I've just started experimenting with my Arduino Duemilanove. I've gone through the first two very basic experiments of controlling the built-in LED with code and then being able to turn on the LED with a pushbutton.
I'm sure this has been asked a million times before: How can I control and override my computer's keyboard with the Arduino? I want to build switches etc myself that make the computer think it's pressing a given key. I have very little electronic/programming experience, but I'm very interested in learning. Is it necessary for me to buy a USB shield? What's the easiest solution?
Well, if you bought or built some form of a USB shield, you would then have to emulate the keyboard as a USB HID (human interface device); since you are asking these questions, and state you have little programming experience, doing so would be a no-go at this point in your skillset, so I wouldn't bother right now (just know that it is possible).
You could (if your motherboard supports it) interface via the PS/2 port; still, there would be a fair amount of coding to do that might be beyond your level.
If you are using Windows, there is a program out there (that I can't seem to find now) that can run on the PC, and listens for commands from the USB serial device (the Arduino, in this case), and then virtually "presses" the keys for you on the machine (can somebody help me here?)...
hari, yes - that is what I had in mind; I just came back over here to see if anybody posted it, because someone on another thread did and I was thinking "that's what it's called!"...
