Send Pc Keystroke from wall mounted button

[mark_anderson_us]

Hi All
 
I'm working on a project where I need a wall mounted button that will send a (preferably configurable) keystroke to a PC over USB
 
Googled the heck out of it and can't find a solution.
 
Anyone got any ideas? (Can't be too expensive)
 
Thanks
 
Mark

 

[RAL]

You could probably do this with a Raspberry Pi or Arduino without too much trouble or cost if you are willing to write a bit of code.

 

[iostream212]

What about event ghost? I have a wall button that triggers a program and controls a pc via my isy and event ghost. What are you playing with?

 

[TonyNo]

There are MAME boards for this...
 
http://www.ultimarc.com/ipacve.html

 

[RAL]

There are MAME boards for this...
 
http://www.ultimarc.com/ipacve.html

 
I had no idea these existed.  Sure seems like the right solution to the OP's problem!

 

[jhdale]

Also http://xkeys.com/PIComponents/EncoderBoards.php or http://xkeys.com/xkeys/xkswi.php
Can simulate the press of a single key or any combination of keys, joystick buttons, mouse buttons, etc.

 

[mark_anderson_us]

There are MAME boards for this...
 
http://www.ultimarc.com/ipacve.html

Thanks. Had seen these, but a bit pricey for a single button application

 

[mark_anderson_us]

Also http://xkeys.com/PIComponents/EncoderBoards.php or http://xkeys.com/xkeys/xkswi.php
Can simulate the press of a single key or any combination of keys, joystick buttons, mouse buttons, etc.

Bit pricey for what I need, but interesting. I guess "assistive technology" was one of the phrases I was struggling to come up with when googling

 

[TonyNo]

Can you solder, and, do you have a spare keyboard?

 

[mark_anderson_us]

Can you solder, and, do you have a spare keyboard?

Yes to both. I want the entire "device" to fit inside a single gang electrical box. Most keyboards I've seen have circuti boards that are way too big. I discovered a the Teensy (arduino based), which is $19 and I've worked with arduino in past, so that may be the way to go

 

[TonyNo]

Smaller version...
 
http://www.ultimarc.com/minipac.html
 
Maybe another hacking option is a small, USB, 10-key pad.
 
http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/926467/HP-Ultra-Mini-USB-Numeric-Keypad/

 

[tmbrown97]

I was thinking the keypad.
 
Or the arcade controller above really seems like the ideal solution - sure it may cost $16 more but if your time is worth anything at all is that a huge deal?
 
Or cheaper but doable: http://www.adafruit.com/products/199
 
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Brand-New-Zero-Delay-Arcade-USB-Encoder-PC-to-Joystick-for-MAME-HAPP-Fight-Stick-Controls/941345749.html

 

[hedg12]

Looks like a Teensy 3.1 board would do it if you don't mind the time/effort to upload the code to it. It's small and cheap, too.

 

[mark_anderson_us]

Thanks guys
 
I'm gonna go with the Teensy