macOS USB Panic Button - Working on Mac

nicksoper · Jul 28, 2010

Hey There,
Last night I got given a USB Panic Button (Link to page here) but the software only works on PC.

I am not expecting anyone to write me any code, but it would be really nice if someone could point me in the right direction to read up about how to record a USB event on a mac, then run a script, and what kind of script would be suitable to run (I have dabbled in a bit of light Applescript previously)

If I get it working, I would then share it with fellow panic button mac users.

Nick

jared_kipe · Jul 28, 2010

First things first, in SystemPreferences-> Language&Text-> InputSources
Check off the box for "Keyboard & Character Viewer".

Then open the keyboard viewer from the small icon by the clock.

This will allow you to see when "keys" are pressed/held down. Its possible this thing just acts as a keyboard and sends a key combo for their software to watch out for.

larkost · Jul 28, 2010

If it does not simply present itself as a single-key keyboard, then you are probably out of luck. Writing drivers is not an AppleScript-esque exercise.

nicksoper · Aug 4, 2010

Unfortunately the usb event does not present itself as a keyboard input.

Anyone got any ideas as to where to start programming an app that could pick this up?

It's a bit daunting, but I did do Java at uni, and I have been using PHP for the last couple of years. I could do with a new challenge.

Thanks for the help so far.

Installing X-Code, reading about Cocoa. Gonna see where that takes me.

kainjow · Aug 4, 2010

It looks like it follows the standard USB HID stuff. Some guys wrote some code to change what it does in Windows:
http://www.johnbruin.net/index.php/2008/11/30/new-software-for-your-usb-panic-button/

I'm assuming you could use the OS X HID APIs and do something similar:
http://developer.apple.com/mac/library/documentation/DeviceDrivers/Conceptual/HID/intro/intro.html

but maybe not:
http://www.orderedbytes.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3961

Hmm wish I had one to play with

kainjow · Aug 9, 2010

Well I got my hands on the device and figured I'd give it a shot. It was a little odd but I got it working, so I made an app that lets you run an AppleScript whenever the button is hit. Requires 10.6, you can download here. Source code available.

Have fun

nicksoper · Aug 16, 2010

@kainjow: Classic!

metade · Aug 17, 2010

kainjow said:
Well I got my hands on the device and figured I'd give it a shot. It was a little odd but I got it working, so I made an app that lets you run an AppleScript whenever the button is hit. Requires 10.6, you can download here. Source code available.

Have fun

Any chance of a 10.5 version?

Search

Search

macOS USB Panic Button - Working on Mac

nicksoper

macrumors member

jared_kipe

macrumors 68030

larkost

macrumors 6502a

nicksoper

macrumors member

kainjow

Moderator emeritus

kainjow

Moderator emeritus

nicksoper

macrumors member

metade

macrumors newbie

Our Staff