Dec6

virtual keyboard for linux

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Linux can control the mouse and keyboard from the command line using a tool I found called xvkbd. There are many such tools for linux but this is the only one I found that can move the pointer.

The reason I need such a tool is that I plan to use voice control and use a script to navigate the screen.

Being able to use the mouse and make it click will allow me to kind of script actions and have non voice aware programs be controlled with voice.

xvkbd is in many distributions, however in ubuntu the mouse stuff seems broken. The revision is up to date, but I had to go get the source and compile it in order for the mouse to work.

Oct11

My car voltage read 9.5V today

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I was hoping the M2-ATX would shut off the rail at 11.0V but appparantly it doesn’t. I’ll probably have to change the setting to some value with a hard off instead of using never.

Oct10

I should have thought of this before.

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In optimizing my bios, the key things I did was disable automatic drive detection. Also, any features that had options that included auto I made sure to select from the list instead of using the auto option.

Oct10

Finally got the permanent installation of the wiring done in my car

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It was a bit of a pain, but at least it isn’t snowing yet and the temperature was still above 60f. I would guess it took me about an hour or two. What this means is that now instead of having the 12v going to both the 12v and acc connectors on the m2atx the 12v has 12v and the acc is now connected to a proper 12v switched line for the car.

I have the m2-atx set to 3 hours before it powers off, and to never shut off the +5v. I’ll have to see if this is a good idea. I think now that the power supply will see no voltage on the acc line that it will automatically shut down when the voltage goes below 11v. I’m still trying to understand the logic of the m2-atx. I don’t know why they couldn’t just have an option to keep it powered all the time unless the voltage drops to low. I don’t get this whole time thing I could care less if it is only on for 15 minutes or 30 minutes after I just of the key. I would like it to stay on as long as it can. This way I can go to baseball games etc and if I have a large enough battery the computer would be where I left it when I get back.

Sep29

Bought some stuff for carputer2

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I purchased an atom 330 m/b, a 2.5″ hard drive, a case, and an m2-atx. I should get the parts by monday then I’m going to migrate my stuff over to the new box. I think I ended up spending about $300.00 for the stuff. I’ll update the carputer page eventualy (I hope).

Sep26

Switching out my computer.

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I went to mini-box and bought some components I’m going to throw in to replace the dell optiplex sx260.

I ordered the following components. The total cost including shipping was just shy of $250.00

2GB DDR2 Memory
P4-12V to P4-12V Cable for M2-ATX
M2-ATX
Intel D945GCLF2D mini-ITX Atom 2×1.6Ghz
M350 Universal Mini-ITX enclosure

I’m curious to see how the dual atom does compared to the p4 2.8ghz of the dell.

Sep15

I wish I could do this!

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A friend of mine is putting some extra juice into his Honda Insight hybrid. It allows him to recharge his hybrid battery with a pack that he can charge from his house outlets.

It is a really cool set up that he is documenting at insight central. Information on the product he is using can be found at www.enginer.us

I highly encourage anyone that likes playing with electronics to read about what he is doing.

Sep5

Finally got speechlion working.

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I had a problem setting the variables to point to the jython path. I thought the jython path was the same as where jython.jar was. I was wrong it was the /usr/share/jython and not /usr/shar/java where jython.jar is.

speechlion is having problems understanding my commands. I’m going to see if I can train sphinx to understand me better.

Sep5

Problem with mouse just going up and down fixed

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This isn’t a problem with the touch screen, but with a mini keyboard that has a built in touchpad. When I moved the mouse left or right the cursor went up and down. Going up and down did nothing. Clicking the left mouse button moved the cursor right a few pixels.

What I had to do was to edit /etc/modules.d/blacklist.conf and blacklist usbmouse and uncomment usbhid

I’m not sure if it is going to make the touchscreen stop working though. I’ll have to wait a few days to try it out. I took my system out of my car while the mechanics have a look at my transmission.

Aug26

$500 up in smoke.

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One of my amps in my car literally went up in smoke. I’m not sure what caused it, it could just be overheating or something, but it was pouring out smoke. I’m not sure what I’m going to do to replace it. I don’t have that kind of money anymore.