Date   : Sat, 22 May 2004 11:37:13 +0100
From   : "Barrie Ellis" <dobre@...>
Subject: BBC Micro accessibility project...

Hi all,

I've a not for profit BBC B project about to start, that I hope someone
out there can help me with.

I've adapted a number of fun things for a disabled boy I know, including
a Playstation controller
(www.oneswitch.org.uk/4/DIY/playstation-pc.htm). These adaptations allow
external on/off switches to be connected via 3.5mm mono headphone style
sockets, giving him greater independent control over things using his
head. He can use up to three switches with his head at a time.

He's desperate to independently play some quiz games like Who Wants to
be a Millionaire and the Weakest Link, but the number of switches on the
Playstation game needed makes this impossible with these games (up,
down, left, right, select, menu toggle).


I've got some clue on how to do it, thanks to some help from Paul
Granjon:

1) 2 external switches (for stepping through on screen menus and to
select)

2) Interface box (analogue port - 2x 3.5mm mono sockets)
3) Software for choosing the control you want to activate
4) Output box (user port - using a Darlington array and Relays) with
leads to connect to switch adapted devices

5) Adapted Playstation controller


Two things I need help with to start me off:

a) Could anyone please lend/give/sell/swap me a 3.5" disk drive to get
going with this project?
b) Does anyone know the limit of external switches I could control with
this method?

Many thanks in advance,

Barrie
OneSwitch.org.uk