Space Navigator PE Driver Development Thread - Page 12

ik632 · 06-18-2007, 12:22 PM

This has been some great work, it's inspired me to buy one and use it as my primary input device in the car.

Here's another driver the guys at the 3DConnexion forum are working on:
http://www.3dconnexion.com/forum/vie...er=asc&start=0

Looks promising as well.

ik632 · 06-22-2007, 12:55 PM

I installed the drivers that I linked above and they work pretty good. The system defaults to startup the 3DConnexion drivers so you have to stop them (just remove them from the startup folder) and then start the RBC9 driver. You can do the following:

Software actions which can be bound to the hardware:
Joystick Axis
Joystick Button
Joystick POV
Mouse X
Mouse Y
Mouse Wheel
Mouse Button
Keyboard
Special Key (Windows keys)
Switch Layout (you setup layouts for the mapping and can use this option to switch between them - usually mapped to one of the hard buttons).
Macros (so far I've been able to do keystrokes but haven't tried calling any programming type items)

Things you can map these to:
Pan Left/Right
Pan Front/Back
Tilt Left/Right
Tilt Front/Back
Push/Pull
Twist
Hard Buttons (1-2 for SN, 1-8 for ST)

One of the features which I like is that you can have the device AutoSwitch between profiles/layouts for different programs. There's a default layout for when you are not in any specific program and then when a specific .exe is running in memory (and you are focused on that window) it switches to that configuration. I use this for different CAD operation from basic Windows operation.

The next thing to figure out is whether or not it will switch when in a frontend (different music mappings versus navigation mappings). Somehow I doubt it but it's worth trying.

ik632 · 06-22-2007, 01:10 PM

Does the SpaceNavigator turn 360 degrees or does it only turn about 20 degrees either way like the SpaceTraveler?

turbocad6 · 06-22-2007, 01:27 PM

it has a pretty small range of motion, it is also difficult, if not impossible to cause a reaction on one axis without affecting another, as long as you don't try & use all the axises for functions it works fine, I use it, but it does have these slight limitations.

ik632 · 06-22-2007, 02:16 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by turbocad6

it has a pretty small range of motion, it is also difficult, if not impossible to cause a reaction on one axis without affecting another, as long as you don't try & use all the axises for functions it works fine, I use it, but it does have these slight limitations.

Thanks that's what I was hoping.

The driver that I posted the link to has a "deadzone" setting so that any movement before you want isn't counted. There's also a specific "deadzone" setting for each binding as well as a min and max. The output value is from -360 to 0 to +360 so if you set the minimum to something like 150 or 200, movement or values up to that setting are ignored so you won't accidentally affect the other axis.

I found that while using it normally I would wander up to about 75 one each axis while I was intending to affect a different axis.

turbocad6 · 06-22-2007, 02:34 PM

I've tried that to, in a moving vehicle it still can be a bit difficult to not affect an adjacent axis from time to time... you have to be careful & think about it to much, I have mine set up to use the 4 way axis & another function when it's pulled all the way up, I find anything more than this to be problimatic for me with acidental triggers, but, even at that limited use I'd still say this is well worth it

ik632 · 06-22-2007, 02:41 PM

Very true, I guess my desk at work doesn't move around as much as the car would

There are a few of the SpaceTravelers on EBay for $100 or so. I'm debating on getting one those used or just buying a new SN. Are 6 more buttons worth it for $40 more?

turbocad6 · 06-22-2007, 02:51 PM

I guess that depends on you, I like extra buttons, but this can be done a number of ways really with keyboard emulators & stuff, & then the buttons can be how & where you want them, if you want them right there then that's an idea, but BE SURE that these softwares will also work with that one, might not, or might not have the extra buttons functionality anyway...

ironfinger · 06-27-2007, 01:38 AM

Hey cherrybomb, how's that driver coming along? just curious..

ik632 · 06-27-2007, 11:08 AM

ironfinger, that's pretty slick looking there. Is that in what used to be a cup holder or did you just attach it to the console?

ironfinger · 06-27-2007, 12:58 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by ik632

ironfinger, that's pretty slick looking there. Is that in what used to be a cup holder or did you just attach it to the console?

I attached it to the console. Unfortunately the seat heater switches that were there had to go bye bye.. but why the heck would I need seat heaters in Socal

cherrybomb · 06-30-2007, 01:00 AM

Hey all,

Lots of activity on this topic!

The driver is actually making some significant progress. I've been expanding it for another project I'm working on (I think I've mentioned that already).

Unfortunately things have been a bit crazy around here. Lots of family activity, sister getting married, uncle moved back into town, wife and I having a baby in December, etc. And I've been working on actually getting my CarPC and sound system setup. So the project hasn't gotten the attention it deserves.

Hopefully, in the next couple weeks, when things slow down a bit, I can make a new binary for download. I promise it'll be worth it, as it'll handle gestures (quite well I might add), and context switching, as well as a few other little bits.

I intend to do a bit more refining after this next release, which will include (turbocad6, you listening?) the ability to support other HID devices, in particular the other 3dConnexion devices like the space traveler.

I realized that the app is really built in such a way that it should be able to handle input from just about any device, and take action based on it's input, so that's the route it's going. :-)

So yeah, long winded post, but there is still life in this project. I've noticed some people have abandoned this for other input devices, including the Haptic tactile feedback device discussed here, so I'm glad there is still some interest in it.

My own solution is likely going to include the Space Navigator, a mouse like those found in the IBM notepads (little joystick/nub), a custom ALPS encoder solution I worked up, and the touchscreen, and maybe one day the Haptic device linked above. Of course, I'll probably refine that when I actually get everything in my vehicle and see how it works!

ironfinger · 06-30-2007, 08:20 PM

I'm very much looking forward to it, I believe the haptic project is dead in the waters. I already cut a huge hole in my center console for the space navigator so I'm sticking with ya cherrybomb.

turbocad6 · 07-01-2007, 12:28 AM

I'm listening

sounds friggin awesome

ik632 · 07-03-2007, 07:07 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by ironfinger

I attached it to the console. Unfortunately the seat heater switches that were there had to go bye bye.. but why the heck would I need seat heaters in Socal

It looks like you removed the top section from the metal weighted bottom?

But, I just ordered my SN so it should be here by the end of the week. Now, my problem is figuring out where to mount it in my 02 Civic Si (the one with the shifter in the dash and no real center console).