Hi David,
I have had some success in switching CD players using the following method.
Attach a pair of small loudspeakers (computer speakers work well) to the
head phone socket of the CD player and then plug the power supply for the
speakers into a Powerlink (AbleNet) and then plug the switch into the
Powerlink. This avoids the problem of latching play buttons. Pressing the
switch just cuts or starts the power to the speakers and therefore cuts or
starts the music. The Powerlink also allows one to set timings and to latch
etc. Of course the CD player continues playing so when power is returned to
the speakers the music doesn't continue from where it left off, however if
the purpose of the exercises is to help establish cause and effect, this is
not too big a problem.
I gather your enquirer was looking for a cheap solution and the Powerlink is
quite expensive, so a possible alternative to the Powerlink would be to use
battery operated loudspeakers with a switch socket added in between the
batteries.
In addition I believe that Liberator sell a switch adapted CD player now,
which might be simpler if the cost is reasonable.
Andrew Walker
ICT Coordinator
Exeter House Special School
Salisbury
SP1 3BL
-----Original Message-----
From: A discussion list for Assistive Technology professionals.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of David Colven
Sent: 14 July 2006 11:54
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Switch Control of CD player
I have had an enquiry about the use of a standard CD player for cause and
effect training. The enquirer wants an inexpensive way of having a switch
to start a CD playing and then after a set time have it stop playing
(pause). The user would then have to press the switch again to un-pause
the music.
I have talked about environmental control or IR control systems and use of
computers as players to do this but the enquirer wants a stand-alone device
to go home with the user.
I thought that a QED toy controller or similar wired into the pause button
or the remote controller, but that would not work because this would hold
the pause button down after a switch press, so the control would be in
effect a latching switch and no advance on wiring the switch in directly.
Any Ideas?
David
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