JediPad_XP_Code

=JediPad=

The red bobbles are [|TrackPoints] The thing with the grey wire tubing attached is the gyroscopes for another GyroPoint mouse you can't see it, but there is a rumble unit in there also.

If you're not pressing any of the TrackPoints, it is inactive. As of yet I've only programmed functionality for the left most TrackPoint... watch this space!
 * How to use it!**

Push gently on it.

The cursor appears, like this:



The cursor is a magnifying glass and a circle. Moving the pad causes a the cursor to move around the screen. this movement is caught by two gyroscopes. Point straight ahead of you. now lift your arm until you're pointing at the sky. notice your finger has rotated 90 degrees around the x axis. now point straight forward, and sweep your arm into your pointing to your left. again the finger has rotated - this time around the vertical axis. it is these rotations the gyroscopes pick up.
 * How?**

pressing the TrackPoint harder does three things. 1. it makes the cursor slow down. 2. the magnification increases 3. it makes the circle get smaller. when the circle becomes a dot, the Menu is launched. Like this:

The Menu spins out from the centre.

Releasing the TrackPoint will make it disappear.

To select an item, push the TrackPoint in that direction The red line shows the force vector of your push

As you approach an item its icon changes This demonstration shows three menu items ( left click, right-click and double-click ) I will over time make more menus for the other buttons, to encompass all the common keys used in Windows navigation ; a single menu can have unlimited items, and there is the possibility of nesting menus within menus.

I should point out a nice consequence of this design. a beginner will want to wait of the menu has unfolded before making a selection. but once you have done that a few dozen times, your thumb knows which direction to go in, so you just push that directions straightaway. as you're pushing down as well, that triggers the cursor to spawn the menu, but instantly the Menu code detects the direction of your press and performs the appropriate action without even displaying the menu. so there is no visual clutter once you have learnt what does what.

The Controller contains a rumble unit. this is coded to give a little jolt as the cursor spawns the menu. this is to replace that nice feeling of ' click' when you click the mouse. actually it is nicer. the second feedback occurs when you select an item. it measures the accuracy of your directional press. if you were inaccurate it gives a 'Chuga chuga' like a motorbike failing to start. if you are within 5 degrees, is goes rrRRRRmmmmm, like a motorbike starting properly.
 * buzz-feedback**