Home Treatment for Repetitive Stress Injury

I spent Saturday at the Maker Faire in San Mateo, and found some cool related tutorials for modifying your own computer input devices like mice and scroll wheels. Some of them don’t require much electronics savvy, while others are serious mods that need a few tools and some background. Either way, they’re fun to browse and might inspire you!

Check ‘em out:

• Making a Multi-Touch Trackpad — good video of the process. I’d so make one if I didn’t already have a wacom and touchpad.
• Making your own USB Scroll Wheel — Video, and Instructions, and some Spanish language Instructions
• Hacking Mice to Control Cameras in 3d Space — list of Links and How-to Instructions
• Making your own Laptop Stand — Here are variations of a laptop holder made by using a plastic letter holder, PCV, or even a paper towel holder from Ikea.
• Make your own Roll-up keyboard — Want a keyboard that rolls up like a portable yoga mat? Instructables has the tutorial for making one, all you need is a usb keyboard, some nuts and a screwdriver.
• Make your own Vertical Keyboard– This one requires you to start with an ergonomic semi-vertical keyboard but makes it more customized and adjustable.

Also at the Maker Faire, I demo’d a couple new computer input devices. In one, kids used a modified Sharpie pen, against a white screen, to draw into a computer Paint program being projected onto the screen.

At the same booth, they were also demo’ing a 3D input device, using sensors mounted on either side of clear eyeglasses, to move around the computer screen. A camera up front tracks distance and place of the glasses and you can move around on a 3d grid on-screen. Useful for pilots and other 3D simulations. Also reminded me of a cooler version of the mouse-like device that uses a dot on your forehead to track movements.

In the future though, we might not need sensors and buttons and scroll bars — there are companies like NeuroSky who are experimenting with thought-controlled mechanical devices and robotics, translating brainwaves into signals. Check this out, it looks like fun and very useful too.

Related posts:

1. Alternative Ergonomic Mice–the Comprehensive Guide
2. Guide to Non-Mice: Alternative Pointing Devices
3. Improve Your Mousing Style: How to Click and Point More Comfortably
4. MacSpeech Releases New Dictation Software, Licensing Dragon Technology
5. Using Cloth Grocery Bags to Relieve Arm Pain