FAQ / Summary of best bets for Input (In this Thread)

**tbird2340** · 10-07-2004, 09:22 AM

Originally Posted by Grayscale

The little bity pencil eraser mouse thing's link has changed...its now

http://www.meci.com/Catalog/ViewItem...e-36b2266cfe9c

This link isn't valid....

It sounds interesting. Do you have a working link?

**tbird2340** · 10-07-2004, 09:24 AM

Originally Posted by prospero

i use a Black USB Finger Mouse (Trackball) like the following, it works great...

Where the heck did you get that?

EDIT - Never mind... ebay

**ea972271** · 10-20-2004, 08:36 PM

I've had some success controlling my computer (winamp anyways) with my palm. I bought a USB Bluetooth dongle, and I use my Palm to connect to the computer via network. I downloaded a winamp web interface plugin from winamp.com and i basically visit that web page on my palm to control winamp.

So far I found its ok, Its good for loading playlists etc, but its not good while your driving. I'm thinking of adding a small keyboard for volume control etc.

I think a better way to go would be to used bluetooth to establish a serial link to the computer and then create a custom palm app to control the computer.

For me this was a cheap alternative becuase I already had the palm, I mean dont go sell your touchscreen for a palm

**Proplus** · 10-22-2004, 05:01 PM

As mentioned earlier, I too use the Gyration Suite. Both the mini keyboard and gyration mouse is stored under the driver's seat, I only use it mainly for maintenance of the CarPC, and whenever people sat at the back want to have a fiddle with the system.

**mp3oplecarrier** · 10-24-2004, 05:54 PM

How about a belkin nostromo speedpad and mouse hacked up like this:

Estima CarPC v2.0 build up pics

Mouse 3 button brings up the osk and I can 'type' using the directional pad and mouse 1 button. Shortcuts are programmed in to access/ run programs.

Steve

**DRWeside** · 11-11-2004, 05:07 PM

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned this for use as an input device. I'm still in the planning stages of my CarPC project, but this will be one of the input devices I will be using along with a Lilliput 7" or 8" touchscreen.

ATI has provided an SDK for the Remote Wonder I and II which programmers can use to develop plug-ins for various programs. Can't control your favorite media player using this remote? Search for a possible plug-in or write your own instead. Along with the SDK, they have provided a sample Winamp plug-in so that you can see how to write one for your own application.

http://remotew.free.fr/

**BassBinDevil** · 11-19-2004, 05:44 AM

The Claw

Basically it's a USB thing you drape your left hand over with 10 buttons at your fingertips. The buttons can be programmed to generate keystrokes, macros, mouse clicks and scroll wheel movements. Not too useful as-is unless the driver's seat is on the righthand side, but it looks possible to rip it apart and mount the buttons on a custom console. Price is a little high at $70, but I found mine for $15 bucks at a local liquidator.

Inside it there's a small board with a Cypress microcontroller, with ribbon cables running to the switches which are hot-glued into the case. There's an unused expansion header, so it could be possible to add even more switches. Windoze 2K recognizes it as a game controller with up to 32 buttons.

I guess it's not really a "best bet", seeing that it isn't exactly common (didn't find any Ebay), but worth considering if you're looking for a multibutton USB input device.