QuadStick new features update
Fred Davison
- New Windows program to provide PS4 support and improved Speech control of the QuadStick.
- Improved PC gaming support, to provide smoother player movement with PC games that use the keyboard (typically WASD keys) to move during game play.
- New firmware for the QuadStick to support these functions
PS4 and improved Voice support:
Using the ControllerMax device and a PC, it is now possible to use the QuadStick to control a PS4 console. A program runs on a PC to link or bridge the QuadStick to the PS4, via a ControllerMax. This same program provides a Voice control communication link for the QuadStick that is independent of the PS4 function. The voice control function requires a serial port connection to the QuadStick using either a USB to serial port cable or a Bluetooth serial connection. See this posting for more details on using Speech with the QuadStick. (PuTTY in that post is replaced by this new QuadStick program)
Two videos describing how to install and use the QuadStick PC software are available here:
How to Install QuadStick Voice Command and PS4 bridge program
Demo of QuadStick Voice commands and PS4 bridge software
Notes:
If you are already using Dragon Naturally
Speaking/Vocola & PuTTY to control the QuadStick, you can skip the
Prerequisite installation, since you already have that part.
The new VCL/VCH files do not affect the PuTTY.VCL file and you can continue to use that, if you like. Since PuTTY and the new program both want to use the same Com Port, if you use the new QuadStick program for voice control and then wish to switch to PuTTY, you will need to restart Dragon first to release the com port. If you are using PuTTY and then wish to switch to the new program, PuTTY must be closed prior to the new program starting.
Eventually this program will have functions to help manage the quadstick firmware and configuration files.
PC Gaming support:
PC games often use the WASD keys to move the player around like the Left Analog stick on a game controller. The movement can be jerky because keyboards keys are all-or-nothing, not the smooth analog movement available using a game controller. A player using their fingers can tap the keys to achieve the movement they want. Moving a joystick with the mouth quickly enough to achieve the same result is difficult. The new function essentially presses and releases the movement keys very rapidly and proportions the key-down time according to the joystick position. This makes it possible to control the speed of movement to a greater degree.
Two example configurations are available for Portal 2 and Half-Life 2, from Steam. Included in these folders are also Vocola VCL files for those games for speech control of the game itself and the quadstick.
Portal 2 and Half-Life 2 are available from Steam. Portal 2 has a cooperative play mode where you can play with a friend to solve the puzzles together.
If you have a favorite PC game, let me know and I'll help create a
profile for it. I've experimented with World of Warcraft and MineCraft,
but have not completed profiles for them yet.
New Firmware:
New firmware is available for the QuadStick that supports these new
functions. It is not necessary to update your QuadStick unless you want
to make use of these features, but if you want to use them, you will
need to update.
To update the firmware in the QuadStick:
- First back up any custom CSV files, like "prefs.csv", that are in the QuadStick flash or be prepared to download them again.
- Copy this Joystick.bin file into the flash drive of the QuadStick using either a PC or PS3 and wait a few minutes.
- Download this ZIP file of the current default CSV file set, unzip it and copy the contents (the individual CSV files) into the QuadStick flash
- Replace any custom CSV files
Call of Duty: Ghosts
As of today, I know of 5 QuadStick users that are playing Call of Duty: Ghosts. If any of you are interested in playing on-line with other QuadStick players or supporters, let me know and we'll organize it. If you have a question about the game or how to get through certain parts with the QuadStick, Matt Victor has completed the game and can help you.
Fred Davison - QuadStick
I have posted an update to the QuadStick program, a configuration manager, voice control interface and link to the ControllerMax device (for supporting XBox and PS4 consoles).
The new program can be used to tailor the QuadStick to the personal preferences of the user by giving them access to the various settings that control joystick sensitivity, sip and puff pressure thresholds, activation delays and operating modes. It allows the user to download and manage custom game configuration files as well as companion voice command files. It automates the process of updating with new firmware, by backing up and restoring the user’s game (csv) files in the QuadStick’s flash memory.
When used with Dragon Naturally Speaking and Vocola, it allows the user to employ voice commands to supplement the inputs from the joystick movement and sip/puff tubes.
When used with a ControllerMax, it gives the user access to any of the consoles the ControllerMax supports, including the PS4, XBox One and XBox 360, or even the PS3. (The XBox consoles can also be used directly with a QuadStick and those consoles but the PS4 requires a PC running this program in the loop due to the Playstation’s more restrictive security methodology)
When first started, the program looks like this:
Each Tab across the top gives access to different functions or configuration areas. The Voice Control is the default tab since when the program is started by voice command, it will be ready to relay commands to the QuadStick without any further user action. The center section of the window contains a transcript of the voice command activity that will be familiar to those who currently use Putty or the first version of this program.
The Joystick tab allows the user to adjust the physical movement of the joystick required to send a 100% signal to the game console. Each direction can be individually adjusted, or grouped in vertical or horizontal pairs, or, as all directions grouped together. The size of the neutral center zone is controlled by the center slider.
After making changes, click on the Save prefs.csv to QuadStick button. This will replace the file currently in the QuadStick.
The D-Pad thresholds are scaled to the 0-100% range defined on the Joystick page. There are two degrees of movement, an outer ring and an inner ring. When the joystick is moved in the North, South, East or West directions past the outer ring, the configured D-Pad signal is immediately sent. It the joystick is instead held between the inner and outer rings, a second signal can be generated, after a delay. This is similar to the “soft” sip or puff, but for the joystick position.
The Sip and Puff pressure settings control how hard the user applies pressure to activate the configured signal. The pressure range between the High pressure and Max pressure settings is scaled into 0-100% of the finger pressure for the emulated controller button. Holding the pressure between the Low and High thresholds for a delay period can generate a second signal (and is often configured for seldom used controls, like Home, Start or Select)
The Lip sensor position is scaled between the Minimum and Maximum signal to generate a 0-100% activation of the configured control button (often mapped to X)
The miscellaneous tab allows the user the adjust the mouse speed relative to the Joystick range settings along with the LED brightness and speaker volume. The digital outputs, indicated by the two upper green LEDs on the right side of the QuadStick, can be controlled. The Bluetooth module settings and the use of the Long Strong Sip and Puff signals on the Right Side tube to allow users to change configuration files or swap inputs with the Lip sensor are controlled here.
This tab allows the user to remove existing game csv files or download new ones from the QuadStick website. Scanning for new files takes several seconds, so the program remembers the results from the last scan for the next time the program runs.
The game files are generated by Google Doc spreadsheets which can be found here: http://config.quadstick.com
Currently, this program only lists the “official” QuadStick configuration files. Users are still free to make a copy of any configuration spreadsheet, alter it, compile their own csv file and manually download the csv file into their own QuadStick.
The "Preferences Bluetooth Off" prefs.csv and the "Default Configuration" default.csv files are the original files shipped with the QuadStick
Voice files that reside in the user’s Documents\Natlink\Vocola folder are managed here. Voice files come in two types: VCH and VCL. The vch files relate to individual games played on consoles and the vcl files relate to individual programs, like PC based games or this program.
When used with voice commands, the user says a phrase, like “Load Call of Duty”, and the QuadStick will load the “cod.csv” and the voice commands in the “cod.vch” file will become active.
The Firmware tab displays the current firmware version (called a Build number) in the QuadStick. The right hand pane lists available versions. When the system updates the firmware, it attempts to save and restore all the user’s current configuration files.
Installation instructions can be found in the ReadMe file at: http://dl.quadstick.com
Download and install the Prerequisites installer, then the Setup file.
See the parent of this post for a video showing the installation of the prior version of this program
Fred
haywood merritt
Fred Davison
Jerry Collom
On Saturday, August 9, 2014 at 1:31:44 PM UTC-4, Fred Davison - QuadStick wrote: