Keyboard Friendly Skin

[javiveras]

I've been reading the forum for a long time, but I still can't find the answer...

I want to use CF without a touch screen, in the beggining with a small keypad, later on maybe with a knob (second part of the work :-)).

I want to make it work "like" Mercedes or Audi Head Units, as later on I want to use a knob similar to the one they use. Is there any skin really keypad-friendly, that can be used mainly with arrows and a few other keys in a simple way? Even more, if there's no skin keyboard-friendly, do you think it would be possible to make a good keypad-friendly skin?

I have only tried CentraFuse Demo (and several skins) and Visual Designer for a few days, enough to see it is the best engine I can find for my project, but not enough to know if it will fit my needs.

Any comment will be very appreciated!

[MarcelP]

Hello,

do you have examples? How should this skin look like? Pictures from there?!

I would like to help, but I must know how it should function without a touchscreen.

[javiveras]

In this video you can watch quite well my final idea... The S-class review by "Top Gear", specially from 5' to 6'30". Obviously not controlling the seats and so on, but doing it with all centrafuse capabilities.

New Mercedes S Class

[javiveras]

In this simple graph I think you can see better the config I wanna reach. The point is having an upper bar where you have all the applications (Audio, video, GPS, Phone...) and a lower bar where you have present active application options.

The difficult thing in the skins I have tried is changing from the active central part to the multimedia bar with keyboard controls, and I don't know if it will be easy or possible to implement.

Example: Being in the upper bar, push "down arrow" and go to active screen, push "down arrow" again, and the control goes to the bottom application bar. Pushing left and right arrows, moves you around the bar your in...

It is kind of difficult to explain, but I hope you can get the point.

[AnandP83]

That is one hell of a tall order. It would be cool to see though.

[javiveras]

Originally Posted by AnandP83

That is one hell of a tall order. It would be cool to see though.

Anyway, I'm testing CF more and more, and I start to feel it can be really possible to use it. My main point is not using a touchscreen, as I don't like them at all for car use. On the other hand, the knobs I have tried both in Mercedes and Audi high-end cars (Unluckily not mine), have pleased me a lot. Because of that is that I want to try something in this line I'm telling you.

Unreachable? I hope not

[AnandP83]

Its not unreachable, but i think you are in the very low percentage of people that do not use a touch screen. Usually, if you are not in the majority, the chances of finding something that suits your needs is low. The only way to do it, is to do it on your own. I am not a skinner, but I know its not an easy task.

Have you already looked at this thread?

Space Navigator

[javiveras]

Originally Posted by AnandP83

Its not unreachable, but i think you are in the very low percentage of people that do not use a touch screen. Usually, if you are not in the majority, the chances of finding something that suits your needs is low. The only way to do it, is to do it on your own. I am not a skinner, but I know its not an easy task.

Have you already looked at this thread?

Space Navigator

Thanks for the advice.

Yes, it is a very nice input device, but the way somebody uses it in the thread, associating moves with direct controls is not exctly wath I was thinking about. Anyway I can take very good ideas from it.

I have to think better how to achieve my goal

[MarcelP]

That's right AnandP83.
To skinning a suitable Skin you can use the VisualDesigner from Zorro!
I think thats the best solution for you.

javiveras: Your Idea is great! Maybe I try to get such a project.

[javiveras]

Originally Posted by MarcelP

That's right AnandP83.
To skinning a suitable Skin you can use the VisualDesigner from Zorro!
I think thats the best solution for you.

javiveras: Your Idea is great! Maybe I try to get such a project.

Thanks, :-)

By the way I'm using Centrafuse more and more and tryin to find the weak points for keyboard/knob use. I can reach most functions, but I cannot reach the address bar or the keyboard in the browser for example. any Ideas?