This is a really interesting project that uses an AVR micro-controller to create a 1-key keyboard. I can think of a thousand uses for this type of device.
The idea for a 1-key keyboard comes from the need as an interaction designer to make “cheap, quick and dirty prototypes.” When creating a quick screen-based demo in e.g. Adobe Flash, a common way of quickly prototyping physical actions is to assign actions to certain key presses on a keyboard. In more advanced prototypes, physical hacks to the circuit board from a keyboard are also often used to interface custom buttons and switches with a computer.
More about making The 1-key-keyboard project [About Microcontrollers]
In the Maker Shed:
Arduino Mini Board, fully assembled
10 thoughts on “The 1-key-keyboard project”
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I built previously device with the same functions :-D for the awakening pc with a wireless keyboard.
http://www.kabinet.cz/stuff/hw/wake_up_button/
This is rather interesting, but just to let you know, you spelled “create” wrong…it is spelled “crate”. Unless you meant for it to be spelled crate…in that case I am just being plain ol stupid.
@Sushi
Thanks!
for a minimal computer interface for someone who cannot use their fingers/hands. You could use morse code to enter text into a word processor program, etc.
I got commissioned for one of these in 2002…back then, it was a lot harder. Still have a couple thousand lines of assembly code somewhere…
More recently, I used the same HID code as in this project. The result was the CapsLocker: http://www.macetech.com/blog/node/46
On today’s site, there are some comments about zener diodes and “Flip” ended up removing them from the design. They were being used in series, in forward mode…gets the job done, but normal diodes would work. However, a better use is to put them on the communication lines. This will allow the device to work with more computers, as discovered by commenters on my CapsLocker page.