Minimal media centre setup suggestions needed.

[steeb]

Hi Steeb,

The term quadriplegic refers to a condition where all limbs are affected but doesn't mean all limbs are totally disabled.

He has (limited) control over both his arms and the fingers on one hand and has a "standard issue" touch screen device provided by the health service which he can use as a "talker" as he has no speech.

The original idea which was put to me was to store his favourite movies directly onto an Android device but then I explained even a tablet with a large amount of storage wouldn't hold many. I'd need to write some sort of app with a "chunky" interface anyway in order to cope with slight lack of coordination. At that point I figured we could go one better and give him a full screen entertainment system through his TV.

Cheers,
Brian

Thanks Brian, do understand quadriplegic and my bad for not asking what use of arms was had. As ever as much control/independence must be given to him at this point. When you say limited budget what are we talking? £50 £100 £200

[bgowland]

Thanks Brian, do understand quadriplegic and my bad for not asking what use of arms was had. As ever as much control/independence must be given to him at this point. When you say limited budget what are we talking? £50 £100 £200

Budget is unknown but could possibly stretch - a few hundred perhaps. In a way this thread is a feasibility study. Cheaper would be good but quality and usability are paramount hence the reason I'm fishing for ideas.

Cheers,
Brian

[jam_zhou]

I think the best solution is a WDTV Live networked to a computer. Lots of support for the WDTV and you can even get movie sheets for the bling!

Just be aware that they are not very snappy. If you can forgive the lag then it's a great solution!

Heck one of the WDTV solutions can act as a simple pvr with the proper USB OTA stick.

[ga_mueller]

Here in the US we can get a low spec computer (celeron) for around $300 (but usually less). 4G + 500G HD. Store 300+ sd movies. Run xbmc, and use old android/ios device as remote (specific xbmc apps available)... my 2 cents.

[steeb]

Hi Brian, still thinking about this, it kept me up half of last night!

I've gone through about 12 different scenarios and rejected them all as unusable. Or too complex. But they are beginning to meld, I think.

But please let me know if I am being a PITA.

He has (limited) control over both his arms and the fingers on one hand and has a "standard issue" touch screen device provided by the health service which he can use as a "talker" as he has no speech.

How big are the buttons on this device? I am also trying to think of a user experience first rather than what may happen at the back end....

steeb

[dljones8053]

A roku has a app for android devices and iPad if Netflix is an option or amazon prime both runs about the same each year, amazon prime 99.00 a year and Netflix 8.99 month.

The roku starts at 40 bucks vs price of a smart TV, that is as simple as I can think of at the moment.

dj

[bgowland]

How big are the buttons on this device?

Configurable based on user requirements, e.g., big and chunky with fewer on screen if needed but with multiple "pages" of buttons if required.

[bgowland]

Thanks to all for the suggestions. I definitely think a stand-alone box is promising and I'm focussing on the WD TV Live devices at the moment but I've also looked at specs on some Roku devices.

I downloaded the WD app to my tablet but wasn't surprised when I didn't get very far with it. The second screen goes into "discovery" mode which I suspect is using something along the lines of SSDP/UPnP (well that's what I'm hoping). I'll do some tests later with some code I wrote a while back which listens for this sort of discovery broadcast. If it looks promising I'll get some family funding to buy a second-hand box from eBay - if that doesn't pan-out I can always put it back on eBay again.

Cheers,
Brian

[mvallevand]

To me it depends on the level of independence. I think an XBMC appliance of some sort with Yatse remote with touch and voice control http://yatse.leetzone.org/redmine/projec...roidwidget could be good for some if you have networking. However if I was working on something it would probably start with a Win 8.1 touch laptop with a largish internal drive not NAS with whatever accessibility features are needed with either direct connected HDMI, or wireless HDMI, Widi or Miracast. If I knew more about the Apple iOS world something similar with the bonus of integrating AirPlay, iPads etc could probably work as well or better.

Martin

[steeb]

I was still thinking some kind of XBMC set up with Yatse but didn't even think of Voice control. Typical Martin genius.

Also I have played with IR blaster support on Android devices that support it (do Windows tablets?) with great success. My thinking here would be the ability to switch inputs between TV/AV, ability to change TV channels etc?