[Slider2732] got his Orange Pi Zero working with a 3 watt amplifier, wireless keyboard (with built-in mouse), and car reversing monitor. But he needed a case to house it in. He remembered that he used to make parameters for ghost hunting by filling PC mouse cases with all sorts of electronics. So why not put the Orange Pi Zero in a mouse too? Looking through his mouse collection, he picked out an old Logitech optical mouse and went to work.
We like that the Logitech has transparent bottom halves, perfect for proving to anyone who might be skeptical that the PC really is in the mouse. A great enhancement we think would be to make the mouse actually be the mouse too! But there doesn’t seem to be enough room left for that. What’s smaller than a Pi Zero that will also run the armbian Linux distribution, OpenELEC Mediacenter, Kodi and a bunch of games?
He even set up the wireless networking for watching YouTube videos. Check out the build and demo video after the break.
If we can’t make the mouse be a mouse, a search on Hackaday finds all sorts of things that can be made from the discarded mouse innards. You could use the sensor to watch the spinning dial of an electricity meter or make an ododometry sensor to tell how far your robot has traveled.
What’s a “parameter for ghost hunting” and how do you make one?
I think it might be para-meter as in a meter that is meant to measure something paranormal…
Probably using Farnell components THZ82612 Niobium doped ectoplasmic emissions sensor. … ;-)
Googling that part number returns this page as the only result.
SPOOOOOKY!?
Gee, I wonder why.
It’s the NDA.
Ah yes of course! So more correctly an EMF Meter or a Thermometer or an EVP recorder. No sign of any Para Meters… I had no idea there was so much ghost hunting stuff available. Maybe a good subject for a Hackaday comp?
Now stuff a computer and a mouse in a mouse.
Or put a computer in a stuffed mouse. Though you might need a rat, at least.
That’s a Ferby.
Use a Rat to control a computer in a mouse in a 3d printed house .
Not in a box.
Not with a fox.
Not in a house.
Not with a mouse.
I would not 3D print them here or there.
I would not 3D print them anywhere.
I would not 3D print green eggs and ham.
My Prusa clone burned down, Sam-I-am.
:/
Damn and I thought I was cool for installing Linux on a Dead Badger(tm)
Castoreum harvesting?
creepy! lol
A computer is a mouse with an operating system.
Point to your mouse….. wrong… it’s the pointer or cursor that moves on the screen, the thing you maul is a mouse controller… Oh yah, had a point, so-o-o-o-o the computer is the mouse controller controller.
You and I are the mouse controller. The mouse controls the cursor. So it’s a cursor controller, which is called a mouse.
The mouse-box tried this in 2015, but it ended up as vapourware. With video over USB-C, I think there’s a chance to remove the HDMI and make it somewhat practical.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/2873118/mouse-box-wants-to-stuff-a-full-pc-into-a-mouse.html
Now make it the other way arround.
A mouse in a big pc tower and control the mouse with the tower
I has one of these stashed…
http://shop.adapt-it.co.uk/img/large/bigtrack_2.jpg
Couldn’t find a pic that gives you an idea of scale, but that’s a 3″ ball on it. So could probably get a full Pi model B board in the thing. Also the logictech trackball I have seems to have enough empty space in for a zero.
The advantage of trackballs for this is that you’re not so encumbered by the lack of flexibility inherent in a HDMI cable or even AV cable.
+1 on trackball. My preference for a desktop.
I like them for tight quarters, but in general find my thumb gets stiff for extended use.
You need a better trackball.
https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Cordless-Optical-Trackman-USB/dp/B00006B9CR
That’s more than I usually spend at once on a whole computer LOL
Would have been more impressive if the mouse worked.
Yah, I feel like I’ve seen some pretty empty meeces, unlucky junk drawer I guess.
So exactly what does the mouse plug into?
technical: power, display, keyboard ect
the funny, but technically correct: another mouse…
You don’t need the second mouse if you use the Linux console. There are also keyboards with built-in touchpads.
I guess the mouse plugs into nothing — things plug into it. After all, it’s the computer.
But you got me wondering about power. I asked in the comments to his video and he said he’s using a 2A USB adaptor plugged into the wall. He also said the monitor is supposed to be 12V but it worked anyway.
There are mice about half the size of that Logitech one these days, just browse around on your favorite Chinese ebay-like-site, get one of those 2-3 bucks mice, take it apart, stuff the hardware below the pi.
Will possibly need some de-soldering and re-soldering with extension cables, but should definitely fit. (if it doesnt, reconcider the amd branded fan… seems pretty useless to me imho)
Ati* derp
The guts of an optical mouse can generally a 1-inch square circuit board. Bigger problem is making the buttons, much less the scroll wheel, work, as in most mice the injection molded plastic links to switches and stuff on the larger circuit board.
With the tech out there if someone wanted to i’m sure you could make a mouse on a chip including the laser .. probly a very small chip to boot . then just mount on the pcb with the pie or whatever.
not saying any one ever made a mouse on a chip yet.