SpecialEffect's accessible GameBase

hi all, i have muscular dystrophy and haven't been able to play xbox or playstation game for a long time. I can still use a mouse and i used a onscreen keyboard to type this i play games on my pc so i still have fun. So i was reserching controler devices for the playstation 3 specificly and came across this video http://vimeo.com/7833054 that shows the head tracking system, i noticed that the laptop computer had all the buttons on it easily accessable, so in my case i wouldnt necisarily need the headtracking equipment but just use the program like an onscreen keyboard (a onscreen ps3 controler in games would be awsome) is this some i could do?

need more details/clarifiction just ask, by the way this is awsome stuff you all are doing.

thanks in advance

Hi,

Firstly welcome to the site!

I'll briefly explain what is going on in the video so you get an idea of how it works (and how relatively complex it is!)

The tablet computer has an infra-red controller attached which is comunicating to the infra-red on the PS2. This is done using software such as The Grid 2 or Communicator 4 and programming various 'buttons' on the screen to activate various infra-red signals. To 'teach' the infra-red on the computer you need to directly copy the signals from a ps2 remote control.

To use this technique on a PS3 you would need an infra-red remote with dongle as PS3's use bluetooth: e.g. such as: http://www.overstock.com/Books-Movies-Music-Games/Nyko-Technologies-Blue-Wave-Infrared-Remote-for-PS3/3408830/product.html?cid=133635

I never found the time to work on this as much as I would have hoped, but as you have noticed it certainly looks promising.

Next step is to try it with an iphone, which would certainly be cheaper for those who could use one: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/02/ir-dongle-turns-iphone-into-universal-remote/

Any more questions, please ask.

Bill

so basicly the ps3 remote or the iphone is just mimicing the signals the actual ps3 controler gives off, and the ps3 cant tell the difference. i dont think i could use the iphone or the ps3 remote, or are they just needed as a device that gives of the needed signal? so then the complicated part is making the computer tell the remote what to do,then the remote telling the ps3 what to do, which requires some software. am i understanding that right?

thanks in advance

Exactly. The remote control in used to 'teach' the infra-red device attached to the computer the commands required.

Therefore, with the PS2 as most of the games can be played with the d-pad as these commands are available on a PS2 remote to 'teach' the infra-red device.

With a PS3 only games which use the d-pad (or that can be remapped to the d-pad) rather than the left analog can be played with this method.

In the case of the iphone, there is an app which works in the same way as the Grid 2 or communicator 4 software, to allow you to create your own layout of interface aswell as store the infra-red commands.

To clarify, to control a Playstation with a pc you would need the softwrae to build the interface and store the infra-red commands and an infra-red device to 'teach' and give out the the commands learnt from a Playstation remote.

Bill

Hi

There maybe a more cost-effective way of using the ps3 with a Philips Pronto remote. This is off the top of my head but if you have the ps3 ir remote, you could teach the the pronto the ir codes (similar to above) but then create your own layout on the device to suit your needs. It's been ages I set up my brother's pronto but I was able to trigger the signals using their software but things may have changed...

Have you much ability in your fingers may I ask?

Shaz