[Athen] Remote for powering on computer?

[Doug Hayman]

There is this product for PCs:

http://www.minomech.com/Prod_ME_PJ.html



Doug Hayman <dhayman at u.washington.edu>
Technology Specialist
DO-IT Program (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, Technology)
UW Technology Services
Box 355670
Seattle, WA 98195
(206) 221-4165
http://www.washington.edu/doit

On Fri, 18 Apr 2008, Dan Comden wrote:


> The problem with modern computers is that the on/off switch isn't really a

> switch that controls power like a light switch in the wall. It relays a

> signal to the power supply to turn on. If you think about how we turn on a

> laptop or modern desktop computer, it's a button that you press

> momentarily -- it doesn't save what "state" it's in but passes a brief

> signal to the machine's power supply to power up. And that feature is also

> why you can shut down the computer via a software command -- you're not

> activating a physical switch. So even if you put a switch on the floor

> that controls standard power via the cord that connects to the computer,

> activating it won't turn on the machine unless that leetle button on the

> case can then be activated.

>

> Putting that momentary switch on the floor or closer to the table edge or

> wherever is slightly more complicated. Someone who is savvy with soldering

> and dealing with wiring could extend the case wiring to a momentary floor

> switch. With a motherboard manual I don't think it'd be that hard.

>

> Most electrical engineering type folks on a campus could probably rig

> something pretty easily. I haven't seen a commercially available device

> that will do this ... yet. If it exists, I'm sure someone will chime in.

>

> -*- Dan Comden			danc at washington.edu

>     Access Technology Lab	http://www.washington.edu/computing/atl/

>     University of Washington    UW Technology Services

>

>

> On Fri, 18 Apr 2008, Gaeir Dietrich wrote:

>

>> Hi Shawn!

>>

>> Maybe I'm missing something, but if there is ability use the lower body,

>> couldn't you just rig a knee or foot switch for her?

>>

>> ******************************************************

>> Gaeir (rhymes with "fire") Dietrich

>> High Tech Center Training Unit of the

>> California Community Colleges

>> De Anza College, Cupertino, CA

>> www.htctu.net

>> 408-996-6043

>>

>>  _____

>>

>> From: athen-bounces at athenpro.org [mailto:athen-bounces at athenpro.org] On

>> Behalf Of Shawn Foster

>> Sent: Friday, April 18, 2008 2:23 PM

>> To: 'Access Technologists in Higher Education Network'

>> Subject: [Athen] Remote for powering on computer?

>>

>>

>>

>> I have a student with limited mobility in her upper body and arms. She'd

>> really like to find a remote control that can turn her computer off and on

>> at home (she has an assistant while in classes or labs). I thought of using

>> a simple remote switch, but that only works when the device can be left in

>> the "on" position and the power source connected or disconnected (like a

>> lamp). She uses a Mac, so using a scheduled start up/shut down sequence is

>> certainly possible... but not quite what she's looking for. She'd like to

>> minimize power usage when she's not using the computer, and her schedule

>> isn't always predictable, so really a remote would be ideal.

>>

>>

>>

>> I've been running through the web and still haven't found what I'm looking

>> for (with a nod to Bono)...

>>

>>

>>

>> Anyone know of such a thing?

>>

>> Thanks, all.

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>> Shawn Foster

>> Assistive Technology Specialist

>>

>> Disability Services for Students

>> Southern Oregon University

>> V/TTY: (541)552-6213

>>

>>

>

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