Video: Arduino-powered touchpad mimics iPod volume control

We've seen every manner of touchpad -- multitouch, gesture recognition, no touch, LCD trackpads -- if you can think of it, somebody has probably done a version of it. Take this particular one for example, which just might rank below even the touchscreen GBA in terms of practical usefulness -- though, it's not as if utility is a prerequisite of joviality, right? If you've been neglecting that DIY muscle of late, you owe it to yourself to check out the video beyond the break, which shows that a humble touchpad can learn new tricks. Oh, and if you feel extra inspired, the read link contains another video plus the necessary code for making the light show happen. Don't say we never gave you anything.

[Via Hack A Day]

[sschueller Posted Jul 27th 2009 2:02PM]

Why is this on Engadget? I like hacks but this isn't one.

[Hckngrtfakt Posted Jul 27th 2009 2:21PM]

Slow news day .....

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 30th 2009 3:31PM]

Because of the magic "i".

[hjfast Posted Jul 27th 2009 2:06PM]

man, this was on hackaday ages ago. Still very cool though.

[erwin Posted Jul 27th 2009 2:24PM]

wow...!

[drkmstr6 Posted Jul 27th 2009 2:27PM]

Like... i guess its cool and all because he did it himself...

You would think that he would add some sort of effect other than just lights going up and down tho.

[HammerT Posted Jul 27th 2009 2:35PM]

It responds on the same spot everytime (on the bottom of the pad)

[KGB Posted Jul 27th 2009 2:52PM]

Haha! I just noticed that as well.... this is a failure mod of the week.

[Indyaner Posted Jul 27th 2009 2:53PM]

I think too, that he could also simply run his finger on the bottom from left ro right or from right zu left to gain the same experiance.

[stridermt2k Posted Jul 27th 2009 2:41PM]

Hacker smoke.

-don't breathe this!

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 27th 2009 3:38PM]

can i haz?

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 27th 2009 8:51PM]

this is a lame hack. borrowing the code from virtual scroll ring and anyone can do that...