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Author Topic: Pointing device for kids  (Read 3653 times)

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Offline vils

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Pointing device for kids
« on: Sat, 02 May 2009, 06:49:19 »
My 4 year old is having trouble in using my mouse. I found an old Microsoft TrackBall, seemed good but alas with serial connection. Serial to USB adapters costs a fortune and I don't know if the trackball works or not.
Do you have any ideas of a good pointing device for a kid?
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Offline cchan

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Pointing device for kids
« Reply #1 on: Sat, 02 May 2009, 08:18:11 »
serial-USB adapters cost merely a few dollars. Check out dealextreme.com - free shipping worldwide.
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Offline cchan

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Pointing device for kids
« Reply #2 on: Sat, 02 May 2009, 11:24:20 »
ripster, Interesting. I've never had occasion to use a USB/serial adapter though. And I do remember using an EasyBall or something similar at age 4.

OP, maybe a Kensington Expert Mouse trackball would be good for your kid. It has a big ball so I think it woud be more user friendly.
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Offline huha

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Pointing device for kids
« Reply #3 on: Sat, 02 May 2009, 11:29:18 »
Almost no Serial-to-USB converter can cope with serial mice. If I recall correctly, they use a somewhat obscure data format or employ semi-realtime communication. I don't remember the details, but there was some technical reason most converters don't support it.

-huha
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Offline cchan

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Pointing device for kids
« Reply #4 on: Sat, 02 May 2009, 12:46:26 »
Quote from: ripster;88673
Hmm... if my calculations are correct you're too young to be looking at that Mickey Mouse picture.  Close your eyes.:baby:

Hah, found it on Ebay
http://cgi.ebay.com/MICROSOFT-MOUSE-EASYBALL-EASY-BALL-COMPUTER-LEARNING_W0QQitemZ120391082085QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Mice_Trackballs?hash=item1c07de2065&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50

- Ripster
I'm nearly seventeen, and trust me, I've seen worse at my high school. :P
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Offline vils

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Pointing device for kids
« Reply #5 on: Sun, 03 May 2009, 15:45:56 »
Thanks for all input. If I were to buy an expensive serial-usb converter thatpossibly could cope with this, do you have any recommendations?
If not I think I'll just buy a new trackball, or maybe build a new comp around a mobo with serial port.
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Offline Manyak

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Pointing device for kids
« Reply #6 on: Sun, 03 May 2009, 16:01:09 »
Quote from: vils;88869
Thanks for all input. If I were to buy an expensive serial-usb converter thatpossibly could cope with this, do you have any recommendations?
If not I think I'll just buy a new trackball, or maybe build a new comp around a mobo with serial port.

Or why don't you just get a PCI card? Those will add a native IRQ4/IRQ3 serial port, and work with anything.

Check here: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=Property&Subcategory=73&Description=&Type=&N=40000073&srchInDesc=&MinPrice=&MaxPrice=&PropertyCodeValue=1871%3A17618&PropertyCodeValue=1871%3A12434&PropertyCodeValue=1871%3A35383&PropertyCodeValue=1871%3A26951&PropertyCodeValue=1871%3A12436
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Offline IBI

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Pointing device for kids
« Reply #7 on: Sun, 03 May 2009, 16:15:53 »
You should also be able to find a PCMCIA/ExpressCard serial port if you're on a laptop.
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Offline vils

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Pointing device for kids
« Reply #8 on: Sun, 03 May 2009, 16:17:13 »
Your avatar (Manyak) tells me a bit about how stupid I'm feeling. Excellent solution, won't work on the laptop but my other comp has a spare PCI-slot.
Thanks again...

I prefer that he uses my wifes non laptop computer ;)
« Last Edit: Sun, 03 May 2009, 16:19:38 by vils »
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Offline vils

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Pointing device for kids
« Reply #9 on: Sun, 03 May 2009, 16:56:18 »
Quote from: ripster;88878
I like the way you think:lol:, any excuse for a new computer.

The serial card should work and if it doesn't they look pretty cheap.  The problem with the USB dongles was probably the IRQ issue.

- Ripster


Always looking for an excuse. And I have tonnes of computer crap lying around.

And OT,
My wife has typed intensivly on our Filco mini, brown cherries, all evening. I love that sound, and she loves typing on it.
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Offline Manyak

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Pointing device for kids
« Reply #10 on: Sun, 03 May 2009, 17:24:00 »
Yeah you know what...forget I mentioned the PCI card....just get one of these boards and you'll be set.
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Currently Owned:
Filco FKBN104MC/EB - Model M 1390131 \'86 - Model M 1391401 NIB - Unicomp Endurapro NIB - iRocks KR-6230 - Compaq MX-11800 - Cherry G80-8113HRBUS-2 - Cherry ML-4100 - Cherry MY-8000-something - Dell AT101W (Black) - ABS M1 - Siig Minitouch - Chicony KB-5181 w/ SMK Montereys - Chicony KB-5181 w/ SMK Montereys NIB - Cherry G80-3494LYCUS-2 - Deck Legend

Offline vils

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Pointing device for kids
« Reply #11 on: Sun, 03 May 2009, 17:29:29 »
Do you think he'll miss a kidney?
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It\'s the glass pipe fallacy. You can only believe that if you\'re on crack.

Offline Manyak

  • Posts: 295
Pointing device for kids
« Reply #12 on: Sun, 03 May 2009, 17:33:29 »
Quote from: vils;88890
Do you think he'll miss a kidney?


Nah, he's got a spare :laugh:
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Currently Owned:
Filco FKBN104MC/EB - Model M 1390131 \'86 - Model M 1391401 NIB - Unicomp Endurapro NIB - iRocks KR-6230 - Compaq MX-11800 - Cherry G80-8113HRBUS-2 - Cherry ML-4100 - Cherry MY-8000-something - Dell AT101W (Black) - ABS M1 - Siig Minitouch - Chicony KB-5181 w/ SMK Montereys - Chicony KB-5181 w/ SMK Montereys NIB - Cherry G80-3494LYCUS-2 - Deck Legend

Offline huha

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Pointing device for kids
« Reply #13 on: Sun, 03 May 2009, 18:38:45 »
Quote from: Manyak;88889
Yeah you know what...forget I mentioned the PCI card....just get one of these boards and you'll be set.


Do I see an iButton socket there?
That would be really great for 1-wire connectivity and doing all kinds of funky stuff.

-huha
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Unicomp Endurapro 105 (blank keycaps, BS) // Cherry G80-3000LSCDE-2 (blues, modded to green MX) // Cherry G80-3000LAMDE-0 (blacks, 2x) // Cherry G80-11900LTMDE-0 (blacks, 2x) // Compaq G80-11801 (browns) // Epson Q203A (Fujitsu Peerless) // IBM Model M2 (BS) // Boscom AS400 Terminal Emulator (OEM\'d Unicomp, BS, 2x) // Dell AT102DW (black Alps) // Mechanical Touch (chinese BS) Acer 6312-KW (Acer mechanics on membrane) // Cherry G84-4100 (ML) // Cherry G80-1000HAD (NKRO, blacks)

Offline vils

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Pointing device for kids
« Reply #14 on: Tue, 12 May 2009, 15:20:04 »
Today I realized that my wife's Intel Atom computer (I built just before christmas) did have a serial port and the track ball worked perfectly. Along with the ordinary Logitech wireless mouse.
Lesson: Never assume anything. Check.
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