[mythtv-users] Cool idea: Use wireless PDA to control Myth

[Jason Schloer]

I don't think mythLCD is quite the place for it. I think mythLCD would
probably sit on top of whatever is designed and take advantage of it the
same way mythRemote or other modules would. How are others seeing this
work as far as an interface standpoint? Would the handheld mimmick the
TV display only scaled down? Is the handheld doing a scaled down version
of Myth? Does it present a separate menuing system with context
sensitive menus? Should it do all of the above? 

I think a mythControl structure should be put in place which has been
talkd about a few times before. On top of this would sit a mythKeys, a
mythRemote, and probably mythLCD. By on top of I mean they could be
derived classes, or just call the mythControl class. mythControl should
probably give a list of currently available messages as an XML string
which each of the other modules could process and use to create their
input options. The string should probably give some context clues as
well regarding the current display state. That way things like handhelds
could alter their display appropriately so that for instance the volume
display doesn't show up when the menu is on screen, but does when
watching TV. At the same time, I think we should pave the way towards
being able to do multiple things in Myth at once, such as playing music
while watching the gallery, which is an often requested feature. It
would be nice to be able to edit the playlist on the handheld or a
laptop running a web frontend without kill the visualization, or the
gallery. So I guess there's really two parts of control, there's on
screen navigation with a "remote" and there's silent control of myth
using the "remote". I guess it should be up to the "remote" to determine
how to handle each type. The XML String should probably define which
available controls are menu navigation and which are background
controls. This allows things like being able to ALT-type the underlined
letter of a menu option to get to that option. 

This is getting longwinded, and I was kind of using this email to hash
out how things would ideally work in my book. I'm not there yet, but
hopefully this sparks more discussion on the matter. Anyway, let me know
what you all think and don't pull any punches. Later


Jason Schloer


-----Original Message-----
From: mythtv-users-bounces at mythtv.org
[mailto:mythtv-users-bounces at mythtv.org] On Behalf Of Edward Wildgoose
Sent: Friday, October 10, 2003 10:32 AM
To: Discussion about mythtv
Subject: RE: [mythtv-users] Cool idea: Use wireless PDA to control Myth

If someone wanted to persue this idea, then I would have thought the
mythlcd module was the correct place to put it.  

The idea here is to have an lcd/vfd panel of arbitrary size, with
arbitrary number of keys on a keypad.  The display shows state of the
system and the keys can be programmed to do what you want...  

The system used at the moment in myth can actually talk to a curses type
console, so you could presumably get the status up on your palm with a
terminal type application.  Mapping keypresses back to the app is
another step.

-----Original Message-----
From: Sean [mailto:shomann2 at insightbb.com]
Sent: 10 October 2003 15:20
To: Discussion about mythtv
Subject: Re: [mythtv-users] Cool idea: Use wireless PDA to control Myth


I have only been skimming this idea, but it seems to me that if a remote
interface was built for any networkable device (WiFi, Bluetooth), then
you
could control your MythTV from anywhere. Maybe an extension to the Web
interface? A remote with feeback (2way) would be kick-ass and a handheld
would allow for macro scripting and playlist creation...
Hmmmm...

Since I am not a programmer these ideas sound great to me, but may not
be
the easiest thing in the world to implement ;)


> Schweet. I have one too (and use it very little, compared to my
> Handspring...). Were you thinking smart remote via IR, or via WiFi?
> 
> --Jarod


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