Show HN: AutoCursor | Hacker News Reader

Show HN: AutoCursor

autocursor.com

11 pointsrakeyia15 comments

I would like to get feedback on my new start AutoCursor. AutoCursor is made for individuals that work from home and need to find a sense of worklife balance. AutoCursor keeps your computer awake even while you step away. I would like to get a few people to watch the video and provide feedback or even become a beta tester. Thanks for your thoughts in advance.

Super dangerous enclosure. Looks like you could open it with just a fingernail.

Australian standards require coincell battery holders to: "have a battery compartment (or other enclosure) that is secured (preferably with a captive screw, a bolt or mechanism) such that it requires a tool to gain access to the batteries." [1]

There are probably more stringent standards in other jurisdictions (hear California / Europe).

[1] https://www.littlebird.com.au/products/safe-battery-pack-for...

If you're wondering why, kids can swallow (or attempt to swallow) a coincell, which can cause serious issues.

Its an interesting take, but I feel like this product and landing page has issues in its current form.

Website isn’t clear on what the product is actually for.

It is apparently intended to be used near a computer. Yet it appears to use cr2032s? They just end up in landfill. Why isn’t it USB powered? I have a usb fan, usb coffee warmer, usb light, usb clock, usb FM radio, usb cb radio. Why not a usb-spinning-wheel thing?

How does it compare to a repurposed keyboard with a wind-up toy connected to the cursor keys? Wouldn't that be better? No batteries!

Finally, why not just change the sleep mode so the laptop doesn't sleep at all?

recognized as a regular mouse, no software install needed:

https://wiebetech.com/products/mouse-jiggler-mj-3/

I don't mean to be rude, but this is like a child's solution. Keeping a system awake is a software issue. Nobody needs to buy hardware and waste batteries for this.

Perhaps this is for people on machines that are locked down and don't allow extra software.

I feel like an optical mouse sat on a clock (or perhaps a mirror) would achieve a similar result.

This is a reall clever hack :)

There is software that does the same thing.

Additionally there are USB sticks that register as a mouse and just slightly move the mouse continuously.

Lastly, almost any microcontroller that can act as a HID can do this with the right program.

All of these don't require a battery and can be much cheaper.

A simple PyAutoGUI script could do it for free.

This still has an audience of the "normies" who's work machines are locked down and block random Python scripts.

Agreed, a simple micro-controller emulating as a mouse would've much more elegant.

There are USB devices called jigglers which show up as ordinary HID compliant mouses and wiggle your mouse. They are also designed to solve similar problems.

Hardware hack: Notepad open and a cup on the keyboard

AutoHotKey with a script that moves the mouse 1 pixel every 10 minutes does the job for me.

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