Remote button for logging clicks on computer

November 26, 2018 10:37 AM

I'm looking to buy (or possibly assemble) a bunch of wireless buttons that I can click and have the click be received by a computer, which will subsequently execute custom code in response. Does such a thing exist?

I need to create an accountability system where people can click a wireless button to log that they have completed one of many tasks. I want that click to be received by a computer, at which point the computer will do some stuff in response. I'm ok with designing some or all of the computer-side code; I'd imagine I'd use python's pySerial library if the receiver is on USB.

I'm imagining a set of small stickable wireless buttons that comes with a dongle. When you plug the dongle into the computer, each button click sends an ID code over the serial port indicating which button was clicked. However, I can't find a wireless button/receiver combo that can do this. Does it exist? Does something similar exist that I can modify? Bonus points if I can use a bunch (think 1-2 dozen) buttons with a single or small number of receivers. If it helps, I have access and experience with arduinos, and I'd be fine with using one as an intermediary between the buttons and the computer.

The only things I've been able to find are designed to interface with a phone running a specific app, and I think it would take a bit more hacking than I'm hoping for to make those work. For example, I found this blog post that is basically what I want to do, and they don't seem to have solved all the problems yet, despite quite a bit of work. I'm hoping to find something a little more on the ready-to-go side of things. Price is not much of an issue - we have a lot of money to play with.

Thanks!

posted by Salvor Hardin to Technology (10 answers total)

Best answer: Have you looked into reprogramming Amazon Dash buttons?
posted by WizKid at 10:43 AM on November 26, 2018 [2 favorites]

Best answer: Amazon's page about programming Dash buttons is here, and their more general framework for buttons is here.

The spectacularly-domained bttn might also be up your alley.
posted by lumensimus at 10:50 AM on November 26, 2018

NB as of this writing, all bt.tn hardware is out of stock. Unless you want 500 or more.
posted by seanmpuckett at 11:23 AM on November 26, 2018

Dash buttons do seem like the easiest option.

Just as an additional method, what you're describing is a bit similar to how security guard patrol systems work. Buildings have a series of (RFID) tags installed, and guards have to tap their key to the tags to log that they've been patrolling their rounds.

I imagine you could hack one of those systems (or other RFID tags) as a trigger for different commands.

Here's an example one from Amazon.
posted by matrixclown at 11:32 AM on November 26, 2018

Just as an additional method, what you're describing is a bit similar to how security guard patrol systems work.

Sorry, no. Those tags are mounted to the wall in all areas of the building(s) that need to be checked, the guard 'reads' them using the flashlight-like device, and only when the guard finishes their round and connects the reader to the PC does the system process all the recorded taps (most likely nothing more than logging the time of each reading, and checking that they didn't miss one). This is nothing like what the OP is asking for.

To the original poster: why wireless? Are the buttons to be spread out over a large area, but within (existing) WiFi coverage? Can you perhaps group them so that a couple of buttons connect to a single transmitter (possibly a Raspberry Pi or Arduino), or is that just not feasible because they need to be individually relocatable/portable as needed?
posted by Stoneshop at 12:03 PM on November 26, 2018 [1 favorite]

The blog post reminds me of a simple access system we once had for opening a gate: just bluetooth presence. The code looped querying a BT transceiver for devices within range, and when there was a match with a list of authorised BT addresses, it closed a relay that signalled the gate to open. Most people just used their phone as the BT token, but one person used some bluetooth audio widget, a battery and a pushbutton switch. Press the switch, the widget powers up and starts broadcasting its BT address, this gets picked up by the nearest receiver, and then passed on to the accounting system which can act on each address received in a different way if needed.
posted by Stoneshop at 12:25 PM on November 26, 2018

[Thanks for clarifying Stoneshop -- learned something new! Consider that suggestion rescinded.]
posted by matrixclown at 12:57 PM on November 26, 2018

Response by poster: Ooh, the Amazon Dash buttons look like they may be perfect. I didn't know Amazon provided an exposed backend API for those things! I will definitely be looking into them more, thanks!

To the original poster: why wireless?

Unfortunately, they do have to be spread out over a fairly wide area mixed into a lot of existing infrastructure. Adding more cords/wires is pretty much a non-starter in this situation.

Thanks everyone! I'd be interested to hear if there are other options, but at the moment, Amazon Dash buttons look pretty good!
posted by Salvor Hardin at 1:06 PM on November 26, 2018

If you don't mind being a little more on the DIY side, look into NodeMCU. They're Wifi-enabled IoT development boards, Arduino-compatible (you can use the Arduino IDE to develop and program them, if you want, with the help of a barebones Wifi and networking library), and REALLY cheap - like $5-$8 per board. And then you can just hook up whatever buttons you want.

I used these to build a wireless version of this $900 system for about $50 in parts.
posted by slagheap at 4:47 PM on November 26, 2018

Try these - https://flic.io
posted by MonsieurBon at 6:47 AM on November 27, 2018