does a TouchStream show up as a generic HID?

[ryansupak]

Hi,

I haven't purchased a TouchStream yet, but my goal is to use it as a generic HID interface.

However, the app I intend to use it with can't "grab" the device if, when I plug it in, it shows up as a mouse or a keyboard. It can only "grab" it if it shows up as a non-primary HID.

From browsing the site, it's not immediately clear to me if the device "takes over" for the keyboard/mouse or if it interfaces through the "XWinder' software.

Thanks in advance for any insight!
rs

[JerryKnight]

As far as I know, the TS devices show the computer multiple devices: USB keyboard, USB mouse, some media devices(media keys, joystick?), and the stuff for sdks (hand motion, finger position, etc.)

I'm pretty sure they are all HID compliant, and Xwinder only interfaces with a "raw" access mode using HID report/datagram thingies (showing the use of the hand motion sdk). The exact implementation details elude me...

Not sure if that helps.. Someone from FW will hopefully clarify it all.

[ryansupak]

it might clarify it if i was more than a novice; as it is i'm just a musician who is learning HID "hacking" out of necessity... :)

i'll await an FW response...but thanks for the info!

rs

[brian]

ryansupak,

Like Jerry said, all of our devices are HID compliant (right now we just access gerneric HID-Mouse and HID-Keyboard drivers on the host machine). So I see no reason why your app shouldn't be able to "grab" HID messages.

X-Winder (along with other software written with the SDK) interpret special streams coming from our devices and then output to the HID interface when necessary. These apps are not required to run the device normally - they are there more for "expanding" the abilities of the device.

Hope that helps.

[ryansupak]

hi,

thanks all for the replies...

so, just to be sure i've got this straight, if i wanted to use an additional stream (the one with finger, eccentricity, XPos, YPos, etc...), the "signal chain" would look like this:

device via USB port ----> xWinder ----> my App

am i in the ballpark?
rs

[fingerworks]

Well, sort of. The hand motion and contact path channels do use the 'generic' HID Driver (Multi-Axis Controller desktop usage page, to be specific). Just download and install the multitouch utilities and take a look at the Hand Tracking APIs in the SDK sub-directory. That's what your application will build upon.

[DunderXIII]

Just for "in the field" experience (proof ;-)), my workplace blocked all non-HID USB usage for security reasons. I can no longer use the My Gesture editor at work because I can't "upload" anything.

But the touchstream works just as I programmed it at home (keyboard/mouse/gestures etc) and I never had a problem using it at work. I disabled XWinder but as far as I know it works, though I'll need to check.