Hey, Robin here - the OP. Happy to answer any questions you might have about the software, hooking it up to your existing equipment, and whether it's applicable to your particular use-case.
52 karma · joined March 17, 2017
It's worse because you have to move your right hand back and forth between typing commands on the keyboard and clicking the mouse.
At the time, I programmed an Arduino with a lot of the common pieces of text I was typing, and then wired the Arduino to a keypad so I could press a key and get it to type the text for me.
Have you had a similar problem in your engineering job? If so, how did you try to solve it?
On the smartphone side, I think we use them very differently - you wouldn't do engineering design on a smartphone, for example, so this is maybe outside of the use-case I was thinking about. I don't think touch screens are that effective either - typing on them is a pain!
Your point about VR is very interesting though because people are starting to do complicated tasks like CAD and graphic design through VR. This does mean it's able to do tasks that typically people would spend a lot of time sat at a desk typing and clicking to achieve.
Having many 'virtual' computer monitors displayed through a VR or AR headset is not something I've ever thought about, but is a really cool possibility. Do you know of any examples?
The above argument is kinda the founding philosophy so I want to make sure it's sound logic!
I have removed the email signup and allowed a direct download. So far, the rate of downloads has gone up by a factor of between 5 - 10 times. Hard to know precise numbers at this time but it's looking good!
I don't have large enough numbers of users to know how this will impact on conversion, but it follows logically that if the product is the main selling point, getting users to engage with it in the easiest way possible can only be a good thing.
I'm now looking at replacing the on-boarding emails I was using with an in-app on-boarding process.
Thanks for your help with this one again!
Thanks for your time an constructive criticism!
Cheers, Robin
Please let me know what you think of the software and whether it would be useful to you in automating tedious and repetitive computer actions.
You drag and drop commands like "type text" and "open folder" onto each of the buttons of your numpad. When you then press that numpad button, your automation is triggered!
However, to let people hook up their macropads, I made it also listen out for the keyboard shortcuts ctrl + alt + 1, ctrl + alt + 2 etc. as numpad button 1, numpad button 2 etc. respectively.
So if you can make your macropad do the keyboard shortcut ctrl + alt + 1, then my software will behave exactly the same as if you pressed numpad button 1 and will trigger the associated automation.
Let me know if you have any questions about your specific use case!
I'd also be delighted to hear your thoughts/feedback on this - I hope it helps your productivity like it has for me!
These are the main parts really. I have spent nearly 1000 hours developing the software and the designs so it's really quite valuable in itself.
Ahh that's pretty cool, sounds like you've differentiated yourself - keep it up!
In fact, the hardest bit is just designing a 3D printed case for it but that will only take an afternoon. I will look at adding this to the crowdfunding as a stretch goal.
This way it works out cheaper, more flexible and generally better for the end user. It also avoids things like import taxes, shipping costs and manufacturing delays.
Instead, I have created 4 designs at a range of different prices, all based around easily available components.
I will distribute software, 3D print files, circuit board designs, build instructions, and tutorials so that anyone can build their own. It will be completely open source.
This means you can tweak it to your own needs, use already purchased components and make as many as you like. I think it works out better for everyone :D
It also saves me the trouble of coordinating all the manufacturing and allows me to focus on the bit I like and am good at - improving the product.
I like the look of Riffpod, neat little product. Got to say I've done something similar with iRigg but no doubt there is plenty to set it apart. Good luck!
It sped me up so much and was so much more efficient, I decided to develop the project to help other people... and here I am today!
It's not just long tedious things which are worth automating, but sometimes, it's the things you use really frequently which need a slightly more efficient way to be accessed.
However, you will be able to make a keypad consisting of anywhere between 1 and 16 keys using the TASK software. In fact, you will be able to make a highly functional single key for about £7 using the designs I will be releasing in the shortcut keypad crowdfunding campaign!
Now any of that can be done in any combination and it's set up in less than 1 minute.
It hasn't got all the features of AHK - some things have to be sacrificed for simplicity but you are very right in saying it has a lot more to offer than simple key bindings. These are proper macros :)
The speed of setting it up makes it possible to do short-term automation which I've not come across before.
In the spirit of keeping it simple, I'm using an Arduino as the heart of it as they are simple to programme and people can hack and tweak to their own needs, rather than struggling with firmware upgrades etc.
I do really like your idea of making it work with a range of hardware. I'm actually going to release 4 different designs ranging from a single button right up to the 12 mechanical key version you see in the link. That way people can choose their price range. Could be as low as £15 !