The SlideBar is a mechanical keyboard slider that I've created to be easily modded and customized. Link to the group buy is in the comments on the reddit post. This album shows a few examples that I've implemented

Apr 22, 2017 10:27 PM

Electricrelay

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SlideBar (60mm) attached to the side of my keyboard

Sky Blue!

Adobe Premiere timeline scrubbing!

I created a plugin for the SlideBar for easy timeline scrubbing in Adobe Premiere. Moving the slider all the way to the top will play the video forwards or backwards based on which end. otherwise, moving the slider back and forth will scrub the frames back and forth.

The new typewriter mode!

pressing any button will bump the slider to right a little bit. Pressing enter bring the slider back to the start!

Alt + Slide with force feedback

Pressing Alt and sliding cycles through active programs just like Alt+Tab. I added force feedback so that it is easy to feel each "part" of the SlideBar.

Alt + 0 + Slide changes the volume

Scroll it!

The SlideBar can be used to scroll! It's actually very easy to use and way better than I expected.

In chrome, I added force feedback so that you can "feel" when tabs change.

This is the current configuration window. It is still a work in progress and will improve by the time the group buy is done.

Every time I get a reddit notification, the slider vibrates

bzzzz bzzzz

Did you make the actual keyboard too? If not what keyboard Is it? I love the blue

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Man, I sure do love Oreos.

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

When scrolling, if you run out of bar and not out of page what do you do?

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

It looks like it just continues to scroll the page at a steady rate when slid all the way down with more page left.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

^ correct

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

So with something like the reddit enhancement thing where you get infinite scrolling this will work with it

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Now put a fleshlight on it and have it move at the same time as the porn you are viewing

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

I want this

9 years ago | Likes 23 Dislikes 2

Comments taste a little salty, but good job making a thing, OP.

9 years ago | Likes 16 Dislikes 1

That's real fucken neato, @OP. Now it just needs a cover.

9 years ago | Likes 882 Dislikes 7

There was a line of logitech Keyboards that had a mousewheel on the left side. It's glorious

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

9 years ago | Likes 140 Dislikes 2

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 2

I for one welcome our new ravelord.

9 years ago | Likes 18 Dislikes 0

Having just recently started playing dark souls... I now finally get this joke.

9 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 0

\[T']/

9 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 1

Praise it!

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

I thunk it looks great the way it is

9 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 1

All those exposed circuits... a bit of sweat will kill them.

9 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 0

If you sweat that much on a keyboard, you have bigger fish to fry lol

9 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 3

Or you live in a hot region, like I do. 36C ain't a laughing matter.

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

I do actually. It was 39° degrees today. But you know. AC...

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 1

Breathing intensifies

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Hahaha

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 1

what a fancy mouse scroll ...

9 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 1

It has it's use. For example this would be great for elite dangerous adjusting thruster control over using a mouse wheel

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

Provided this had all the other essential parts of a keyboard (like the num pad, home & end buttons etc) I’d pay good money for this.

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

But does it work on linux?

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

already on sale for 1.50 at dx.com

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

Girls are looking at that reddit notification with excited eyes.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

It's well thought-out, but it doesn't really make anything more convenient

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

Can you patent it? Or did someone already invent it? If not, you should file a patent. Who know? Maybe you'd male a fortune.

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

This thing really isn't at all novel. Trying to get a patent would be a waste of time and money.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Probably already patented but because it is public now you cannot patent it, you can just protect it from copycats.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

They should put this into a mouse!! Wait.....

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

Neat.

9 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 1

Indubitably.

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Forum Mod: Move this to "Hipster PC accessories" category

9 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 2

I see you've never done any photo/video editing or music production. Welcome to the world of sliders: we need these. A lot.

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 2

gotta run java too!

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

What does this do that a scroll wheel doesnt

9 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 1

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9 years ago (deleted Aug 12, 2017 4:35 PM) | Likes 0 Dislikes 0

If you were that into driving games wouldnt you just get a wheel

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

slide

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

haha

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

You could use that as a throttle in flight sims. If you don't have a decent joystick.

9 years ago | Likes 27 Dislikes 0

Yeah if only dovetail games would get going!

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

My first thought was KSP.

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

This was my immediate thought. Having three of these lined up would allow you to fly about anything. But then again, at $150 you might as >

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

well just grab the pro flight throttle from saitek.

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

@op what's the point though? I have a volume button, mouse wheel scroll, ctrl+shft+tab for tab switching. I mean it looks cool but why?

9 years ago | Likes 11 Dislikes 3

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9 years ago (deleted Feb 22, 2020 2:23 PM) | Likes 0 Dislikes 0

Sure that's a valid reason. If people like it then more power to them. I'm just wondering what it adds besides just enjoying the object

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I see you've never done any photo/video editing or music production. Welcome to the world of sliders: we need these. A lot.

9 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 1

Nerd.

9 years ago | Likes 931 Dislikes 29

Fuck you

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 7

?noredirect

9 years ago | Likes 40 Dislikes 1

Marge, try to understand. There are two kinds of college students: jocks and nerds. As a jock, it is my duty to give nerds a hard time.

9 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

9 years ago | Likes 34 Dislikes 2

I like your screen name

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Yeah!! NEEEERRRD

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

he scrolled past that comment rather efficiently me thinks...

9 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 0

This nerd wants to know if you put a bell on the typewriter model.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Yeah, why don't you go and write a computer program, nerd.

9 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 15

Don't think that was meant to disparage OP

9 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

I love how you aren't screaming "NEEERD!!," you're just stating it. Nerd.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Randy!

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 1

underachiever

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

The best kind of nerd.. a nerd that contributes to a better world

9 years ago | Likes 117 Dislikes 6

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9 years ago (deleted Apr 24, 2017 12:20 PM) | Likes 0 Dislikes 0

*sight

9 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

This does not stop them from uploading photos to imgur.

9 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

I prefer "Geek". I'm offended.....lol

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

No one cares, nerd.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Over your head apparently

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Geek was a pet name my dad called my brother & I when we were being goofy kids. For a long time I didn't know if was an alternate to nerd.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I like your Dad.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Thanks :) me too, he's a good dad.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

He sounds like my dad. Sarcastic as hell and basically one big joker

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Cool, but doesn't seem very practical, so it would definitely need to be more of a aesthetic/fun to use than a utilitarian thing.

9 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 1

I see you've never done any photo/video editing or music production. Welcome to the world of sliders: we need these. A lot.

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 2

Like maybe : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBBF4X-frOU ?

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 1

Honestly I find it ugly, and doesnt look satisfying at all to use, like twisting a hockey puck on a glass table.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

I just meant more stylized stuff, like making it themed for cyberpunk, steampunk, industrial aesthetics.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

Like his personal keyboard is fine, but its plain and utilitarian looking, and a big sliding key isnt exactly a life changing utility.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

Read the whole thing and im still completely lost as to what that thing does

9 years ago | Likes 14 Dislikes 1

/a/S5Vri this is my older original post.

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 1

That still tells us nothing.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

As an educator, my mind went to a Special Needs population. For that, I'd say it's patentable. Nice

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

It's basically a glorified scroll wheel that has limits (no endless scrolling)

9 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 0

It can move automatically. If you want you could make it return to neutral and control scrolling speed by the amount of movement from there.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

You could, but that would still be worse than a wheel. Having to wait between scrolls and all.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

What do you mean having to wait between scrolls? A scroll is a continuous process.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

With a bit of coding you could set a midpoint on it and moving the slider above that scrolls up at increasing speeds, and vice versa?

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I would think dynamically have the slider work as a function of the sliding range of the page you are on would be the solution.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Fucking sell this shit

9 years ago | Likes 49 Dislikes 4

link/group is closed now... is this still available??

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I'd love to buy one but I can't afford it and I don't have much use for one right now. Good luck though!

9 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 1

Ypu should post this on linustechtips and contact tarren there. He would be all over this and may even review it

9 years ago | Likes 3845 Dislikes 16

Fuck LTT. Buncha hacks, they are.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 40

I don't think he would considering he already has a million of these framing his monitor.

9 years ago | Likes 30 Dislikes 3

To be fair he has a lot. What's one more and supporting a cool project?

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

*Taran

9 years ago | Likes 15 Dislikes 1

My first thought as well. This has LTT written all over it

9 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

Listen to this guy @OP

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Id fund this.

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

link for ur cool looking keyboards ?

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

as soon as I saw adobe I though of tarren

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Just... just make sure not to give them your only prototype. Send several in case of, er, "accidents".

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Get a patent first!!!

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Him and his god damn keyboard of macros for just Premiere..

9 years ago | Likes 247 Dislikes 1

What annoys me is that he used a full keyboard instead of a numpad.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

and the annoying part it is ACTUALLY seems to work for him, with it still being on his desk in editting room shots

9 years ago | Likes 19 Dislikes 0

Keyboard keyboard keyboard... quote tarren

9 years ago | Likes 24 Dislikes 0

"macros, macro, macro, macros" - Tarren

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Imagine Linus doing the review "thanks tarren :%"

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

he's gotten worse too, couple number pads and some dials:

9 years ago | Likes 51 Dislikes 0

Damn i didnt realize hes added more lmao

9 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

Those dials are from Adobe themselves. Was at last year's CES or something. Allows scrubbing, audio mix....eyc

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

LinusTechTips was the first channel I blocked with the YT Video Blocker. What an insufferable brown nosing ass licker.

9 years ago | Likes 24 Dislikes 164

He's also that asshole who walked around the tech show picking everything up, and dropping it, isn't he?

9 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 7

So many people pick up and end up dropping stuff at those tech shows. Linus just gets it on camera when he does it.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I can say the same about you

9 years ago | Likes 39 Dislikes 6

Whattttttttt?

9 years ago | Likes 11 Dislikes 1

That's no way to speak about our lord & saviour of dropping all things tech related.

9 years ago | Likes 14 Dislikes 3

Tarren would make Linus fund this.

9 years ago | Likes 1126 Dislikes 4

:D lol

9 years ago | Likes 36 Dislikes 1

Tarren is America's best national treasure; I still refuse to believe canada exists.

9 years ago | Likes 112 Dislikes 3

Canadia*

9 years ago | Likes 38 Dislikes 1

Kanuckistan*

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Canada is where the Canadans live. Canadia is for Canadians

9 years ago | Likes 24 Dislikes 1

So much makes sense now

9 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

Why would I move my hand off my mouse to use a less efficient device to change tabs ?

9 years ago | Likes 20 Dislikes 2

Porque no los dos.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 1

Because you have a left ha--oh, porn.

9 years ago | Likes 13 Dislikes 0

This device and all the mentioned uses of it seems totally redundant to me. But there are stupider apps than that so I guess it'll sell good

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Why would you take your hand off your keyboard when typing? If that solves even one of those reasons, it's useful.

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

It's a pet peeve of mine that people use a mouse to move between every single field in a form instead of hitting the tab key.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Yeah, I have a lot of times when I have to pick up new keyboard shortcuts or similar to keep my hands on my keyboard but it's so much faster

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Never mind the ergonomic problems and shoulder strain from moving back and forth all day.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Why would you see a mechanical, motorized, force feedback slider but then focus on the "switching tabs" afterthought?

9 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

Most likely it was a tool they built initially just as a proof of concept and then just started adding features ad hoc. I think it's useful.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

so do I: I was pointing out that it's ridiculous to judge the thing based on the fact that tab switching is shown as one of the use-cases

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

You're using am arduino nano? So it's not an actual HID device and the processing of commands is done on pc? Where did you buy the slider?

9 years ago | Likes 145 Dislikes 6

.

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 2

You can tell cuz the one window indicates a COM port selection. The slider is probably just something from Digi-Key or Mouser.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Looks like the slider itself is a motor combined with those resistance slider (potentionmeter), as the red board is a Motor-Driver #2|2

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I know what the slider is and how it works, just wondering what OP paid for it and where he got it, always keep an eye out for deals.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Yes, the software converts the signal sent by the nano to computer input, as he can set the sliders settings via a java app. #1|2

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Whether something is an HID has nothing to do with what it looks like: if it talks HID data, it's an HID.

9 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

But that's the point, it doesn't. It talks UART over USB.

9 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

Ah, that's a good point.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

What? It's not at all hard to make an arduino look like a HID device to a PC. Source: I've built custom joysticks before.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

This is a Nano. Nanos handle USB with an FT232R which—unlike the ATmega16U2 used in other models—is not programmable. It only does UART.

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Ah. I usually used a teensy when I needed something small for something like this.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

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[deleted]

9 years ago (deleted Sep 16, 2020 3:38 PM) | Likes 0 Dislikes 0

It's the difference between using a knife as a screw driver & using a screwdriver. There are purpose built chips for this sort of thing.

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

HID describes some basic functions for devices to allow them to function without drivers. You can't do anything that isn't part of the...

9 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

specification though, so without software on the PC this would be pretty much useless anyway.

9 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

HID would let the system see it as an input device. It's currently just talking with a program that interprets the data and emulates input.

9 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 1

It'd not ignorance. You gotta search for the difference between arduino nano and micro, the micro using atmega32u4 chipset can become HID

9 years ago | Likes 29 Dislikes 1

Which let's it send actual physical button presses and mouse/joystick movement, no need to poll it on the pc, so it'll work plug and play

9 years ago | Likes 23 Dislikes 0

Look at this https://www.sparkfun.com/tutorials/337

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

HID can only do so much though. To allow customization with any program (ie switching chrome tabs) you still need a dedicated driver for it.

9 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

You are correct, hid would be more useful for simple tasks and emulating existing peripherals

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0