Can the keyboard be disabled ?

  • Thread starter Thread starter BruceM
  • Start date Start date
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BruceM

I'm after some software or other simple trick that will disable any input by
the keyboard for a short time until some given command.
Yes, I know about pulling the PS2 plug out or locking it in a drawer etc & I
have found several programs or "fixes" that disable both keyboard & mouse.
The computer is being used by three very small kiddies running several
different educational programs that ONLY require the mouse for full
operation of them.
Unfortunately kiddies like to "pound" on keyboards & most times this renders
the program useless & I am continually restarting it.
Some I've looked at are Maddie & Keyboard Lockup but no good for my
application.
Ideas anyone?
 
BruceM said:
I'm after some software or other simple trick that will disable any input
by the keyboard for a short time until some given command.
Yes, I know about pulling the PS2 plug out or locking it in a drawer etc &
I have found several programs or "fixes" that disable both keyboard &
mouse.
The computer is being used by three very small kiddies running several
different educational programs that ONLY require the mouse for full
operation of them.
Unfortunately kiddies like to "pound" on keyboards & most times this
renders the program useless & I am continually restarting it.
Some I've looked at are Maddie & Keyboard Lockup but no good for my
application.
Ideas anyone?
Click to expand...

Did you write the software?
 
BruceM said:
I'm after some software or other simple trick that will disable any input by
the keyboard for a short time until some given command.
Yes, I know about pulling the PS2 plug out or locking it in a drawer etc & I
have found several programs or "fixes" that disable both keyboard & mouse.
The computer is being used by three very small kiddies running several
different educational programs that ONLY require the mouse for full
operation of them.
Unfortunately kiddies like to "pound" on keyboards & most times this renders
the program useless & I am continually restarting it.
Some I've looked at are Maddie & Keyboard Lockup but no good for my
application.
Ideas anyone?
Click to expand...

ps/2 keyboards are not hot-swappable
i suggest you get a USB keyboard...then just unplug it
when you don't want anyone to use it
 
No Michael, I didn't write it.
Not sure why you ask? Are you interested in this sort of Kiddies programs or
???
I can get titles of the programs if it helps?
I suspect you asked me because if I did write it then I could include a
"hook" to do what I want?
mmmmmmm, would be good!!!
 
if you wrote the program you could disable keyboard support yourself I
believe is what he is getting at.
 
BruceM said:
No Michael, I didn't write it.
Not sure why you ask? Are you interested in this sort of Kiddies programs
or
Click to expand...

I couldn't be less interested :-)
???
I can get titles of the programs if it helps?
I suspect you asked me because if I did write it then I could include a
"hook" to do what I want?
mmmmmmm, would be good!!!
Click to expand...

That's correct. Could you contact the people who do write it, if it's kiddie
software they should cater for this sort of thing. Try to find out what
language they've written it in and maybe supply them with some code. To find
out what language post a list of the dlls it installs and maybe someone
could write some code here.

Michael
 
That's correct. Could you contact the people who do write it, if it's kiddie
software they should cater for this sort of thing. Try to find out what
language they've written it in and maybe supply them with some code. To find
out what language post a list of the dlls it installs and maybe someone
could write some code here.
Click to expand...

It would be very unlikely that they're interested in
changing their program.

They've sold it already and will put time into the next
title. Kid's software is take-it-or-leave-it.
 
BruceM said:
I'm after some software or other simple trick that will disable any
input by the keyboard for a short time until some given command.
Yes, I know about pulling the PS2 plug out or locking it in a drawer
etc & I have found several programs or "fixes" that disable both
keyboard & mouse. The computer is being used by three very small
kiddies running several different educational programs that ONLY
require the mouse for full operation of them.
Unfortunately kiddies like to "pound" on keyboards & most times this
renders the program useless & I am continually restarting it.
Some I've looked at are Maddie & Keyboard Lockup but no good for my
application.
Ideas anyone?
Click to expand...

How much space is inside your keyboard case? Can you put a key-switch in
series with the PS2-clock wire?
 
BruceM said:
I'm after some software or other simple trick that will disable any input by
the keyboard for a short time until some given command.
Yes, I know about pulling the PS2 plug out or locking it in a drawer etc & I
have found several programs or "fixes" that disable both keyboard & mouse.
The computer is being used by three very small kiddies running several
different educational programs that ONLY require the mouse for full
operation of them.
Unfortunately kiddies like to "pound" on keyboards & most times this renders
the program useless & I am continually restarting it.
Some I've looked at are Maddie & Keyboard Lockup but no good for my
application.
Ideas anyone?
Click to expand...

Hi Bruce. This is an application for cats (or more accurately, for people
who have cats), but you might find it applicable for your situation.

http://www.bitboost.com/pawsense/

Jon
 
Jon Danniken said:
Hi Bruce. This is an application for cats (or more accurately, for people
who have cats), but you might find it applicable for your situation.

http://www.bitboost.com/pawsense/
Click to expand...


WOW......... all the wonderful suggestions. Sometimes the most simple one is
the one you just didn't consider.
Thanks Jon, I'm going to sus out the "cat" one for sure.
I just had a brainwave myself ......... A wireless keyboard?
Once again thanks all for suggestions.
 
BruceM said:
I'm after some software or other simple trick that will disable any input
by the keyboard for a short time until some given command.
Yes, I know about pulling the PS2 plug out or locking it in a drawer etc &
I have found several programs or "fixes" that disable both keyboard &
mouse.
The computer is being used by three very small kiddies running several
different educational programs that ONLY require the mouse for full
operation of them.
Unfortunately kiddies like to "pound" on keyboards & most times this
renders the program useless & I am continually restarting it.
Some I've looked at are Maddie & Keyboard Lockup but no good for my
application.
Ideas anyone?
Click to expand...
I would submit the same question over at alt.comp.freeware.
I seem to remember the question turning up from time to time and they seem
to locate programs to do this.

A plus is that since they normally respond with answers containing Freeware
programs the software will not cost you anything.
 
Jon Danniken said:
Hi Bruce. This is an application for cats (or more accurately, for people
who have cats), but you might find it applicable for your situation.

http://www.bitboost.com/pawsense/

Jon
Click to expand...

Do you really need an "electronic" solution?

I would be tempted to just pick up the keyboard and temporarily
perch it on top of the monitor, or tuck it out of the way by the
side of my computer box, or whatever suits your physical
equipment setup.

Or, if you wanted to get really "high tech' you could make up a
small tray which would allow you to turn the keyboard over and
support it without operating the keys.

Umm ...

Cheers,

John S
 
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