I have some el-cheapo keyboard w/ fun extra buttons like "internet", "phone" and "eject". The keyboard sends special scankeys when you press them, which could then be mapped to keycodes. My question is: has anyone written a daemon for using similar keys (for use outside of X, etc.)?
It seems like it shouldn't be too hard to watch the keycodes that are flying around and system() something when the button press is detected. A program like this would make this and other keyboards' extra buttons somewhat useful (volume control/mute would pro'ly be the best)
That's not really the point. There's generally a way around any sort of scheme like this, the point is that the average joe isn't going to want to (or have the resources to) hack their brand-new $80 USB speakers just to get their music in a free format.
it's great fun. was even more fun when they played it in concert and sped it up to about twice as fast as it was in their recorded version. i think i managed keep up with at least the first verse..:-)
That is certainly true, but for something like the cracked page, there's very little in the way of image maps or anything even remotely complex.
but I use it because layout it easier that way.. instead of saying, make it this many pixels right, I just click the box and drag it..
This is very true, but again, you talk of layout when there wasn't any. I'd think it would be easier to use pico on the remote box (or something equally simple) than to whip out a WYSIWYG and have to ftp it over. I mean, really... Frontpage?
When the palmpilot first came out, I saw it in Staples and instantly fell in love with it. Of course, I immediately got one (and one for my mother, too) and use it constantly. Now I've got a Visor and love it even more.
The great thing about the palm for me, is the ability to have all the information you could want with you at all times. For class, I have
AvantGo for reading the news when class gets insomniating
the todo list for writing down homework assignments
the memopad for taking notes (well, classes other than math and physics)
date book for keeping track of meetings with teachers or consultant work after school
Of course, I always seem to find another use for it (tv remote and flashlight come to mind:-) ).
A note on graffiti: it's great for what it was intended for, quick jots while holding the device in your hand without having to unfold or setup anything. Meeting someone and taking down their number/setting up an appointment is really what the system was geared for. It doesn't scale up very well, though, for something like taking extended notes in class or working on a paper. So, I now am anxiously awaiting This really cool folding keyboard.
I have gotten to play with a WinCE (I refuse to call them by their new name) device (my dad's HP Journada). Save the battery life (s'posedly 10 hours) and possibly the price (~$900) I see no reason to buy one of those things. True, it can do all the things that most people want from a laptop (ms office stuff, web access, email) but in that case, why not just get a laptop? As for using them as a PDA-type function. They are a bit smaller than a laptop, but not small enough. One of the major things I enjoy with my Visor, is that I always have it on hand. During class, at work, at a consulting job, and at home. You just can't just stuff a jornada in your front pocket (well, I probably can [mmm, big pockets. plenty of room for visor, RJ-45 crimper, penguins, etc..];-) but it's still not very practical).
So, I always have my Visor, and am thusly never really bored (games, books, news, work). The next step is to go for total integration: wire the visual output directly to my brain and have the unit tickle my visual cortex so that the screen overlays whatever I see. After that, thought recognition and after that make it have some sort of temporal shifting capabilities so it knows what I want it to do, even before I tell it (hrm... reminds me of some certain elevators;-)).
Well, for one, when was the last time that you could seriously carry a copy of Hamlet (for class), The War of the Worlds (also for class), The Gospel of Tux (found on segfault. great for amusing friends) and about 9 other full-sided books in your pocket? I'm still in school and having searchable copies of the text we're reading is incredibly handy. Also, the ability to play games (Zork!) during a boring english class is a definite plus:-)
This is one of my favorite trends that has happened recently: Trek technology manifesting itself in the consumer market. On Trek, one of the things that I really thought was cool (isn't everything?;-) ) was the PADD. A flat, small, portable device with a touch screen that allows wireless access to information. Sound familiar?
Palm devices (specificly the Palm VII or a standard Palm coupled with some form of networking) are getting very close to this. There are also now devices that are similar in concept, just not size. Wireless color touchscreen LCDs that interface with their base (I think there was one that was an x server), allowing many fun things like browsing slashdot from the comfort of your bathroom:-) (or even better, reading slashdot at the breakfast table instead of the stadard flat, dead trees)
The thing that makes science fiction like Star Trek what it is, is the speculation and extrapolation about our future and the future of technology. We shouldn't be too surprised when someone gets it right, but it sure is cool to see a technology progress out of fiction into reality.
X-10 has, quite possibly, the most connected universal remote for something that doesn't kill your wallet. It does x-10 (requires a RF reciever like the Firecracker), has quite a lot of pre-programmed devs (up to 6 devices) in it. Best yet, some of the remotes (not the one I have) are learning remotes. I can walk around my house with one and pretty much control anything. And I've three of them:-) (thank goodness for X-10 freebies)
what I'd like to do, though, is get a Firecracker rigged up w/ my palm pilot. I could do all sorts of neat scheduling things (yeah, there's the Comp Module, but that means you need access to your comp), from my pilot, or control things w/out carying a remote w/ me everywhere. hrm... there's a project...
Suprisingly enough, of all the magnets that I've collected over the years, the most powerful/size was found inside an old hard drive. There were two of them, and they were for head movement. They were literally cm away from the platters, so as long as they are carefully placed, there isn't much of a problem. The magnet found on many floppy drive motors is suprisingly strong, too. Just so long as it is all shielded, all is well.
Having a PDA (especially running the or a variation on the Palm OS) would be incredibly cool. One major issue, as I have played with some early prototypes of this at the MIT Media Lab, is the refresh rate. Since it's not strictly an electrical means of drawing the screen (rotating the balls) it's not nearly as instantaneous as one might want for such a device. This kind of display works best for static content (dynamicly updatable newspaper). Actually, now that I think of it, the Palm OS remains quite static for many things (memopad scrolling would be an exception).
Well, if such barriers were torn down, this would certainly be a wonderful use of electronic paper. Sitting on the train heading to work, unroll your Palm XX, download your palm's email and head over to Slashdot to get your daily fix. Mmm, I'm lovink this already.
Slashdot Mirror
It seems like it shouldn't be too hard to watch the keycodes that are flying around and system() something when the button press is detected. A program like this would make this and other keyboards' extra buttons somewhat useful (volume control/mute would pro'ly be the best)
That's not really the point. There's generally a way around any sort of scheme like this, the point is that the average joe isn't going to want to (or have the resources to) hack their brand-new $80 USB speakers just to get their music in a free format.
and here is the USB HOWTO
it's great fun. was even more fun when they played it in concert and sped it up to about twice as fast as it was in their recorded version. i think i managed keep up with at least the first verse.. :-)
but I use it because layout it easier that way.. instead of saying, make it this many pixels right, I just click the box and drag it..
This is very true, but again, you talk of layout when there wasn't any. I'd think it would be easier to use pico on the remote box (or something equally simple) than to whip out a WYSIWYG and have to ftp it over. I mean, really... Frontpage?
The great thing about the palm for me, is the ability to have all the information you could want with you at all times. For class, I have
- a copy of the book that we're reading in class
- AvantGo for reading the news when class gets insomniating
- the todo list for writing down homework assignments
- the memopad for taking notes (well, classes other than math and physics)
- date book for keeping track of meetings with teachers or consultant work after school
Of course, I always seem to find another use for it (tv remote and flashlight come to mindA note on graffiti: it's great for what it was intended for, quick jots while holding the device in your hand without having to unfold or setup anything. Meeting someone and taking down their number/setting up an appointment is really what the system was geared for. It doesn't scale up very well, though, for something like taking extended notes in class or working on a paper. So, I now am anxiously awaiting This really cool folding keyboard.
I have gotten to play with a WinCE (I refuse to call them by their new name) device (my dad's HP Journada). Save the battery life (s'posedly 10 hours) and possibly the price (~$900) I see no reason to buy one of those things. True, it can do all the things that most people want from a laptop (ms office stuff, web access, email) but in that case, why not just get a laptop? As for using them as a PDA-type function. They are a bit smaller than a laptop, but not small enough. One of the major things I enjoy with my Visor, is that I always have it on hand. During class, at work, at a consulting job, and at home. You just can't just stuff a jornada in your front pocket (well, I probably can [mmm, big pockets. plenty of room for visor, RJ-45 crimper, penguins, etc..] ;-) but it's still not very practical).
So, I always have my Visor, and am thusly never really bored (games, books, news, work). The next step is to go for total integration: wire the visual output directly to my brain and have the unit tickle my visual cortex so that the screen overlays whatever I see. After that, thought recognition and after that make it have some sort of temporal shifting capabilities so it knows what I want it to do, even before I tell it (hrm... reminds me of some certain elevators ;-)).
Well, for one, when was the last time that you could seriously carry a copy of Hamlet (for class), The War of the Worlds (also for class), The Gospel of Tux (found on segfault. great for amusing friends) and about 9 other full-sided books in your pocket? I'm still in school and having searchable copies of the text we're reading is incredibly handy. Also, the ability to play games (Zork!) during a boring english class is a definite plus :-)
Palm devices (specificly the Palm VII or a standard Palm coupled with some form of networking) are getting very close to this. There are also now devices that are similar in concept, just not size. Wireless color touchscreen LCDs that interface with their base (I think there was one that was an x server), allowing many fun things like browsing slashdot from the comfort of your bathroom :-) (or even better, reading slashdot at the breakfast table instead of the stadard flat, dead trees)
The thing that makes science fiction like Star Trek what it is, is the speculation and extrapolation about our future and the future of technology. We shouldn't be too surprised when someone gets it right, but it sure is cool to see a technology progress out of fiction into reality.
(thank goodness for X-10 freebies)
what I'd like to do, though, is get a Firecracker rigged up w/ my palm pilot. I could do all sorts of neat scheduling things (yeah, there's the Comp Module, but that means you need access to your comp), from my pilot, or control things w/out carying a remote w/ me everywhere. hrm... there's a project...
Suprisingly enough, of all the magnets that I've collected over the years, the most powerful/size was found inside an old hard drive. There were two of them, and they were for head movement. They were literally cm away from the platters, so as long as they are carefully placed, there isn't much of a problem. The magnet found on many floppy drive motors is suprisingly strong, too. Just so long as it is all shielded, all is well.
Well, if such barriers were torn down, this would certainly be a wonderful use of electronic paper. Sitting on the train heading to work, unroll your Palm XX, download your palm's email and head over to Slashdot to get your daily fix. Mmm, I'm lovink this already.