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ThumbSense Windows version

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What's ThumbSense?

ThumbSense is new interaction technique for the TouchPad and software.

"MS Mincho"'>The touhpad is a widely used input device for notebook computers. However, one of the drawbacks of the touchpad is that hands must be away from the keyboard's home positions. This feature hinders smooth shift between the text input and the pointing modes. ThumbSense solves this problem.

"MS Mincho"'>The idea is simple. ThumbSense uses keyboard keys as mouse buttons. For example, "F" and "J" keys are used as the mouse left button, and "D" and "K" keys are used as the mouse right buttons. (Many other assignments are possible by customization). Users can operate the touchpad from the home position.

"MS Mincho"'>Users don't have to change the mode manually; ThumbSense automatically distinguishes the text input and the mouse mode by sensing the finger (thumb) is contacting the touchpad. While the thumb touches the touchpad, the F, J, D, K keys becomes mouse buttons, otherwise, they act as normal keyboard keys.

This technique can be regarded as using the touchpad as a new modifier key, other than Shift, Control, or Alt keys.

Software

Currently, the software works on Windows(XP or 2000). Two major touchpad devices, Synaptics and ALPS are supported (ThumbSense automatically detects them).

How to install

download the pacakage, and extract.
double click, and the small window appears. If "Synaptic detected" or "ALPS detected" message appears, the touchpad device is correctly recognized.
Pressing "Goto Tasktray" moves the window to the tasktray.
Pressing "EXIT" terminates the software

Operations

F, J, SPACE	Mouse left button
D, K	Mouse right button
S, L	Wheel
R	Window Maximize
E	Change Window Order
T	Task switch
G	Next (used in IE)
H	Previous (used in IE)
W	Window close
I	start IE
O	start OutlookExpress
M	open the My Document folder

Customization

Key assignments are defined by the file "tsense.ini" in the same folder where "tsense.exe" is located. You may edit the file and press "Reload" button (or restart the "tsense.exe" itself) to reload it. Currently only the documantation is the comments in the ini file.

Notes and Features

If you use tsense.exe from a shortcut icon, make sure that the working directly of the shortcut is the folder where the "tsense.ini" file is located.
If you encounter the "PrintWindwo undefined" error message, please use tsensew2k.exe instead. This is almost as same as tsense.exe, except for functions specific to Windows XP, such as thumbnail task windows (like this).
if you add "set start-from-taskbar 1" to the tsense.ini file, ThumbSense starts as a taskbar application.
if you add the line "set acrobat-hack 1" to the tsense.ini file, and when the Acrobat is the topmost window, the touchpad's physical buttons (buttons located below the touchpad) become page turning buttons. The motivation of the feature is to use notebook PCs as e-book readers by turning them like this.

BBS

ThumbSense BBS

Copyrights

This software is experimental. The authors do not take any responsibilities for any results caused by using this release.

We welcome comments and suggesions, and bug reports. Please send a mail to rekimoto@csl.sony.co.jp or post to the BBS.