[Athen] Remote for powering on computer?

E.A. Draffan ea at emptech.info
Sat Apr 19 01:40:32 PDT 2008


Ok this is what I found a few years ago and it is still on the EmpTech
database - Tower Power http://www.acctinc.ca/?articleID=5 Not sure if that
is what you want!

Best wishes E.A.


-----Original Message-----
From: athen-bounces at athenpro.org [mailto:athen-bounces at athenpro.org] On
Behalf Of Gaeir Dietrich
Sent: 19 April 2008 00:27
To: 'Access Technologists in Higher Education Network'
Subject: Re: [Athen] Remote for powering on computer?

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 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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