sanketsudake / alphaTouch

utility to run applications based on the patterns (alphabets and symbols) drawn on the touch-pad

Introduction

Isn't it cool to open calculator by drawing '+' sign on the touch-pad? or Reboot your machine by drawing 'O' and Shutdown by drawing 'X' on touch-pad? alphaTouch is a smarter way to execute the applications or programs based on the patterns drawn on the touch-pad. Currently it identifies all alphabets. (You can see in the applications file for the patterns it identifies.)

It uses synclient utility to get the information from the touch-pad.

Installation

Clone the repo:

$ git clone https://github.com/sagarrakshe/alphaTouch.git

Run install.sh:

$ ./install.sh

After successful installation of the package, inorder to use synclient you will need to Enable SHMConfig (Shared Memory) option.

For Ubuntu users, open file:

/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/50-synaptics.conf

For Debian users, open file:

/etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/50-synaptics.conf

Add the SHMConfig option into the document as shown below:

Section "InputClass"
Identifier "enable synaptics SHMConfig"
MatchIsTouchpad "on"
MatchDevicePath "/dev/input/event*"
Option "SHMConfig" "on"
EndSection

(Here's my file for reference.)

You need to reboot your machine in order to take place the effect.

Configuration

To configure your touch-pad for this utility, run config.py

$ python config.py

Follow the instructions and after succesful execution you will get a file - CONFIGURATION. You can configure as many times you need it or you can manually edit the CONFIGURATION file provided it's protocol is followed.

##Usage

The program forms a grid on touch-pad as shown below. Each intersection is numbered from 1 to 25. A pattern is defined by the order of this numbers.

Files:

CONFIGURATION - This file contains the co-ordinates of the four corners of your touch-pad and the time-limit to draw the pattern.

mapPattern - This file contain the records of pattern and the corresponding alphabet. For example consider this record, [[[3, 8, 13, 18, 23], [3, 4, 5], [13, 14]], 3, 'F'].The first arguemnt(list) denotes the pattern, the second one denotes the no. of lines(3) in the pattern and the last one denotes the corresponding alphabet(F).

applications - This file contains the list applications corresponding to the particular alphabet . For example, 'F':'firefox' on identifying letter 'F', 'firefox' applications will be opened. Edit this file to your own fit.

The time-limit to draw pattern is by default 8 seconds. You can set it in the CONFIGURATION file.

Lift your hand after a straight line and a curve. As shown below.

Let say you want to open firefox.

Run main.py:

`$ python main.py`

Imagine the 5X5 grid on your touch-pad and draw the pattern as follows. After drawing one line lift your hand and then draw the second line. If the total order of the numbers matches exactly with the one in the mapPattern file then firefox will open!

Comments, Suggestion

If you have any suggestions or some problem regarding alphaTouch feel free to ping me at [e-mail]