glgac@marlin.jcu.edu.au (G A Carpenter) (12/19/90)
(apologies to anyone who sees this more than once - this is a repost) Can anyone suggest a technique (soft or hardware) which would let a person with the use of only a single digit issue control characters from the keyboard of an Apple IIe? I imagine two possible solutions: - A driver of some description which allows the keys to be pressed in sequence. (this is preferred) - A mechanical key lock on the control key. I am trying to assist a young man with the use of only one finger to use his computer. Any responses at all would be greatly appreciated. ------------------------------------------------------------ Guy Carpenter Marine Geophysics guy@frank.jcu.edu.au Townsville, Qld, Australia ------------------------------------------------------------
THROOP@GRIN1.BITNET ("Throop,Henry B") (12/19/90)
[question about using control characters on //e with one finger] What are you trying to do that requires control characters? If it is something like a word processor, there are some around (like Bank Street Writer) that do not require control- or apple- sequences. Assuming you do need this feature, it should be possible, with a bit of soldering, to wire a simple toggle pushbutton in place of the control keyswitch, similar to the caps lock key. This might be somewhat risky, but it's the only way I see to do that from hardware; the control key doesn't have a signal line on the cable from the keyboard to the motherboard. If it's at all possible to get use of a IIgs, the newer machines (ROM version 03) have a built in 'Sticky Keys' feature that does exactly what you are looking for. Rumor has it that this may also be included in software for the ROM 01 machines with teh next System 5.0.4 release. Henry -- Henry Throop THROOP@GRIN1.BITNET throoph@jacobs.cs.orst.edu
unknown@ucscb.UCSC.EDU (The Unknown User) (12/19/90)
In article <1990Dec19.042800.29958@marlin.jcu.edu.au> glgac@marlin.jcu.edu.au (G A Carpenter) writes: >Can anyone suggest a technique (soft or hardware) which >would let a person with the use of only a single digit >issue control characters from the keyboard of an Apple IIe? > >I am trying to assist a young man with the use of only >one finger to use his computer. Any responses at all would >be greatly appreciated. This isn't the kind of response you're looking for, but the GS has this capability already.. It's called Sticky Keys... From what I believe, you tap a control or shift key a few times and then it's as if it was continually pushed until you hit the key again. Hey, seems to be a good reason to me to go from a //e to a GS! -- /Apple II(GS) Forever! unknown@ucscb.ucsc.edu MAIL ME FOR INFO ABOUT CHEAP CDs\ |WRITE TO ORIGIN ABOUT ULTIMA VI //e and IIGS! Mail me for addresses, & info. | \ "Dammit Bev, is it you inside or is it the clown?" -IT by Stephen King /
MQUINN@UTCVM.BITNET (12/20/90)
On Wed, 19 Dec 90 00:51:48 cst Throop,Henry B said: > >Assuming you do need this feature, it should be possible, with a bit >of soldering, to wire a simple toggle pushbutton in place of the control >keyswitch, similar to the caps lock key. This might be somewhat risky, but >it's the only way I see to do that from hardware; the control key doesn't >have a signal line on the cable from the keyboard to the motherboard. Are you sure? I have a PC Transporter and some of the software I use with it can sense when I'm holding down -just- the control key (same with right and left shift keys) and I didn't have to reconnect my keyboard to another port. Although, I may be wrong, it seems that there should be a way to detect it if the PCT can do it. >Henry >-- >Henry Throop >THROOP@GRIN1.BITNET >throoph@jacobs.cs.orst.edu ---------------------------------------- Michael J. Quinn University of Tennessee at Chattanooga BITNET-- mquinn@utcvm pro-line-- mquinn@pro-gsplus.cts.com
THROOP@GRIN1.BITNET ("Throop,Henry B") (12/20/90)
Michael J. Quinn writes: > Are you sure the control key can not be read? My PCT can sense > whether this key is down or not. On the //e, which is what the original poster asked about, it cannot be sensed. On the gs, the control key's status can be read by looking at bit 1 of the keyboard modifier register at $C025. Henry -- Henry Throop THROOP@GRIN1.BITNET throoph@jacobs.cs.orst.edu
dcw@lcs.mit.edu (David C. Whitney) (12/20/90)
In article <9012191737.AA10606@apple.com> MQUINN@UTCVM.BITNET writes: >On Wed, 19 Dec 90 00:51:48 cst Throop,Henry B said: >> the control key doesn't >>have a signal line on the cable from the keyboard to the motherboard. > >Are you sure? I have a PC Transporter and some of the software I use with it >can sense when I'm holding down -just- the control key (same with right and >left shift keys) On pre-//GS machines there is no way to tell when *just* a shift (or control) key is down. On //GS's, you can tell when the control key is down, or when either shift key (but you can't tell the difference) is down, or if the capslock key is down. I don't know offhand if these can be detected independently, or if you have to read the register after a keystroke (ie, the modifier was down in tandem with a real key). This same register also notes the Open Apple and Option key states and whether the last key hit is one the keypad (includes function keys). -- Dave Whitney Computer Science MIT 1990 | I wrote Z-Link and BinSCII. Send me bug dcw@lcs.mit.edu | reports. I need a job. Send me an offer. "The price of freedom is eternal vigilance" --Binky (aka Matt Groening)
danny@gnh-starport.cts.com (Daniel Manchester) (12/28/90)
What about a foot switch? Would it be possible to pry off the "control"
key and wire one in? I don't know much about electronics, but it seems like it
would work, and it would be quite cheap...
Danny Manchester
Silver Spring, Maryland
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