convert USB scroll mouse to vol/jog dials?

**Jonjonr6** · 03-21-2004, 11:55 PM

Here's a thought, after looking at this device:
http://www.contouravs.com/spaceshuttle_info.html

I have a Logitech multimedia keyboard with a scroll that can be changed to volume control through the driver.

Well, why couldn't we come up with a driver to take like a USB scroll mouse, and make a multifunction controller.

On a typical scroll mouse, there are two buttons, pluss a button by pressing the scroll. Of course a scroll. Then two additional wheels for movement sensing.
If someone here could right the driver (yeah, I know, that's easier said than done), then with some creative fabrication, a clean, easy-to-use multifunctional controller could be built. I'm think one jog dial, one volume control, track up and down, one mode selector to work with the final wheel for a simple treble/bass/fade/something.

I already have the keyspan wireless remote, works great, but, I think this could be better if anyone wants to take the ball and run with it. I unfortunately do not know how to program, only fabricate, so I can't really do this myself.

Anybody got some ideas to add? Anybody interested in trying to make this work?

**beaverpants** · 03-22-2004, 07:46 PM

not a bad idea.

**bambooracer** · 03-22-2004, 08:30 PM

You could do it without custom drivers. Applications already recieve mouse wheel events when they have the focus. You might be able to write a global hook that captures all mouse wheel events and use it to change the volume.

**Jonjonr6** · 03-23-2004, 01:58 PM

hmmm, now only to find someone capable and interested enough to write this software.
I would prefer however, to somehow change how windows sees the device from a mouse to something like a human input device. That way, there's no pointer on the screen.
You know, those mice with the multi-scroll wheels would add just that much more option. And they usually have more programable buttons.

**god_of_cpu** · 03-23-2004, 02:55 PM

This could be done quite simply with the Microsoft DirectX SDK, specifically DirectInput just write a tray app that has exclusive background access to the mouse. You should be able to enumerate through all the mouse like devices on the computer with EnumDevices and use only 1 specific mouse, so you could have a normal mouse and a hacked apart one that is used just for scrolling, volume control, etc via the TrayApp. You can also just hide the cursor with a HideCursor platform SDK function call.

If I didn't have 20 million other programs I already have to write, I would do this, but alas I have higher carputer priorities...

Tutorial on writing a mouse program here, theres also sample programs included with the SDK that do mouse input, you'll just have to add a EnumDevices call to select the proper mouse and the conversion stuff to covert from mouse axis to key press / volume change / etc.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/archive/de...t_tut_3yno.asp

Originally Posted by Jonjonr6

hmmm, now only to find someone capable and interested enough to write this software.
I would prefer however, to somehow change how windows sees the device from a mouse to something like a human input device. That way, there's no pointer on the screen.
You know, those mice with the multi-scroll wheels would add just that much more option. And they usually have more programable buttons.

**Jonjonr6** · 03-24-2004, 04:24 PM

Excellent. Well, it's a start. Now if only I can find someone who knows how to write code, and has the free time.

**modUlarBeing** · 11-16-2004, 10:54 AM

i was just thinking about doing this very same thing in my car.....if there is no software available yet I may give it a try but I dont know when I can start working on it......probably after I finish my XM dll heh which I havnt started yet but I will tonight I think

I have never used DirectInput before......is it very difficult to work with?

**Curiosity** · 11-16-2004, 12:44 PM

Or just

for one.

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/volumouse.html

**modUlarBeing** · 11-16-2004, 02:32 PM

I plan on using it for jogging through songs, etc....I maintained a HU for volume control

**BassBinDevil** · 11-17-2004, 07:44 AM

sony "joystick" commander.
I always thought the Sony joystick was a good idea, and it turns out that they are easy to interface to a computer joytick port, and only need about 3 wires. Also, the innards are just resistors and switches, so you could hack together a functional equivalent using momentary-contact switches and a handful of resistors. Like, center-off SPDT toggle or rocker switches, or a jog-shuttle control cut out of a junk VCR or remote, or a tuning switch out of a twin-shaft cassette deck with digital tuning, or that Fuel Dump pushbutton from an F104 Starfighter that I've been looking for a use for.
Schematic and program to control Winamp: http://show.supereva.it/dmc.freeweb/input.htm?p
Sony joystick --> serial port: http://www.armory.com/~charlie/empeg1/index.html

Girder forums thread on the Sony sticks: http://www.promixis.com/phpBB2/viewt...light=joystick

Girder joystick plugin; http://www.promixis.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=4867

There's a thread on using rotary encoders merged with mice:
"insulated shaft encoder"
That's also a nice way to go; you could use the knob to scroll through a playlist as if you were tuning in an analog radio. One mouse could give you at least three pushbuttons and up to 3 rotary knobs (with a non-optical wheelmouse).