Multi axis foot pedals?

[Roger Horton]

I was just thinking of the following whacky idea when I read Chris Bryant's
e-mail on this topic:

<start of whacky idea>

Why not build something based on computer mouse technology?  Indeed, take a
look at
http://www.footmouse.com/picture.htm
for a real computer mouse (mice) for foot control!

I just took a look inside my M£******t mouse and it appears to have:
a ball driving two optical-slit transducers at right-angles to each other;
a plastic wheel that not only acts as a switch when depressed, but sends out
a signal when it is rolled along one axis;
plus two other button-operated switches.  I have no idea what the M£ chip
generates for the PC, but one could use that for a prototype, or just take
the general ideas from the construction, and build something more solid.

<End of whacky idea>

Perhaps someone has already done work for disabled people to allow them to
control computers directly or control other devices with foot operated midi
units?

Roger
> ----------
> From: 	Chris Bryant[SMTP:bryantrv at totcon.com]
> Sent: 	05 October 1999 18:49
> To: 	synth-diy
> Subject: 	Re: Multi axis foot pedals?
> 
> At 11:50 PM 10/4/99 -0500, Grant Richter wrote:
> >One of my buddies who is a guitar player recently got
> >a modular synthesizer to process his guitar with.
> >He asked me to help him come up with a controller
> >he can use on stage without taking his hands off the guitar.
> 
> 
>     Great ideas here- also, how about playing with no shoes? A three
> button
> "foot mouse"?
> 
> *****************************************************
> 	Chris Bryant, DeLand, Florida, USA
>