Wanted: info on "Human Interface Device" category of hardware devices

  • Thread starter Thread starter Don Taylor
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Don Taylor

I have a usb footpedal that supposedly is one of the Human Interface Device
category of hardware. But I'm not sure how to get Windows to recognize
this and use the right drivers. Someone else had installed a footpedal
on another computer and made it work but I can't figure out how they did
this. I think I understand that Microsoft has some of the drivers for
this but I haven't found anything on the MS web pages that get me started
understanding this. It looks like this might be a catch-all listing for
the stuff that just didn't fit anywhere else.

Does anyone have any info I could read about this?

Thanks
 
To get into Device Manager do the following:

1. Right-click your "My Computer" icon.
2. Choose "Properties" from the menu.
3. In the "System Properties" window select the "Hardware" tab.
4. In the "Device Manager" section click the "Device Manager" button.

There is lots of information out there about HID, although I am not sure how
much of it is targeted at the typical user. Most is targeted to someone
wanting to develop a device and have it "just work". I am not sure of your
technical level so I would just suggest doing a search in your favorite
search engine for "Human Interface Devices" and see if you can find
something interesting (although most might put you to sleep =) ). My guess
is that the set of pedals that is showing up as an Unknown Device isn't a
true HID device. This is typically the behavior you see when you connect
something that isn't truly HID ( like an ACT Labs Force RS does, it needs
additional drivers to work).

I did run into this site while trying to figure out why you are broken:
http://www.transcriptionbuddy.com/TB_installusb.htm
I cannot guarantee anything you may find there though and am not endorsing
their software, but they do list things you might want to try to get your
pedals to work.

Let me know if that doesn't work.

--
Joshua Smith
DirectInput Test Lab
Microsoft
-----
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights


Don Taylor said:
Joshua Smith said:
Yes you are correct. USB devices can use the generic "Human Interface
Device" drivers that come in Windows XP. If looking at the device in Device
Manager doesn't show it with a yellow (!) or red (X) then the device is
functioning as a "HID" device correctly.
Click to expand...

It isn't clear to me how to get to that point. One pedal is persistently
identified as new unknown hardware and can't find any driver.
If there is some functionality that
your not getting from the device it could be that you need to load drivers
specific to that device before it will work. What is the make and model of
device you're trying to use?
Click to expand...

I know that the pedals work, or are supposed to, I've seen them work.
But they come with no instructions, no setup disk, no drivers... It
took me a while to start thinking these were HID controlled.

One is an Infinity brand foot pedal, no model known
and another other is an Olympus RS23.

Is there any tutorial or background information on Human Interface Devices?
I can't find anything that will help me to be able to ask the right
questions.

Thanks
Click to expand...
 
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