Calculator as input

**cruiser01** · 09-21-2004, 01:48 AM

I'm looking for a cheap and simple way to control my future Carputer
and I thought a graphing calculator would work. I did some searching
and found 2 programs for controlling WinAmp using a calculator.
I thought I had an original idea for a change

A touchscreen is out of my budget right now but I already have a calc.
A graphing calculator has a nice little LCD screen and lots of buttons for
controlling things. This wouldn't work for DVD's but would be perfect for
playing MP3's.

Has anyone tried this?

**choyak** · 09-21-2004, 01:50 AM

That is weird, but isn't the calculator CPU too slow to process MP3s?

**Chairboy** · 09-21-2004, 02:07 AM

Even cooler:

**NiN^_^NiN** · 09-21-2004, 02:10 AM

Lol very funny

It is possible to do it you could just change the code for the winamp controller to control the carPC

Off the top of my head i could be lazy and use the calc to send dde commands to mirc then set up a trigger to run whatever i want.

Id do it in VB but if i needed to do it quick i could just use mirc

lol

but i like that idea u can rub the words off the case for the buttons then apply tattoo paper onto the buttons

It smaller than a keypad and it gives u more buttons and a lcd its a nice idea but u need to make the code for it

**LLCoolWas** · 09-21-2004, 02:12 AM

Originally Posted by choyak

That is weird, but isn't the calculator CPU too slow to process MP3s?

umm.... he means to use a calculator as an input device... i.e. a keyboard....
anyways, my suggestion is that you use something like this... numeric keypad

or.. if it were me.. i'd go with something like this.. Nostromo Speedpad n52

**Chairboy** · 09-21-2004, 02:26 AM

I'm serious, I've been thinking of fiberglassing a Speak & Spell into a car for weeks now. Display scrolling track names on the display, find a speech voice for windows that sounds like the Speak & Spell for navigation prompts, etc, that'd be suh-weet.

**NiN^_^NiN** · 09-21-2004, 02:26 AM

Chairboy that be cool if u used the LCd to display the mp3 asongs

be alot of work making that hook up tho.

I still dont like the keypads as they are limited in button numbers for a Carpc as trying to use a keyboard isnt the best way.

i like the idea of using a calculator or 1 of them things chairboy showed us

im sure someone has interfaced the screen from that kids toy to the pc they must be a hack somewere

**GWRedDragon** · 09-21-2004, 10:57 AM

Originally Posted by Chairboy

I'm serious, I've been thinking of fiberglassing a Speak & Spell into a car for weeks now. Display scrolling track names on the display, find a speech voice for windows that sounds like the Speak & Spell for navigation prompts, etc, that'd be suh-weet.

How do you do that? Did you slap some other serial LCD controller on there, and solder up the buttons to an input controller?

**Chairboy** · 09-21-2004, 11:30 AM

I'd probably want to re-use the display that comes in it, I imagine I'd have to find a controller or wiring diagram, and for the buttons, I'd probably use a keyboard encoder so pressing them emulates a keyboard press.