Voice Control? Foot Control?

[mikemarotta]

Discussing the first binocular microscope, this came up:

A bit weird by today's standards, but I agree pneumatic controls that didn't need the hands to operate can have utility.

So, I wonder: Siri or Alexa interfaces? It would seem that voice control would be available by now. For that matter, electric sewing machines have long since had foot controls.

Personal computers have had voice and speech for probably 40 years now.

It seems odd that there has been no demand for this.

Thanks.
Mike M.

[apochronaut]

There have been various foot control functions since maybe the 50's but such controls actually exist due to a needed application. What applications in microscopy were you thinking were in need of either foot or voice controls?

[BramHuntingNematodes]

Mouth control! Mouth control! Mouth control!

[dtsh]

Discussing the first binocular microscope, this came up:

A bit weird by today's standards, but I agree pneumatic controls that didn't need the hands to operate can have utility.

So, I wonder: Siri or Alexa interfaces? It would seem that voice control would be available by now. For that matter, electric sewing machines have long since had foot controls.

Personal computers have had voice and speech for probably 40 years now.

It seems odd that there has been no demand for this.

Thanks.
Mike M.

Neither Siri nor Alexa, not voice control, but mouth; either by manipulating a controller with the mouth or, what seems more common to me, the use of pneumatics by blowing/sucking on a tube with a mouthpiece. I've seen the later still occasionally used for control of manipulators. I don't expect to see such become more common, if anything I would expect to see more computer control and automation. Voice control, as you mention, has been done for years, I can recall automating things with voice control at the turn of the century; I considered it a novelty then as I do now. I don't see much utility in voice control on micropscopy equipment, the functions aren't really that difficult to do and I can't see how voice control would simplify any of it (not that my inability to imagine it makes it nonexistent).

As others have mentioned, foot control have been in recorded use for a long time. The first that jumps to mind is the use of foot control for switching power to illuminators.

Mouth control! Mouth control! Mouth control!

Thats why nobody else wants to use your microscopes!

[viktor j nilsson]

I've built a foot switch to trigger my camera. This is especially nice when shooting pond critters as it allows you to focus with one hand and move the stage with the other.

Here's instructions:
www.instructables.com/Canon-EOS-Foot-Pe ... ter-Remote

[imkap]

I've built a foot switch to trigger my camera. This is especially nice when shooting pond critters as it allows you to focus with one hand and move the stage with the other.

Here's instructions:
www.instructables.com/Canon-EOS-Foot-Pe ... ter-Remote

This is great...

[Alexander]

I use a foot switch for the camera as well. Bought it in retail.

[patta]

I used some times "voice control" asking the wife to take the photo, but this method has significant delay and costs. Also exposure settings change uncontrollably.

[MichaelG.]

So, I wonder: Siri or Alexa interfaces? […]

From what little I have seen of those … the problem would be in avoiding all the ‘helpful’ suggestions and advertisements.



MichaelG.

[patta]

Mc Crone day
found this article "An afternoon with mr Footswitch"
a clearly disturbed individual using light foot switches, to examine under microscope the debris found on roads...

https://www.mccrone.com/mm/confessions ... switch/

[charlie g]

Terrific McCrone link, thank you,patta. For me the trailing wires from foot to the stand seem a clutter hazard. I hope the 'footswitch microscopist' does serious forensic work with car tread sediments, shoe and sneaker residues, my doggie would be afraid to have the gent in our home...what with things on our floors...doggie would watch the mans gears turning. charlie g.

[Roldorf]

I think you may have got your timing wrong on voice and foot control. IBM didn't bring out their first PC until the end of 1981 and there was no such thing as voice control. I was selling computers for Tandy Corporation in the UK in 1980 (Radio Shack in the US). The first IBM pc came with a tape recorder port to store data and no disk drives and was vastly inferior to the Radio Shack PC at the time, which also had no voice control.
You could probably have had foot control if you put the tape deck on the floor and turned it off and on with your big toe.

[jfiresto]

I remember tape recorders back then often had a remote control input that let you stop and start the machine for taking dictation, with a subminature jack on the recorder and a switch on the microphone or in a foot pedal. Some microcomputers used that input to throttle playback while loading programs and data.

[Chas]

A "Bite switch" for Canon's :
https://www.chutingstar.com/conceptus-b ... 2-5mm-plug
(?)