person@plains.NoDak.edu (Brett G. Person) (09/27/90)
I am currently working with a person who has cerebral palsey and needs a computer. I recommended an Amiga which was purchassed. My initial plan was rip out all the front-end stuff and just have him use the keyboard and CLI. But, I would prefer that some way be found for him to use the mouse to control the machine. The documentation I got with the Amiga 500 is pretty non-technical (no big surpreise..) and what I want to do is build a joystick that will send the same signals as the mouse sends. I have no idea how the Amiga mouse works, and would be greatfull for any suggestions as to a mouse replacement that someone with fairly limited dexterity could use. Thanks -- Brett G. Person North Dakota State University uunet!plains!person | person@plains.bitnet | person@plains.nodak.edu
joseph@valnet.UUCP (Joseph P. Hillenburg) (09/27/90)
person@plains.NoDak.edu (Brett G. Person) writes: > > I am currently working with a person who has cerebral palsey and needs a > computer. I recommended an Amiga which was purchassed. My initial plan was > rip out all the front-end stuff and just have him use the keyboard and CLI. > But, I would prefer that some way be found for him to use the mouse to > control the machine. The documentation I got with the Amiga 500 is pretty > non-technical (no big surpreise..) and what I want to do is build a joystick > that will send the same signals as the mouse sends. > > I have no idea how the Amiga mouse works, and would be greatfull for any > suggestions as to a mouse replacement that someone with fairly limited > dexterity could use. > > Thanks > > -- > Brett G. Person > North Dakota State University > uunet!plains!person | person@plains.bitnet | person@plains.nodak.edu Just buy the Gravis MouseStick. -Joseph Hillenburg UUCP: ...iuvax!valnet!joseph ARPA: valnet!joseph@iuvax.cs.indiana.edu INET: joseph@valnet.UUCP
eric@eklektik.UUCP (/dev/ph1) (09/28/90)
In article <6045@plains.NoDak.edu> person@plains.NoDak.edu (Brett G. Person) writes: >I am currently working with a person who has cerebral palsey and needs a ... >non-technical (no big surpreise..) and what I want to do is build a joystick >that will send the same signals as the mouse sends. Or...Make the joystick emulate the mouse in software. The productivity set Gizmoz II included such a program, called joymouse. It might be easier than hacking hardware. -- --------------------------------------- Eric Kennedy eric@eklektik.pgh.pa.us (formerly ejkst@pitt.UUCP) ...pitt!idis!eklektik!eric
hgschmie@faui41.informatik.uni-erlangen.de (Henning Schmiedehausen) (10/02/90)
In <6003@eklektik.UUCP> eric@eklektik.UUCP (/dev/ph1) writes: >In article <6045@plains.NoDak.edu> person@plains.NoDak.edu (Brett G. Person) writes: >>I am currently working with a person who has cerebral palsey and needs a >... >>non-technical (no big surpreise..) and what I want to do is build a joystick >>that will send the same signals as the mouse sends. >Or...Make the joystick emulate the mouse in software. The productivity set >Gizmoz II included such a program, called joymouse. It might be easier >than hacking hardware. >-- >--------------------------------------- >Eric Kennedy eric@eklektik.pgh.pa.us >(formerly ejkst@pitt.UUCP) ...pitt!idis!eklektik!eric Well, you don't even need any software emulation! Just open the input.device and tell it to use the joystick instead of a mouse! Do the following: open the input.device use IND_SETMTYPE as command and GPCT_RELJOYSTICK / GPCT_ABSJOYSTICK as Type in the request close the input.device connect joystick to port #1 If you don't like to disconnect the mouse, well open the input.device use IND_SETMPORT as comand and an pointer to an UWORD, which must contain 0x01 for port nr. 2 IMPORTANT! THE DATA-field of the request MUST contain the address of the UWORD containing the 0x01, not the 0x01 itself. close the device I's a shame, that Commo told almost nothing about IND_SETMTYPE in V 1.3 Libs&Devs (p 693 ff), I got this trick from a german book called 'Amiga Intern Vol. 2'. But look, those guys at Commo-Amiga are MUCH smarter than their fellows at Commo Sales Department. They thought about using the joystick as a Mouse-Replacement! If you desperately need the complete program, email me and I will send you a little C-Prog which performs the necessary steps to switch over to the mouse. It's great to see, that there are people out there, who care about handicapped people. Henning +-------------------------------------------+--------------------+ | hgschmie@faui09.informatik.uni-erlangen.de| Space is big, | | hgschmie@faui41.informatik.uni-erlangen.de| Space is dark, | | (Henning Schmiedehausen, Glueckstrasse 3 | it's hard to find | | 8520 Erlangen, West Germany, 09131/209611)| a place to park | +-------------------------------------------+--------------------+
blgardne@javelin.es.com@bambam.UUCP (Blaine Gardner) (10/10/90)
eric@eklektik.UUCP (/dev/ph1) writes: >In article <6045@plains.NoDak.edu> person@plains.NoDak.edu (Brett G. Person) writes: >>I am currently working with a person who has cerebral palsey and needs a >... >>non-technical (no big surpreise..) and what I want to do is build a joystick >>that will send the same signals as the mouse sends. >Or...Make the joystick emulate the mouse in software. The easiest way is to buy the Gravis Mousestick. It looks like the other Gravis joysticks (foam covered grip, fire button on the grip, and two on the base, tension adjustment in the base) but it includes an interface box that goes between the stick and the computer. The Mousestick is switchable between mouse and digital joystick modes, with lots of options in either mode. And you can save 4 different configurations. The Mousestick costs about $60-100 depending on where you buy it. Personally I've found that the stick is a bit cumbersome for Workbench use, as I tend to overshoot. But it is fantastic with mouse-based games. Also, I've had a MicroSpeed AmTrac trackball for a couple of days, and I'm very happy with it so far. I've hacked Wico and Atari trackballs for the Amiga before, but their button layout was pretty cumbersome for anything but games. The AmTrac has large buttons surrounding the ball, so it's very easy to use. And there's a center click-and-hold button that can be toggled between the left or right button. It runs about $70-110. -- Blaine Gardner @ Evans & Sutherland 580 Arapeen Drive, SLC, Utah 84108 blgardne@esunix.UUCP BIX: blaine_g {decwrl, utah-cs}!esunix!blgardne DoD #0046 The Borg killed Laura Palmer!
peter@sugar.hackercorp.com (Peter da Silva) (10/15/90)
Just write a little program that tells the computer the mouse is a joystick (don't recall the call... it's straightforward) and it automatically works! -- Peter da Silva. `-_-' <peter@sugar.hackercorp.com>.
chipb@FtCollins.NCR.com (Chip.Brewster) (10/15/90)
In article <2686@bambam.UUCP>, blgardne@javelin.es.com@bambam.UUCP (Blaine Gardner) writes: > > eric@eklektik.UUCP (/dev/ph1) writes: > > >In article <6045@plains.NoDak.edu> person@plains.NoDak.edu (Brett G. Person) writes: > >>I am currently working with a person who has cerebral palsey and needs a > >... > >>non-technical (no big surpreise..) and what I want to do is build a joystick > >>that will send the same signals as the mouse sends. > > >Or...Make the joystick emulate the mouse in software. > > The easiest way is to buy the Gravis Mousestick. It looks like the other Sorry if this is old information, but I missed the original posting. The easiest (and cheapest) thing to do is get StickMouse posted to c.s.a. It will allow you to use a joystick as a mouse without any hardware mods (I just love the Amy). If you missed it, let me know and I'll send a copy. I'm also working with someone with CP and have found a trackball to be pretty helpful. I forget which one I have, but it isn't one of the more expensive ones with conveniently placed buttons, smooth action, etc.. I don't think you need that for persons with limited motor control. The most important thing is BIG buttons. I have yet to compare the trackball with a joystick and StickMouse. I'm working on a project to interface a Prentke Romiche (sp?) Touch Talker as a keyboard. I also plan to try a Muppets Learning Keyboard from an Apple. They both have large pressure sensitive keys and work pretty well for persons who have difficulty with the small keys of a regular keyboard. The Touch Talker is a rather expensive device, but I have found that many CP patients already have/need them. The Muppets Keyboard is an inexpensive device (less than $100) that you can get from many software distributors. It works like an analog joystick, but because of port differences, will require a simple hardware interface adapter. I mentioned this to see if there is sufficient interest to help motivate me to get it done. Chip Brewster UUCP: {ncr-sd,uunet}!ncrlnk!ncr-mpd!bach!chipb ARPA: Chip.Brewster@FtCollins.NCR.com USPS: NCR Microelectronics, 2001 Danfield Ct MS470A, Ft Collins, CO, 80525 BELL: (303) 223-5100 ext. 423
peter@sugar.hackercorp.com (Peter da Silva) (10/19/90)
All you need to do to use the stick as a mouse is tell Intuition. Send a GPD_SETCTYPE to joystick.device. -- Peter da Silva. `-_-' <peter@sugar.hackercorp.com>.