Quadstick vs. Quadjoy and Jouse?

[Paul Natsch]

Hello,

Long time Headmaster Plus user (30 years) looking for a replacement to use with my iMac. I'm a C4 – C5 quadriplegic with some arm movement (mostly in my right arm) but no finger or wrist movement in either arm. So a hands-free solution is really the best thing for me and I have narrowed it down to the Quadstick, Jouse 3, and QuadJoy. I have a few questions that maybe people here could help me with.

Is repositioning the flexible arm after it's mounted very difficult? I use a microphone with a flexible arm and I can reposition it with my right arm when necessary. This comes into play if I want to tilt back in my electric wheelchair for a while but still use the computer.

Are there any features that aren't usable with a Mac? My primary objective is using this as a mouse but I do play games sometimes so joystick mode might be useful even though many games are perfectly fine with just a mouse. I already have an excellent on-screen keyboard for the Mac called "Keystrokes" that is used in conjunction with Dragon Dictate.

Could the application "USB Overdrive" for the Mac be used to customize the gestures that can be performed with a Quadstick?  Since it registers as a USB mouse I'm guessing yes but I don't know for sure. And what is the maximum number of functions with a Mac? Here is the URL for that application to give you an idea what it does:

http://www.usboverdrive.com/USBOverdrive/News.html

 And is there a return policy? Even though it's quite a bit less expensive than those two alternatives it still inexpensive enough that I would feel better if it had a return policy in case it doesn't work out for me.

 That's pretty much it. If you have anything to add please let me know, particularly concerning why the Quadstick is the best choice.? 

 I should note I don't have a console right now but something like this could encourage me to get one in the future.

Thank you so much for your time.

Paul

[Richard Kramer]

Hi Paul,

I use both the QuadStick & Quadjoy, I purchased the Quadjoy long before I knew about the QuadStick if I had my time again I would have just purchased the QuadStick, firstly because it is a lot cheaper & Secondly it is so versatile and adaptable to your environment whether it be for gaming or just PC application as a mouse.

Your level of quadriplegia is a mirror image of mine.

I know quite a lot of users use the QuadStick for gaming on a PC and every day computer things. 

In relation to set up I purchased the flexible mounting arm kit so that I can use it when I'm up in my wheelchair or in bed, the manfrotto clamp allows for good sturdy connection allowing for quick set up & removal.

But I really love the QuadStick owning it now for almost 12 months. Being in a wheelchair for 32 years and having to watch my brother & nephews doing all the gaming, this marvellous device enabled me to do things I never thought possible on the PS3

I hope they give you a little bit of insight, Fred will probably be able to answer the more technical questions. 

Cheers Richard

[Paul Natsch]

Thank you so much for your comments Richard. It is much appreciated!

I've been a quiet myself for 31 years so we really do have a lot in common!

I just don't have enough movement to effectively use any kind of regular input methods so I've heavily relied on my Headmaster Plus all these years. Something like this would obviously be a huge departure from that but I'm excited to try because it's going to allow me to play games I've never been able to play before. I could only left click with the Headmaster Plus. The on-screen keyboard I use has extended my capability somewhat but that combination just doesn't compare to what is possible with the Quadstick.

I'm still evaluating the different options but right now I'm liking the Quadstick more and more so hopefully someone can answer my other questions. That flexible mounting system is exactly what I would be choosing as well.

Thanks again and perhaps we will speak again.

Paul

[Fred Davison]

Hi Paul,

The only issue I ever saw with the Mac was the first time you plugged it in, it would ask you to press a couple of specific keys so that it could determine what kind of keyboard it is (like Z and /), so I created a configuration file name "Mac" that has the ability to press those keys using a couple of seldom used sip/puff input combinations:

kb_z	normal	mp_left_center_sip_soft
kb_slash	normal	mp_left_center_puff_soft

The full Mac configuration spreadsheet is here.

If you order one, remind me and I'll put that in the quadstick memory for you as the default config.

The usboverdrive program looks like should work fine with the quadstick.  The quadstick shows up on USB as a composite device that has a joystick, mouse, keyboard and flash drive.  Looks like usboverdrive can use a lot of that.

In comparing the quadstick to the jouse or quadjoy, the two main differences are the number and combinations of sip/puff inputs and the flexibility/complexity in configuring it.  A game controller has more than a dozen buttons, plus two analog XY joysticks, and two analog trigger inputs, in comparison to a mouse with three to five buttons and one XY input.  If the PS3 controller, there are also gyroscopes and accelerometers and now the PS4 has a touch pad, so its very different problem to try and solve.  We need to derive a lot more information. 

The flexible mounting arm is pretty stiff.  More like "bendable mounting arm".  It is a heavy gooseneck and it has a double ball-in-socket connection at the quadstick end to allow fine positioning adjustments.

Thanks Richard for answering Paul.

Fred

[Brian K]

Hello,

I currently have the headmaster plus unit and am looking for a backup. Any interest in selling your headmaster plus?

Best regards,

Brian

[Paul Natsch]

I'm still using it so no thanks. Nice to see another Headmaster Plus user though. :) 

[Brian K]

Okay sure. Well if you decide to sell it. Just let me know

[Scott Lowe]

I used the Headmaster for years. Now I use a SmartNav with sip-n-puff switches you can left and right click. I wear a headset with microphone I just put the little reflective sticker on the end of the microphone. I ran my sip-n-puff tube along the microphone. It works pretty good that way. I just looked on the Broadend Horizons website they're offering wireless switches now. 

Scott 

[Fred Davison]

I wonder if your SmartNav would work with the TrackIr code in the QMP.   I originally wrote the driver for a user had no fingers but could move his wrists around.  He would put a reflective dot on each hand and the camera would track to position of the two dots.  They were then mapped into a joystick and button type outputs.  It would work with one or two dots and  was used in the configuration just like the UltraStik.  We ended up using a pair of UltraStiks because the setting up the IR was too technically challenging, but the code is still there.

Here are some videos taken during the development: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRG8aHhhxV4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INKj7pjOqGo

Playing GTA:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6LCFjSj4NE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLLNys5BcCw

[Brad Remington]

1. Quadstick

2. Quadjoy

3. The Rest