I’m setting up a media PC for my TV using refurbished hardware. The biggest pain right now is controlling the interface. I got one of those cheap keyboards with trackpads but they stopped working in a month. Reading this post makes me wonder if I can reuse one of the old IR remotes lying around in my home. Generating shortcut keys and binding them might be easy but what can be done for text/voice to text input?
Raspberry Pi having HDMI HEC put an end to me using those crappy remotes, now I just use my TV remote to control Kodi running on the rpi. I think there are adapters you can buy that will do it as well.
I’ll have to read up on what you mean using IR remotes to control a Pi through HDMI HEC. The computer I’m using has an DP output that I’ve used an adapter to feed to my TV HDMI. So I may not be able to use your setup. But it sounds novel and interesting so I would definitely like to learn more. Thanks.
Yeah, so essentially the TV remote sends the signals down the HDMI cable to the raspberry pi to put it in its simplest terms. If you hold 0 for 3s or something (I have a Toshiba TV, so probably manufacturer specific), the remote then controls the TV the same way it does normally. I think there are HDMI CEC adapters you can buy, but the rpi has it built-in so I’ve not had to bother, I’ve been using it for about 5 years I think.
I came across a reference to kdeconnect while reading related stuff but I really looked it up after your comment. I’m using Debian on my machine and am currently using free version of Remote Mouse which allows very limited actions without posting. Kdeconnect sounds like it could take care of that and more. I just hope it supports two person controlling the same PC.
This will be in complimentary to a physical button IR remote that I’m aiming to implement after this post. Thanks.
Yeah, I’m not wishing for two pointers either. The current setup with Remote Mouse software allows two devices to move the single pointer at the same time but since kdeconnect software allows sharing of files and notifications from phone onto the PC, I’m not sure how connecting two devices will work. Guess I’ll figure it out as I set it up.
I’m setting up a media PC for my TV using refurbished hardware. The biggest pain right now is controlling the interface. I got one of those cheap keyboards with trackpads but they stopped working in a month. Reading this post makes me wonder if I can reuse one of the old IR remotes lying around in my home. Generating shortcut keys and binding them might be easy but what can be done for text/voice to text input?
Honestly, just get a good one. They work well.
get one what? Is there a ready made Product?
I made my own IR-Receiver/Keyboard for my Media Center. Based on Attiny. But can’t really recommended that process to others.
Raspberry Pi having HDMI HEC put an end to me using those crappy remotes, now I just use my TV remote to control Kodi running on the rpi. I think there are adapters you can buy that will do it as well.
I’ll have to read up on what you mean using IR remotes to control a Pi through HDMI HEC. The computer I’m using has an DP output that I’ve used an adapter to feed to my TV HDMI. So I may not be able to use your setup. But it sounds novel and interesting so I would definitely like to learn more. Thanks.
Yeah, so essentially the TV remote sends the signals down the HDMI cable to the raspberry pi to put it in its simplest terms. If you hold 0 for 3s or something (I have a Toshiba TV, so probably manufacturer specific), the remote then controls the TV the same way it does normally. I think there are HDMI CEC adapters you can buy, but the rpi has it built-in so I’ve not had to bother, I’ve been using it for about 5 years I think.
Kdeconnect works great too if you are using linux and android
I came across a reference to kdeconnect while reading related stuff but I really looked it up after your comment. I’m using Debian on my machine and am currently using free version of Remote Mouse which allows very limited actions without posting. Kdeconnect sounds like it could take care of that and more. I just hope it supports two person controlling the same PC.
This will be in complimentary to a physical button IR remote that I’m aiming to implement after this post. Thanks.
there won’t be two pointers, but multiple devices are supported
Yeah, I’m not wishing for two pointers either. The current setup with Remote Mouse software allows two devices to move the single pointer at the same time but since kdeconnect software allows sharing of files and notifications from phone onto the PC, I’m not sure how connecting two devices will work. Guess I’ll figure it out as I set it up.
Maybe attach a microphone directly to the PC and trigger speech to text via the remote?
For software, there might be a wrapper for whisper which does what you need.
That sounds like a good approach. I’ll try and explore this. Thanks.