[Athen] Remote for powering on computer?

[Wink Harner]

Hi All,

I too am fond of inventive mechanical things on the fly...like how I rigged
up a left-footed gas pedal after losing the use of my right leg...Taped (I
LOVE electrical tape!) a piece of PVC pipe cross-wise over the gas pedal.
It ran under the brake pedal and with an elbow connection & a bit more pipe
+ a spring which angled against the floor board, I created something that
worked fine. I did not realize at the time that there actually WAS a legitimate
(and legal) left footed gas pedal available! I now have a "real" one (which
makes me legal-er for driving).

Smile.

I love to hear the inventions we all come up with! What an inspiration you
all are.

Wink




>-- Original Message --

>Date: Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:44:29 -0700 (Pacific Daylight Time)

>From: Dan Comden <danc at washington.edu>

>To: Access Technologists in Higher Education Network <athen at athenpro.org>

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

>Reply-To: Access Technologists in Higher Education Network <athen at athenpro.org>

>

>

>Yes, your idea would work fine -- I like low tech. Would be necessary to

>

>make sure that whatever rubber band masterpiece is used doesn't push the

>

>button down all the time, as that would just put the computer into a reset

>

>state meaning it'd never start.

>

>The problem with many cases is that the power switch is in a very 

>inconvenient location on the case. The Mac Mini springs to mind here.

>

>As a side note, for folks who are energy conscious -- this type of power

>

>button illustrates well why just turning off many electrical devices these

>

>days doesn't keep them from continuing to consume small amounts of power.

>

>You've turned it "off" but it's sitting there ready to be turned back on

>

>by one of these secondary switches and there is still power trickling into

>

>the power supply. Your television works this way, your DVD player, your



>computer, etc. In order to completely eliminate a device's power usage,



>one must physically cut the connection to electricity, either via 

>unplugging it completely or using a 2nd switch such as a power strip. If

>

>one goes this route, an unintended consequence is that some of these 

>devices have memories (my tv at home is like this) that lose all their 

>information when you sever them from the grid.

>

>I love the story about the homebrew brake control!

>

>-*- 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:

>

>> 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...

>

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Ms. Wink Harner
Manager
Disability Resources & Services
Mesa Community College
Mesa AZ

480-461-7447