Araam (Kannada/Hindi) means 'comfort'. This software helps to use the computer with araam.
- A software which makes a game controller performs the actions of both a keyboard and a mouse
- The softwares operates in 2 modes:
- Keyboard mode
- Mouse mode
- A new way of Human-Computer-Interaction (HCI)
- Makes it easier to control the computer using just the game controller
- There might be a learning curve to get familiar with the software, but after that, it becomes more comfortable to use than a keyboard and a mouse
- This software can also be used as an accessibility feature, especially for people with difficulty in using the keyboard and the mouse
The Dpad buttons and the left shoulder button are used as modifier keys. The keyboard layout is divided into 7 sections, each of them comprising of 4 keys. The modifier keys lets the user focus on one of these sections, and then X, Y, B, A buttons can be used to select a character. In each of the sections, X, Y, B, A buttons are mapped to the keys in a clockwise manner. Even the modifier buttons used for focusing on the sections are mapped in a similar way. This makes it easier and intuitive to remember the key combinations.
- Douglas Engelbart, the inventor of the computer mouse, invented the first chorded keyboard in 1968 at what is often called The Mother Of All Demos.
- Today, there are many alternatives to using the conventional keyboard, like keyer and stenotype.
- Microsoft has designed and patented a radial keyboard for typing with the Xbox controller.
Note : This project is yet to be made open-source.
- Press start and back simultaneously to switch between keyboard and mouse modes
- Hold down start and back buttons for a short period of time to exit the software
Program is written in Python with the help of the following amazing tools:
Keyboard photo by mrsiraphol - www.freepik.com
Xbox controller icons by Nicolae (Xelu) Berbece from OpenGameArt.org
Xbox controller image by Tam'z Peeranat from www.pexels.com