Make the LED's blink on my Kebyoard ?

[polm]

I have setup a web-based Answering Machine system at my house.

I run this from a unix server that sends text messages to my cell phone when a new message arrives. Then I just log on via a browser and check the messages.

My roomate does not have a cell phone. I would like to have his Keyboard LED's blink everytime a new message is received.

Anyone have any suggestions on implementing this ?

EDIT: BTW ... he is running WinXP .

 

[Ameesh]

Originally posted by: polm
I have setup a web-based Answering Machine system at my house.

I run this from a unix server that sends text messages to my cell phone when a new message arrives. Then I just log on via a browser and check the messages.

My roomate does not have a cell phone. I would like to have his Keyboard LED's blink everytime a new message is received.

Anyone have any suggestions on implementing this ?

EDIT: BTW ... he is running WinXP .

i am un aware of any keyboards that expose an api that you could write code to, it might be easier to write an app thats sits in your tray and blinks if you have a message, that would be a lot easier to write.

i'll look around and see if i can find something.

 

[MainFramed]

Originally posted by: polm
I have setup a web-based Answering Machine system at my house.

I run this from a unix server that sends text messages to my cell phone when a new message arrives. Then I just log on via a browser and check the messages.

My roomate does not have a cell phone. I would like to have his Keyboard LED's blink everytime a new message is received.

Anyone have any suggestions on implementing this ?

EDIT: BTW ... he is running WinXP .

dude thats pretty sweet

 

[Viper GTS]

There is a WinAmp plug-in that makes your keyboard do that, so it can't be TOO difficult.

Viper GTS

 

[Ameesh]

well holy crap i think i might have found it

i dont know if it will actually affect your light but it might

here


i would suggest toggling scroll lock back and forth in a loop as scroll lock shouldnt affect him normally.

 

[polm]

dude thats pretty sweet

my roomy doesn't think so. He is like "at least with the old machine I knew....cuz the little red light would blink".

He doesn't log into his PC that often, and therefore a tray icon is useless. I guess I could make it play some sounds, but that could get obnoxious.

 

[polm]

Originally posted by: Ameesh
well holy crap i think i might have found it

i dont know if it will actually affect your light but it might

here


i would suggest toggling scroll lock back and forth in a loop as scroll lock shouldnt affect him normally.

nice...thanks Ameesh....that should work 🙂

 

[EvilYoda]

wow, sweet idea...care to share how you did it, exactly? I don't think I'd really need it, but hey, I don't need a lot of things. 🙂

 

[Ameesh]

Originally posted by: polm

Originally posted by: Ameesh
well holy crap i think i might have found it

i dont know if it will actually affect your light but it might

here


i would suggest toggling scroll lock back and forth in a loop as scroll lock shouldnt affect him normally.

nice...thanks Ameesh....that should work 🙂

to get the toggle i would just XOR it with a constant

i.e.

const toggle = 1
const checkMessagesInterval = 2 minutes
const blinkRate = 1 second


while (true)
{
. while (newMessages > 0)
. {
. SetCurrentKeyState(currentKeyState XOR toggle)
. Sleep(blinkRate)
. }
. Sleep (checkMessagesInterval)
}


// So this loop isnt so tight, you could do something with events if you wanted to get fancy but this is really easy to do.

 

[polm]

Originally posted by: EvilYoda
wow, sweet idea...care to share how you did it, exactly? I don't think I'd really need it, but hey, I don't need a lot of things. 🙂

sure...it wasn't my work. I am using LINTAD . Then I use DNOTIFY to check for new messages, and send a message to my phone.