bigbert Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 Hello Im trying to Setup a quiz system. I want to have 3 push buttons to trigger a different "buzzer" sound on a laptop and for a corresponding light at the front of the stage to come on. Just like Britain's got Talent. Anyone have any good ideas to do this? Had a few myself but wanted to see what you all thought. Thanks Bert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkPAman Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 No quite a Blue Room question really, though I expect you'll get some answers. Here's your starter for 10 :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 I'm sure we've been here before, but can't find the original post... Maybe start with your laptop and a butchered keyboard connected to 3 buttons.... with some code (multiplay? Powerpoint?) to bring up an appropriate image and sound when the button is pressed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richardtank Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 I think Bruce has a good idea, It would be possible to plug 3 different USB keyboards into the computer, butchered so that each one presses a different button. It wouldn't be too hard to use something like EventGhost, PowerPoint, Flash, etc to make the button presses correspond to a sound. I'm not 100% sure how you'd link this to the lighting, but I'm sure there's a way of getting the computer to also send a midi signal out as well as playing a sound. Also a bit of Googling reveals that it's possible to buy pre-made USB buzzers. I know the below link is an American site, but it shows that it's an actual product! Again, EventGhost could help here if the drivers that come with the device will not allow you to customise a 'reaction' to it being pressed.http://www.buzzers.com/buzzer/store/index....3105ebf39900c25 What's your idea? It's becoming increasingly frequent for people to say "I have had some ideas, but I want to see what you'll come up with", how about share your ideas for us to build on, or for others to see in future when searching the forums? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbert Posted July 27, 2009 Author Share Posted July 27, 2009 I'm thinking of using a keyboard and replacing buttons F1, F2 & F3 with a cable going along to a push switch. Then from there I'm making some software to trigger the buzzer; (similar to that in Multiplay). Problem comes with the lights coming on. Still not completely thought that through, any suggestions? Another idea I've had is to use a eco button to trigger the buzzer sound, like this one - http://www.eco-button.com/images/common/new-ecobutton.jpg as I have a few kicking about my home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 Rather than using lights, how about a projected image with 0/1/2/3 red crosses.... Your display system would need to have 8 images representing the 3 crosses, and some clever logic to decide which one to display next... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HobitLight Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 Yes this was discussed before. I'll have a search :P One idea was one like Bruce has suggested, using a powerpoint. The idea was to use a binary method of working out the what slide to go to. I can't remember all the details, so I'll see if I can find it! :) EDIT: Found it here! The post I was refering is here :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lion Tamer Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 If you can do some basic software then this board will be your friend as it has 5 inputs and 8 outputs which are easy to program (I have used this board and controlled it from a program written in VB6 with no problems). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IRW Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 If you can do some basic software then this board will be your friend as it has 5 inputs and 8 outputs which are easy to program (I have used this board and controlled it from a program written in VB6 with no problems). £25??? If you go along the VB route, just use the parallel port with a butchered old printer cable and io.dll IIRC you can get at least 5 inputs and, if you want them, 8 outputs from that Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richardtank Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 If you're going to project the crosses it would be very easy to make a Flash file that would light up a cross for each button press, You could have it so that cross turns off after a certain period of time or when you press another button. This would probably be easier and more effective than using PowerPoint slides. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbert Posted July 27, 2009 Author Share Posted July 27, 2009 If you can do some basic software then this board will be your friend as it has 5 inputs and 8 outputs which are easy to program (I have used this board and controlled it from a program written in VB6 with no problems). What's the difference between the two boards maplin sell? Is one already pre-assembled?What did you use them for? Looks Very Interesting, Very tempted to buy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostlyharmless Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 Remember that if you feed 10v (or a 9v battery) into the input on an analogue dimmer then that channel will operate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wol Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 EDIT: Found it here! The post I was refering is here :P Ta for finding that link! I was sure I'd posted a reply in something similar to this thread! What sort of 'light at the front of the stage' do you want to come on? Something LED'y that you make, or something DMX controlled (this is the blue room after all)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lxdad Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 Get the experts in. LX Dad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbert Posted July 28, 2009 Author Share Posted July 28, 2009 EDIT: Found it here! The post I was refering is here :P Ta for finding that link! I was sure I'd posted a reply in something similar to this thread! What sort of 'light at the front of the stage' do you want to come on? Something LED'y that you make, or something DMX controlled (this is the blue room after all)? I was thinking of LEDs . I'd love to make it DMX but I feel it might be to difficult to make the computer trigger a sound effect too. Any suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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