I spotted the RCA GAMEWARE(tm) universal remote/Playstation2 interface bundle in a drugstore. Does anyone know anything about hacking the Playstation2 controller interface? Could this be the inexpensive basis for multifunction remote control device interfacing we've all been (at least I have been) waiting for?
. . . short description of the product (first item at top of page)
. . . better page with a . . . big piccie . . . and the direct jpeg link . . .
* . . . wonders how to connect this sucker to one of the CueCat carcasses smothered in a 2 gallon zip-loc bag? :ebc: *
jt
what exactly do you want it to do? I mean, you asked about "hacking it". what do you want to "hack it" to do?
. . . hrmmm . . . :? . . . I was just doing a lil' musing and before taking it over the top . . . I guess I thought I'd ask if any other lunatics out there see possibilities in this particular toy. WTD . . . lessee! :ebc: . . . if I ever get a CC to play with . . . or try to finish up the MultiMediaClassic(tm) I started . . . then I'd kinda like to use something like this to input hotkey combos and scripts to a USB or ADB KBD controller I/O wedge for:
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mpegdec remote control . . .
changing video inputs and other stuff Apple left out of the AVP/Remote Control interface . . .
playing qued up MPEGs from a folder or a hotlist . . .
do the same thing with jpegs and music for a picture frame/screensaver . . .
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dunno . . . that's all the imagry that flashed thru the ole'noggin' . . . then I started typing to finish posting . . . and the downshift into verbal mode interrupted the stream . . .
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jt =8-/
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p.s. finding out if anybody has hacked the PS2 interface or has some primo links was probably what I was doing . . . dunno . . . hacks are suposed to be useful? =8-0
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p.p.s. YO! T.O. the forum code seems to be stripping out repeated carriage returns, at least in the preview window . . . whatever . . . that's an important txt formatting convention . . .
i dunno, while there are ways to hook the reciever for this up to a computer (does this go into a controller port or a USB port on the PS2?), the problem would be software. How will your computer interpret the signal from this remote? Having never done anything liek this, i cant oofer much advice. Tho, if the computer you are hooking this up to has USB, why not just go for one of those IR multimedia remotes?
I know what you're saying, or at least I think I do. It would be nice to have a universial remote that would work with your mac and tv and other equipment.
This is possible. First head over to lik-sang.com and pick up a SmartJoy PS2 to usb converter. Here is a PS2 to xbox converter (xbox is really just usb, can make your own usb to xbox cable or purchase one).
http://www.lik-sang.com/info.php?category=160&products_id=1860&
That will let the physical interface attach to your Mac. Then google for and install USB Overdrive. This will let you control what happens to your Mac when you press the buttons on the remote.
Should work.
ok, so my suggestion may not be as hacktacular as using a PS2 remote, but the same thing can be achieved with this devidce:
http://www.macally.com/spec/usb/input_device/keypads.html
it is a little expensive (at least for a college student (like me))
. . . keep 'em coming!
I especially liked this one in combo with USB overdrive:
http://www.lik-sang.com/info.php?category=160&products_id=1860&
$40-50 total for something as flexible as this could turn out to be sounds promising for PCI architecture Macs. However, I'm probably most interested in the hackery itself as a learning process.
This is especially true in the case of older Macs from the NuBus era and an ADB interface. I much prefer such playtoys as a suitable hacks medium (. . . erm . . . read cheap as dirt! :ebc:) and especially for the utility of the 630 era Video and MPEG subsystems for AV playtime/hackery.
Think of it as . . . :? . . . maybe a handicapped bowling league . . . formula auto racing or maybe yachting classifications?
NuBus/68030 PDS era Mac technology seems like the perfect balance of near utility, near zero cost availability, documentation of fair avaiability at a level very near to that of comprehensibility, nearly visible PCB tracery and its position as nearly the last bastion of component level tomfoolery.
jt