Neotype: Haptic Computing

Just posted an Instructable on building a more simple version of a haptics only version of neotype

Check it out here-

http://www.instructables.com/id/Haptic-Comlink/

Truth be told, the video requirement has been torturing and distracting me from the project for a the past couple of weeks. (along with a few friends rallying for a local makerspace and other personal things :-)  

Honestly, I think a video is a great requirement for various reasons. There might be a bit underestimating of how much of a tall order it is however. Producing video that demonstrates complex ideas to a general audeance is a respectible skill. Doing so in under two minutes adds to the difficulty. Overall the time requirement is warrented, there is only so much time to review entries. All I'm trying to get at is that it should be no surprise that this requirement eliminates a lot of potential hack-a-day prize contestents or produces a lot of sub par videos.

Speaking of less than perfect videos. After much lamenting I just decide to cut one of my test takes for the prize entry video. Might shoot enother one, but I will be honest and say that I would rather have my nose down in the build than marketing a prototype product. Recently, built a watch form factor utilizing only the haptic components. Want to get things to a point where parts of Neotype can be used on a regular basis even if it is a less feature rich form. Going to consider doing more informal video updates that are under two minutes so information about the project can be deseminated in a more palatable way.  

With an Arduino Yun from

http://canada.newark.com

 I have started to build a wearable prototype. Still in the process of making a compatible version of the code, which for a short while, before adding connected functionality will work with all 32u4 based Arduinos. So far I really surprised how such different approaches can be taken to various IoT development boards like the Yun and Sparkcore. More details in the future.

Part of the reason that I got excited about the hack-a-day prize was the prospect of connecting with people that have similar passions about hardware and interface. So I like to ping folks that might want to talk about these things. Have found video chats to be to be much more interactive and productive for learning new things than forums or emails. If this interest you or you have questions about neotype in general please reach-out @inof8or (twitter, gmail) PaulBeaudet (facebook, gPlus). 

In the interest of hand free application of Neotype, the next babystep on the road map is making buttons and haptics pseudo-analog. Buttons are being refurbished with Velostat instead of tactile buttons. In this situation the pagers will be used to completely replace feedback. Quickly put together this really flat set of keys the other day

Okay, going to be honest and say that integrating multiple input types with each other is a bit complex to implement. (long hold & double & rocker)  Moving on to other things until that complexity is justified. I'll think of a better way to demo non-printables like arrow keys. Double clicks and rockers may be problem with fast typist anyhow. Although did some experimenting with "rocking" words together like "the" and found that it would be possible to produce words like "the" in one motion. Unfortunately my test implementation took a degree of expert timing that made it harder to make successful chords.

Took the improvements from issues caught in the process of testing double clicks and merged them to master. Going to switch the focus to connected applications to change the pace. Will attempt a function that fetches the time from the web, and another that receives short messages, sms if possible. 

I'm a big proponent of open source, whether it be software or hardware. Its one thing to call any project open source and another for it to really be so. Open source should be colorful attracting many types. Might those types be major players or bit contributors. 

This projects needs more colorful individuals to really be open source! In open source software contributors can reap clear benefits of feature additions and bug fixes. Hardware is sometimes less clear for various reasons, but the hack-a-day space prize gives us unique opportunity to share the glory in a successful hardware project.  

Major contributors to the Neotype project will get split potential winnings pirate booty style, subject to contest terms and prize types. Bit contributors will have pronounced attribution. All contributors will be considered to be subsidized with project hardware on a merit basis. Please contact with intentions and skills, we mostly need individuals passionate about empowering the differently abled. Right now, in the software department double clicks and rocker motions need to be integrated with long holds for the haptic prototype and experimentation needs to start with the 9DOF prototype variant. 

Thank you!

After a bit of trial and error the testing device now is capable of printing special characters and numbers. The implementation of this is efficient processing wise but it could use some improvement on the user side of things. 

Next on the list is adding 'gesture' or 'rocker motion' support for last bit of non-printables such as the arrow keys, tab, home, end PgUp, PgDown.