Return to the archive index

$20-$45 Key-glove assembly instructions

> First, I'd LOVE plans or a walkthrough of construction of that glove!
> Second, try using a glove that breathes, like a mesh, maybe lycra.

Okay, it looks like its working okay now.  I think it was just bad wiring
that screwed up the last two controllers.  Jeez, I've got to be more
careful.

As for instructions:

Key-Glove ingredients:

21 Dritz nickel "snap on" 3/8" snaps from local fabric store ($5)
1 pair of black leather gloves from Wilson Leather ($20)
1 CompUSA 101 Key keyboard model #MKB931 ($15)
1 spool wire wrap wire from Radio Shack ($3)
1 spool of black heavy duty thread ($1)
10+ plastic zip ties ($1)

Directions:

1) fasten 13 male snaps to fingers of leather glove (4 each per first
three fingers and 1 on pinky finger)
2) fasten 8 male snaps to thumb (I put 4 down middle, 2 along right
edge, 2 on back)
3) cut 21 lengths of wire wrap of suitable length to reach keyboard
encoder board (apprx 24inches)
4) solder wires to buttons and run wires along back of glove
5) sew loops across wires to hold wires onto back of glove
6) remove encoder board from keyboard
7) solder 13 wire leads from fingers onto contacts at bottom of board for
pins 4-16 of longer of two plugs (CN2) for membrane keyboard
8) solder 8 wire leads from thumb onto contacts at bottom of board for
pins 1-8 of shorter of two plugs (CN1) for membrane keyboard
9) fasten zip ties around lines between glove and encoder board

later:

1) build arm mount for encoder board along arm
2) add contacts on pinky finger to trigger "shift" "alt" and "ctrl" in 
parallel with other thumb keys.
3) reorder wire contacts on encoder board to optimize contact organization
4) move snaps to optimize ergonomics
5) replace large 3/8" snaps with smaller snaps, possible sew on snaps
rather than snaped on or use fine wires and sew into gloves.
6) add more stitching to hold on wire leads

Good luck if you try this.  I'll let you know if I encounter any other
problems with this setup.  

-Paul

--
R. Paul McCarty / DARS Coordinator / rpmc@troi.cc.rochester.edu / x52059
317 Lattimore Hall, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627
Computers don't make errors; what they do, they do on purpose.-Dale/KOTH