like a giant trackball hack. They’re using an optical mouse rigged to a ball floating on a cushion of air. This makes it much easier for the mouse to move. There’s a video of the whole thing in action after the break.

Does that mouse look like he’s in control to you? he looks like he’s just instictually trying not to fall off of the giant ball. Notice that he never really stops or turns left. Just keeps running in that same general direction.

[via BoingBoing]
- Tags:
- peripherals hacks
- projection
- mouse
- vr
- dome
October 16 2009, 11:00am | More »
I posted to hackaday.com

Home made rollerbar mouse

http://hackaday.com/2009/10/12/home-made-rollerbar-mouse/

[Judyofthewoods] has hacked together this rollerbar mouse. We’ve heard people talk about these in a positive way, going on about how comfortable they are. We haven’t really experimented with one much to verify. This one looks surprisingly nice considering it is made from scrap. The image above is showing it without the cover that hides the hot glue and optical sensor. There isn’t much of a writeup, but as you can see from the picture, there isn’t much necessity for one either. She seems to have done a great job stating that it is fairly smooth with only minor jittering.
- Tags:
- peripherals hacks
- steampunk
- mouse
- input
- classic hacks
- rollerbar
October 12 2009, 9:00am | More »
I posted to hackaday.com

Five concept mice add multi-touch control

http://hackaday.com/2009/10/06/five-concept-mice-add-multi-touch-control/

Microsoft is showing off five concepts for added mouse functionality. All of them seek to replace traditional move-and-click with touch sensitivity through either capacitive sensing, video recognition, sensor articulation, or laser scanning. We’re excited about the prospects of some of these features but at the same time wonder what this does to the price of this much-abused peripheral. After the break we’ll touch on each of the devices, along with time references for the video embedded above.

Capacitive Mouse (0:00)

The first offering is the closest to what we have now. It is a standard mouse that has a capacitive pad covering the body. This pad detects and reports any touches, demonstrated by on-screen blotches where the hand makes contact. We see this as a laptop touch-pad wrapped around a desktop mouse. Wrap it up and ship it out, we want one!

Video Multi-touch Mouse (1:52)

The next concept uses a curved piece of acrylic as the part of the body where you’d usually find the buttons. The secret to the sensing is a built in camera that passes image data to the computer. The touch sensitivity is provided by analyzing the image data. We’re a bit skeptical that this processing can be done inside of the mouse but we guess that’s for the R&D guys to work out. Also, how clean does the acrylic need to be to get a good image for processing?

Articulated Mouse (3:28)

Definitely the weirdest of the bunch. This is three mice in one, with a traditional mouse senor under an articulated pad for your thumb, and another for your pointer finger. The third sensor is in the mouse body itself where the palm of your hand rests. Tactile buttons can be added to the two satellite pads. We’re sure someone has a great use for this, but it would probably be no more popular than trackballs were.

Orb Mouse (4:56)

The orb is another camera-based design. Instead of a curved sheet of acrylic it utilizes a dome-shaped piece. The same concerns about video analysis exist but make sure you watch the demonstration of this used as a one-handed FPS controller.

Side Mouse (6:34)

This mouse makes your desk into the multi-touch area. It uses infrared laser scanning to pick up finger presses and motions in the general area around the mouse body. This reminds us of the laser qwerty keyboard and may be just as cool, who knows? We would anticipate some degree of a learning curve in using this device.

Conclusion

We’d love to see new and improved input devices readily available at a bargain price. Are those goals attainable? This really is inventing a better mouse(trap).

[via Mashable]

[Thanks Alex]
- Tags:
- peripherals hacks
- microsoft
- mouse
- mice
- qwerty
- laser
- multi touch
- multitouch hacks
- capacitive
- articulated
- mashable
October 6 2009, 3:00pm | More »
I posted to hackaday.com

With Zipit, who needs a netbook?

http://hackaday.com/2009/09/25/with-zipit-who-needs-a-netbook/

[Hunter Davis] keeps rolling out the hacks for the Zipit. In the past he showed us how to run DOSbox, and then how to get NES emulation working on this tiny device. Now he’s got Linux kernel 2.6.29 running Fluxbox with mouse (newly added), audio, and WiFi functionality. Follow his step-by-step flashing instructions to load the kernel into the Zipit. Once flashed, a partitioned microSD card servers as the filesystem and swap.

Who needs a 10.1 inch screen or an Atom processor when you can get this 2.8″ QVGA beauty with an XScale processor for around $40?

[Thanks Matt]
- Tags:
- flash
- Linux
- handhelds hacks
- mouse
- zipit
- linux hacks
- fluxbox
- microsd
September 25 2009, 12:00pm | More »
I posted to hackaday.com

Controllable bristlebot

http://hackaday.com/2009/06/16/controllable-bristlebot/

[sprite_tm], whose projects we have covered in the past, took the popular bristlebot to an extreme and created a controllable version. A bristlebot consists of a small vibrating motor mounted with a battery on the head of a toothbrush. These micro-robots buzz around randomly, and he attempted to tame them. He used a platform of twin bristlebots and added an optical sensor from a laser mouse and an ATtiny13. The optical sensor is used to determine the relative motion of the robot, so that the motors can be adjusted accordingly. He also has a video of the bot using the sensor to find a mark on the floor and stay within bounds. Although it isn’t as accurate, it acts like a traditional line-following robot.

[thanks sprite_tm]
- Tags:
- misc hacks
- robots hacks
- AVR
- robot
- attiny13
- sprite_tm
- emsl
- mouse
- sensor
- bristlebot
- linefollowing
June 16 2009, 5:00pm | More »
I posted to hackaday.com

DS optical mouse camera

http://hackaday.com/2009/06/05/ds-optical-mouse-camera/

[Raguaviva] shows us in this video how he’s using an optical mouse as a low quality camera for his DS. This seems like a pretty cool hack, but we’re at a loss to think of a good use for it. As he gets to the end of the video, he seems to also have trouble thinking of a good use for it. Do you guys have any ideas?
- Tags:
- nintendo
- mouse
- ds
- nintendo hacks
- ds hacks
June 5 2009, 3:22pm | More »
I posted to hackaday.com

Mouse for your PSP

http://hackaday.com/2009/05/06/mouse-for-your-psp/

[TokyoDrift] has added mouse support to his PSP. He’s using a microcontroller to interpret for the PSP, through the serial port. You can see in the video above that this provides a functional mouse control, especially useful for first person shooter style games. He’s got lots of details as well as schematics available in the forum posts. We’ve seen other controllers added to the PSP, but this is the first time we’ve seen a mouse.

[via engadget]
- Tags:
- microcontroller
- psp
- mouse
- psp hacks
May 6 2009, 1:14pm | More »
I posted to hackaday.com

Ultra mouse modification

http://hackaday.com/2009/03/16/ultra-mouse-modification/

When traveling with a laptop, we often find that the list of peripherals that we have to attach can get pretty long. Especially if it is an older laptop without wireless built in. [Dawning] has taken steps to consolidate some of his peripherals(registration required)by cramming a USB hub and a wireless card into his mouse.

He started by dismantling a USB hub. After placing the board in the mouse to see how it fit, he realized that he was going to have to reduce the size. To do this, he removed the USB slots themselves. This forces him to wire things directly to the board, but saves a ton of space. Next, he took the guts from a USB wireless adapter and wired them up. The decorative LED in the mouse was then moved to the wireless card. This way he could see light flicker with his network traffic. At this point, that’s all he’s added, though there’s still plenty of space for other items. He notes that he’ll probably add some storage or a CF reader. The only problem he has encountered is that his mouse tends to get warm during use. What peripherals would you put in there?

Update: [Dawning] let us know that he didn’t actually remove the LED from its original location. He connected a wire from the wireless adapter that causes the LED to short when traffic is going through. Also, there’s a video which you can now see after the break.
- Tags:
- daily
- peripherals hacks
- wireless
- pcs hacks
- mouse
- usb
March 16 2009, 1:16pm | More »
I posted to hackaday.com

Orbita Mouse

http://hackaday.com/2008/12/15/orbita-mouse/

The Orbita mouse seems to be finally coming to production. After watching that video, it seems that the mouse could be quite nice actually. We’ve seen several people build jog wheels for their computer and others try to make scrolling more ergonomic, and this product seems to add both decently. Well, it could probably be more ergonomic, but it is a start. At less than $100 it isn’t cost prohibitive either. The question is, have any of you built an alternative? Using a puck shaped device seems like it could get bothersome on the hand, how would you improve the design?

[via Engadget]
- Tags:
- peripherals hacks
- mouse
- jog dial
- jog wheel
- puck
- spinner
December 15 2008, 11:15am | More »
I posted to hackaday.com

Full fabric soft switches

http://hackaday.com/2008/11/16/full-fabric-soft-switches/

When we created our backpack strap WiFi detector for Engadget, we embedded soft switches to control the device. They used two sheets of aluminum foil separated by a layer of foam with holes punched in it. [Plusea] has taken a similar approach but has replaced the aluminum foil with conductive fabric. The end result is a set of three soft buttons that can be easily washed. Have a look at the video of it in action below. Check out the followup project that uses the buttons to replace a scroll wheel.
- Tags:
- wearable hacks
- daily
- peripherals hacks
- wearable
- Fabric
- conductive fabric
- conductive thread
- mouse
- plusea
- scroll wheel
- soft switch
November 16 2008, 10:30pm | More »

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