Is it possible to turn computer on using Touchscreen?

[ChevronX]

Is it possible to turn computer on using Touchscreen?

Thinking about a mod and a touchscreen that you hold your hand down on or press a button that displays on it and the computer turns on. I also want it displaying a screensaver; does anyone know how I can display it if the computer isn't on?


Probably dumb questions I think but I need to know and would be cool if I could.

[Luke122]

Hmm...

Turning on a PC from a touchscreen would require a few things.

First, the PC must support power on from peripherals. Some motherboards have this functionality built in, some dont. Second, you would need to hit a power button on the keyboard to make this work.

Best option (IMHO) would be to use either standby or hibernation rather than shutting down, then just a mouse movement (ie touch the screen) should wake it up.

Alternately, it could be easy to just reroute a second power button up to the monitor, and have it beside the screen or something..?

Why not use a capacitance switch, like on a touch lamp?

Here's a diagram for one.. take a look at that. :D (http://www.discovercircuits.com/DJ-Circuits/5vmom1.htm)

[Remexx]

I'm not going to say its not possible, because I've seen alot of crazy stuff happen with wiring over the past few years. It would definetly require alot of patience. Like Luke said the Motherboard would have to understand outside peripherals. Would have to be an option in the BIOS that allows to start with outside peripherals, not sure there is one of those. It would be under the same context of what Luke said with the start with keyboard function.

Then there is also the idea of just rigging the power button and the touch screen power together. Most of the time this doesn't work, but there is always the one exceptance.

[ChevronX]

Thanks for your replies it would have been awesome if I could. However hibernation would be something that I could use and would allow me to use my screensaver on that screen. Then I could have it as a secondary monitor so it displays screensaver all the time except when touched which would make it come out of it.

[Luke122]

I just had the craziest idea..

I once saw an option to use a screensaver as a wallpaper... what if you did that with a desktop with no icons on it. Then get DesktopX (http://www.stardock.com/products/desktopx/), and have it pop up a menu on touch, wherever you tap. Put shortcuts in there maybe?

Anyone here use RocketDock? (http://www.rocketdock.com)Super application for touchscreen monitors!

[ChevronX]

Hmm will think this over. Thanks for the idea

[Remexx]

those moving desktops give me migranes.

[crazybillybob]

If your Motherboard supports Power on mouse You should be able to have the touch screen start the PC.

Most touchscreens with a usb interface show up in windows as a HID (human interface device), This should be seen by the motherboard as a mouse...
The down side is that it will power up if you touch any where on the screen... no way to isolate it to a specific area of the screen.

This may work with a Serial Touchscreen but that would depend on the motherboard and how the touchscreen worked....


Good Luck!
CrazyBillyBob

[ChevronX]

Awesome. Didn't know Wake on Mouse is possible will have to check if my M/B supports it.

[crazybillybob]

some times it's referred to as wake on peripheral in the bios also you need to make sure the wake on usb is enabled. Again all of these very by mfg. and Bios used.


CrazyBillyBob

[halcyonforever]

I have an idea but it is kind of overboard...

Using an old computer (micro board, stripped down, MB/Video card/USB drive) that is hooked up to a KVM switch with the primary computer. The secondary computer runs the "powered off" interface on an stripped bare linux build. When the button is pushed, it sends a signal via parallel port to a set of relays that serve as the power button to the main computer and move the KVM to the primary box. When the primary box shuts down a normally open relay closes and moves the KVM back to the powered off box.

told you kind of overboard as you need basically a micro computer to function as a power switch.

Could probably be done with an Audrino board... but that is way over my head.

[ChevronX]

Thanks. Something I had not considered. My friend apparently knows of a microboard that can run it and apparently have it turn the computer on. Will need to look into it a bit more though.

[J-Roc]

I have an idea but it is kind of overboard...

Using an old computer (micro board, stripped down, MB/Video card/USB drive) that is hooked up to a KVM switch with the primary computer. The secondary computer runs the "powered off" interface on an stripped bare linux build. When the button is pushed, it sends a signal via parallel port to a set of relays that serve as the power button to the main computer and move the KVM to the primary box. When the primary box shuts down a normally open relay closes and moves the KVM back to the powered off box.

told you kind of overboard as you need basically a micro computer to function as a power switch.

Could probably be done with an Audrino board... but that is way over my head.


For a simplified overboard option; use wake on lan.

[ChevronX]

Yeh I think it was like that.

Thanks for all your information guys.

[halcyonforever]

yeah wake-on-LAN would be easier than my Relay option....

I never claimed to have easy solutions to anything. It has been said that I don't have trains of thought... I have bumper cars.

I also adhere to the Rube Goldberg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rube_Goldberg_machine) school of process design.

[Eclecticos]

Why not use a capacitance switch, like on a touch lamp?

Here's a diagram for one.. take a look at that. :D (http://www.discovercircuits.com/DJ-Circuits/5vmom1.htm)

This is a great idea though you'd defiantly want to isolate the circuit as not to connect to the rest of the chassis. . will create a short.

[Eclecticos]

You may want to check out LCDStudio.Com (http://www.lcdstudio.com/site20/screenshots.php) for more info.