[Athen] Remote for powering on computer?

[Shawn Foster]

I should have been more specific, I think. She has brittle bone disease, and her lower extremities are even more limited than upper. I have been thinking along the low-tech lines, as well, Gaeir... was just hoping that someone knew of a remote gadget I wasn't able to find. The "cool" factor is important to this student. 
 
I looked through Instructables ( http://www.instructables.com/ ), too, and still didn't find anything that fit the bill. Darn it, somebody else besides me has to think that a remote control to turn on your computer is a good idea! If I can start my car with a remote, why can't my student start her computer the same way?
 
Doug, the Power Jack looks very promising for PC users. I have another student this may be helpful for, so thanks for the lead!
 
Sigh. Maybe I'll have some brilliant idea this weekend.
sf
 
Shawn Foster
Assistive Technology Specialist
Disability Services for Students
Southern Oregon University
V/TTY: (541)552-6213



>>> On 4/18/2008 at 4:26 PM, in message <00a001c8a1ab$b17f7920$9a821299 at htctu.fhda.edu>, "Gaeir Dietrich" <gdietrich at htctu.net> wrote:

Oops, I said "switch," but I wasn't using the term properly. I'm afraid I
was thinking more low tech...mechanical engineering, rather than electrical.


Tower on the floor, something strapped to the case that would hold a
rubberized tip against the actual button and a bigger button hooked to that
so that one could just lean on it with a knee or foot or whatever. 

Kind of like how a friend of mine who needed a hand control to use the brake
in a vehicle would rig one with a C-clamp attached to the brake, PVC tubing
extending from the clamp, and rubber bands to hold the tubing to the
steering column. Sounds funky, worked great, allowed him to rent cars.

Although, I have to say, I was always a bit surprised that the rental places
never asked any questions...

******************************************************
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

-----Original Message-----
From: athen-bounces at athenpro.org [mailto:athen-bounces at athenpro.org] On
Behalf Of Dan Comden
Sent: Friday, April 18, 2008 4:18 PM
To: Access Technologists in Higher Education Network
Subject: Re: [Athen] Remote for powering on computer?

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 Comdendanc at washington.edu 
     Access Technology Labhttp://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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