[buns]

If there is a thread out there which i have missed......please point me at it!


I have a pronto and thats all well and good, controls everything, so thats ok. But I fancy something which is somewhat bigger. I was thinking along the lines of a 10 inch touchscreen.


So I would basically make myself a nice interface which would be my display. But, this idea falls down during film watching. No longer would I have my remote interfac displayed, rather I would have the film showing on my touchscreen. So is it in anyway possible to have one image (whatever film) going to my projector, and a totally different one (my nice touchscreen interface) going to the touchscreen?


just a thought, thanks for any help


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[eisenb11]

Hi Buns,


I have 2 programs that you may find useful.


The first program is Digital Theater Interface (it's free). DT can run on either the HTPC or the Touchscreen... even better, if the touchscreen uses another computer, DT can run on that too.


It was designed for basic control (launching programs). You can check it out at: http://www.cse.msu.edu/~stan/htpcinterface.html


The second program is still in developement, but I'm expecting to have it done shortly.


Digital Theater Pro is the new program and it is designed to allow much more control and expandability. Since it supports plugins it will eventually be able to control just about any device and any program... real control, not just starting the program.


Hope this helps,


Stan

 

[buns]

The idea would be to have a touchscreen connected to the same computer as the projector. So would this program be able to run on the touchscreen whilst a film is playing on the projector?


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[eisenb11]

Yes and no...


Case 1:

If your touch screen is on a dedicated video card you'll be running Windows in dual monitor mode. In that case the program can run on the touch screen while the movie runs on the PJ.


Case 2:

Somehow, though, I have a feeling that your touchscreen and PJ are on the same video card... as in video card to PJ then PJ passthrough to monitor.


In that case it would be IMPOSSIBLE for you to have 2 different images on 2 different sources because the PJ and touchscreen are sharing the exact same video signal...


Which case is yours 1 or 2?


Stan

 

[boris]

dual head videocard might do the trich. I wonder if dvd playback will suffer from the extra used video output. I was planning to try the same thing, I was considering using either talisman (or litestep) or scala infochannel. This might be a nice solution to make animated menu's with stunning dissolves etc. You could also play trailers this way (didn't try that yet)

 

[eisenb11]

Yeah, dual head should work... I was wondering how the performance would be affected by adding a second video card... a cheap one for the interface monitor.


Technically this would leave all the first one's power to itself, but the two cards still have to share the same memory bus... so I wonder...?


Stan

 

[buns]

Im not in fact built yet, so options are open. I was assuming not to run everything from one output......dual head came to mind but i can think of good reasons that that may influence the picture quality to the worse.


You mention windows in dual monitor mode. So that will enable me to have theatertek playing a dvd on one monitor whilst my interface will be visible on the other? That sounds like that i wanted to know.


I could ask for details upon how i get 2 videocards running and how to set up into dual monitor mode.....but I'm 3 weeks from getting started building, so that would probably be wasting your time.


Many thanks


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[eisenb11]

Yes dual monitor mode should do the trick... the only question is if there could be possible performance impact... which I don't know since I don't use a dual headed system.


Instead I run my interfaces on another computer and have it control the HTPC via TCP connection... this saves any potential performance problem, but involved getting yet another computer.


My control computer is a $130 Fujitsu Point 510 tablet PC with a wireless ethernet card installed.


Stan

 

[buns]

I cant immediately imagine what impact there would be in having 2 videocards, power issues asside.


The touchscreens i had eyed up were in the region of £600 here in the UK, but that was for a 12 inch screen.......what size is the thing you use?


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[eisenb11]

The Point 510 has a 10" screen.


Stan

 

[buns]

Looks very nice......alot more reasonable than what i'd been considering!


So the fujitsu is actually a computer on its own.....but can be used as a display only?


Have you any idea where to get one? I am in the UK but fortunately my holidays take me your way......so is it the kinda thing i can find in one of those massive mall electronics stores?


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[eisenb11]

Yes, the Point 510 is really cool... if you're willing to spend more $$$ there are some nicer models.


The 510 is so cheap because it is discontinued... I got mine on Ebay. The processor is only 100 MHz, but it is perfect for am interface display machine.


Currently Digital Theater runs remotely on the P510 and the upcoming release of Digital Theater Pro (much much better) will also run on the P510.


Stan

 

[Shawn Pilichis]

I have been looking for a touchscreen/remote option for almost 2 years now. The Fujitsu Point 510 has me interested.


I currently have a dedicated HTPC running with a Radeon 7200 to my 65" widescreen TV. How would I use the Fujitsu Point 510 and Digital Theater at my chair to control my HTPC to watch movies just as I am now?


I don't understand how to make a networked PC remotely control another PC's software without it trying to launch localy unless I use PC Anywhere or something like that, and I don't really want to do that.


thanks

 

[eisenb11]

Hi Shawn,


There are 2 Digital Theater options...


1. Digital Theater

This runs on the P510 with its server part running on the HTPC. Clicking on the P510 will transmit the data from the tablet to the server in order to start the required applications. Unfortunately, once the application is started, there is little more you can do with it until...


2. Digital Theater Pro

I'm still writing this program, but it is now very very close to done. DTP was designed to not only launch the application, but allow you to control it once it has been launched as well.


The interface is also more intuitive and expandable. It uses a plugin architecture so support for different applications can be added as time goes on... DTP will also work on a client server architecture so you can control your HTPC from any other PC in the house!


Stan

 

[Shawn Pilichis]

Stan,


Yes! That is EXACTLY what I'm looking for!


Do you have a mailing list so that I can be notified when your DTP is ready?

 

[eisenb11]

Hi Shawn,


Yes, please send an email to [email protected] and I'll add you to the list.


I'm very excited about the upcoming release and have been working day and night to get it out as soon as possible!


Stan

 

[buns]

How will DTP be as far as sending signals to an IR sender to enable control of external kit?


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[eisenb11]

Hi buns,


IR control will be released shortly after the initial release of DTP. My goal is to give DTP the ability to receive and transmit IR.


I'm going to develope the software to work with the UIRT IR transmitter/receiver. I believe that this format is supposed to be compatible with the RedRat and IRMan units as well.


I also plan on tacking serial communications (should be really interesting! ), advanced LCD control, X10 support, etc...


Stan

 

[buns]

Sounds great! Certainly I will be looking into the software......if i can find a display! I dont beleive the fujitsu things were available here.....and definitely arent now so i'll have to keep my eyes open for something else!


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[eisenb11]

Hi buns,


If you wish, you can use just about anything for the display... here are some ideas:


1. Another PC

2. A laptop

3. Touchscreen on another video card

4. Touchscreen on another computer

5. Another Fujitsu tablet PC

6. A Viewsonic tablet PC

7. etc...


Hope this helps!


Stan