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Thread: Big button USB input device.

  1. #1
    Goron goron Kumagoro's Avatar
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    Big button USB input device.

    'Me bird' does experiments which require users to push buttons to answer stuff, and I'm trying to find something which is simple and has a few buttons. I have found things like tracker balls which seem to have large buttons but that's about it.

    Has anyone come across anything like that which just plugs
    into your USB port?

    I was thinking that there maybe some kids toy like that but I can find nothing like that even on the vtech site.

  2. #2
    radix lecti dave87's Avatar
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    Isn't there that 3 button Optimus thing - it was the tech demo to their Keyboard, I think its available, but you may not like the price

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    Treasure Hunter extraordinaire herulach's Avatar
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    You can get those big twizzle knobs. or how about the panels that are designed to take an overlay? You could just smash your hand down on one of those

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    Editable... jimbouk's Avatar
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    A couple of 6" graphics tablets? Not too expensive on Scan.

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    Goron goron Kumagoro's Avatar
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    Thanks for the suggestions.

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    DILLIGAF GoNz0's Avatar
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    WEEEEEEEEEEEEE! MadduckUK's Avatar
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    no-one makes a usb wack-a-mole. im dissapointed
    Quote Originally Posted by Ephesians
    Do not be drunk with wine, which will ruin you, but be filled with the Spirit
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  8. #8
    Goron goron Kumagoro's Avatar
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    haha I saw the whack a mole and thought that would be near ideal. Such a pity its TV plug and play only.

    Ideally the thing will be simple and pretty cheap really it only
    needs to have two buttons. I thought there maybe a track and field/hyper olympics type controller but I dont think these things exist. Or perhaps some kind of quiz pad like the buzz one.

    I did find this

    http://www.keytools.co.uk/Mice/bigtr...ball_mouse.asp

    but its stupidly expensive and I think you have to buy the buddy buttons separate. £20 is my upper limit.

    I reckon im going to have to go for a snes like pad.

  9. #9
    0iD
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    You used to be able to get a USB 'big red button' from majorgeeks aaaaaaaaaaaages ago.

    Like http://forevergeek.com/gadgets/usb_s...button_hub.php only simpler.



    or USB response boxes http://www.response-box.com/k4227.shtml
    Last edited by 0iD; 25-04-2007 at 05:17 PM.
    [
    Quote Originally Posted by Blitzen
    When I say go, both walk in the opposite direction for 10 paces, draw handbags, then bitch-slap each other!

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    WEEEEEEEEEEEEE! MadduckUK's Avatar
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    Idea!
    http://www.vsj.co.uk/articles/display.asp?id=600

    getting a Buzz! controller working with USB
    Quote Originally Posted by Ephesians
    Do not be drunk with wine, which will ruin you, but be filled with the Spirit
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    DILLIGAF GoNz0's Avatar
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    found lots that will suit your needs http://www.techready.co.uk/Assistive...neral-Switches

  12. #12
    Goron goron Kumagoro's Avatar
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    Again thanks for the replies.

    Does the buzz come as a usb device? I had assumed it
    was plugged into the standard PS2's gamepad port.

    Those seperate switches seem a bit steep, and the box with lots of buttons i have seen before but I assumed that it would be expensive to have one made.

    If it comes down to it I will take apart a gamepad and bodge one together using some switches from rapid electronics or something. I wanted it to look reasonably decent though.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Kumagoro View Post
    Again thanks for the replies.

    Does the buzz come as a usb device? I had assumed it
    was plugged into the standard PS2's gamepad port.
    Yeah it comes as a USB device according to the link about it

  14. #14
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    A PS2 has two Usb ports, or will play most Usb devices such as that button and gamepads etc. Well thats what I was told earlier this week as I was asking the same thing. Maybe Some1 cud confirm this if they've used it

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    Mostly Me Lucio's Avatar
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    PS2 does indeed make use of USB devices, I should know my g.f spends FAR too much time on Singstar with those damn USB mikes

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    Even if the Buzz controller has a PS2 plug you can just get a PS2-USB converter for £7 from Play. I have one plugged into a USB socket and 2 wireless PS2 pads connected to it for use on my PC (because I couldn't find a PC pad I was happy with).

    Back to the OP - there is the Powermate knob (steady!) which is a big silver knob that can be twisted clockwise and anticlockwise, pushed left or right, and clicked. You could calibrate that to act as buttons?

    Failing that, try looking at Shuttle Controllers - used for audio and video editing. Aside from the rotating shuttle controller, they often have a few buttons that can be assigned and these are bigger than keyboard buttons. Think there's a Shuttle controller on Scan for about £35.

    DM

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