2020-11-03 16:04:57

I don't know where this topic should go and I realize this is probably the dumbest thging I've ever asked for, but I figure if any community has any possible answer, it would probably be this one.
My youngest daughter, (18 going on 19 months,) is very, very bored.  My youngest daughter is currently watching both her mother and father playing with computers.  My youngest daughter, knows there is a fully functional computer that is not currently occupied, but which the other children use from time to time.  My youngest daughter wants to press keys on the keyboard and make things happen.
So I got to thinking, is there a program that I could possibly open, which would allow her to press keys and make things happen, such as triggering sounds?  If such a program does not exist, how hard would it be to make it?  And if it wouldn't be too hard to make, would one of you kindly consider making it?  I'm no programmer/developer, so my making it is out of the question.  Maybe the answer is more simple than I realize, and that's all fair and good, but there it is.  So, if a program of this nature already exists, will you kindly point me to it?  If it doesn't and you have time on your off time if such a thing is a thing, would you consider making it?  Bonus thanks uf the program allows me to change out the sounds that originally come with it.

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2020-11-03 16:15:44

This would be very easy to make, and, should you not find  an alternative in a satisfactory time it would be my pleasure to make it.
On a side note, you may also be able to find toys that do similar, I'll do some research and post again if I find something.

Nathan Smith
Managing Director of Nathan Tech
It's not disability
It's ability!

2020-11-03 16:17:24

Update:
A very quick look on amazon for toy computer turns up lots of results at very reasonable prices, like this one on the UK website:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Educational-Co … s9dHJ1ZQ==

Nathan Smith
Managing Director of Nathan Tech
It's not disability
It's ability!

2020-11-03 16:18:28

well #1, there's this little
drum machine thing here, you have a couple packs when you download and extract it and you can add more or change the existing ones. Read the read me for more info.
A piano program as well, though not sure if it functions anymore but worth a try,
I'll post if I find sometings else

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2020-11-03 16:28:13

@1
If none of them make you happy, let me know and I'll make you a program. Won't take long.

-----
I have code on GitHub

2020-11-03 16:30:36

This is a rather OKay time waster, though only for a few minutes. big_smile. It speaks the alphabet and plays an according sound, though be warned there is kill and zombie in there, the kill(k) key will play a sound of someone falling to the ground while saying uuuu or something and the z will play a low pitched zombie moan thing. Here it is,
File convoy file, Do not know megabites

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2020-11-03 16:41:31 (edited by defender 2020-11-03 16:41:54)

Ugh, I know someone made a simple soundboard a few years ago and I used to have it but after most of my files got corrupted when reinstalling Windows, I no longer do.


Something which can also loop a sound if a key is held down and reverb on stop would be awesome I'd think.
You'll want to use a keyboard you don't mind losing though...  LOL.

2020-11-03 16:43:01 (edited by moaddye 2020-11-04 04:42:24)

I also figured I'd bring something different to the table. this is an online virtual piano player. It's not the best, and sometimes it lags, but maybe you'll like it or it'll be a timewaster. Once you enter the page, wait for like 5 seconds and if I'm not wrong, press ensert space(aka enter editor mode or something) and start pressing keys.
Virtual piano.

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2020-11-03 17:31:54 (edited by Nocturnus 2020-11-03 17:32:07)

Thanks all.  I like the drum machine thing.  I'm going to set it up on this other computer before my daughter wakes up from her nap.  I was sort of toying with the idea of just having her watch youtube videos and using the NVDA Input lock addon to lock the keyboard, though I kind of thought that would be cheating.  She'd be presing keys but things wouldn't really be happening as she did it.

When life gives you oranges, demand lemons since everyone else is obviously getting them.

2020-11-03 18:08:20

Nash Central has a full-on soundboard, though I think it requires the pressing of some modifiers to pass through to it, however, you can assign a particular key any sound, and I'd assume most of the keyboard can be used for this.

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2020-11-03 18:08:52

@1 @9, if you dont find something that soots your needs, please, please just tell me to make you one, i'll be so happi to make such a thing for you and for anyone that may needs it

2020-11-03 18:20:55

I think what we are looking for would be something that when she presses a letter would either say the letter name, or play a sound and also pop up a graphic that matches. Examples. A, apple, airplane, astronaut. B, banana, banjo. C Cow, corn, cat. etc. numbers would say the number and show it on screen. control keys or other random keys might just play random sound effects with friendly graphics. I hope this makes sense? This way she can learn while playing. I realize toys exist, but she doesn't want toys, because she realizes they aren't real. She wants to use the computer like we do. smile If someone could put something like this together rather easily, Sofia would be ever so greatful. smile I believe Lisa and Lily might like it too. 1 note, if possible make sure none of the graphics flash. Sofia has seizures and we wouldn't want to trigger those. Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts. This community has been so kind words can not describe the feelings of greatfulness and joy we feel, knowing people care.

2020-11-03 19:10:26

My only thing is get a cheapo keyboard. Kids have all sorts of nasty stuff all over their hands, and if they use your stuff, soon enough, it'll get gummed up and stop working.

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2020-11-03 21:46:22

@13 sounds simple enough.
I've started working on this and will have the letters numbers and sounds part done pretty quickly.
Bare with me while I look for pictures. Will post again with updates smile

Nathan Smith
Managing Director of Nathan Tech
It's not disability
It's ability!

2020-11-03 22:59:10

Most early learning software around that age predominantly is on iPhones and tablets, mostly because people seem to believe that the touch interfaces are more intuitive for children. Course, that could just make them more acclimated to using touch interfaces rather than actual keyboards...

What your maybe looking for is something like a [synthesizer], which could give you a virtual synth keyboard bound to keys you can mash. There's a relatively simple python program [here] that does that where you can assign a sound to a key on the keyboard to use as a musical instrument.

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2020-11-04 03:09:02

Update: End of day 1. I've already coded a to z and 0 to 9. When you press these keys it announces what key you pressed. With a to z, it will randomly announce a word instead, for example: apple, bear, cow, dog.
I've tried to choose words that are quite simple and should be easy to learn. I additionally am going to gather sounds for other keys like home, end, page up and page down. I currently have a list of 39 keys that I'm looking for sounds for. My plan is to make them quite wacky, a horn, a cheer, maybe a moo, and a bark?

Even if this specific program doesn't get used by @nightshade and @nocturnus it's proving to be a fun program to make and I am curious for opinions.

Nathan Smith
Managing Director of Nathan Tech
It's not disability
It's ability!

2020-11-04 03:20:19

@16 I would not mind having something like this to mess around with when I am board.

2020-11-04 03:29:06

Wow, its kind of awesome to see people willing to code something for such a beautiful cause, franticly it touches my heart a lot.

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2020-11-04 03:48:21

@8 the page doesn't work for me, like it can't load. and i would actually really love to try this.

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2020-11-04 04:38:33

The link from post 8 is https://virtualpiano.net/
In the post it is missing a colon which is why it fails to load.
Fun little tool, makes me miss playing my keyboard!
HTH

Nathan Smith
Managing Director of Nathan Tech
It's not disability
It's ability!

2020-11-04 12:23:22 (edited by defender 2020-11-04 12:24:57)

Need any help finding sounds Dardar?  I can suggest some easy resources or you could give me a list and I can go grab and edit them for you.
Side note: you might want to have a sighted person (or Aira) verify that those pictures are okay.  In all likelihood they are but better safe than sorry these days.

2020-11-04 12:33:10

Good morning!
@21 I'm going to source most sounds from free sounds if I can, mostly because I find it easy to identify their licenses and things like that.
If you have recommendations for quote unquote wacky sounds I'm definitely open.
Yeah, I'm definitely going to need some sighted assistance with pictures and I do have a few people to lean on but again recommendations again also welcome.

Nathan Smith
Managing Director of Nathan Tech
It's not disability
It's ability!

2020-11-04 12:52:08

Yeah I was definitely talking about free legal sounds.
try
zap splat
Free SFX
and
Sound Effects Plus
These all have some download and filetype restrictions but still worth it to have all those high quality sounds at your fingertips IMO.

2020-11-04 17:57:01

@Defender, Dardar and others who are contributing, thank you ever so much.  I seriously hope this does become a thing because I know Sofi would enjoy it immensely.  AS Nightshade mentioned earlier, it's just the idea of doing what Mommy and daddy do that is the real incentive here.  Someone here mentioned that touch interfaces such as iOS and Android devices would probably be better, but the problem with that idea is quite simply that while we do have them and use them to some extent, she doesn't see us using them as much as she sees us using computers.  So what does she do?  Why, climb in a computer chair and fiddle with a keyboard, then get mad at it because it's not doing something!
When she sees her sibblings using the iPad she is interested, but for the most part, that's just it.  AT this age and stage in life toddlers base themselves so heavily on what they see others doing, and since her brother and sisters are going to school and the only other people she sees regularly are using computers, she's going to want to use them as well.  This is the reason I came here and hoped someone could help out.

When life gives you oranges, demand lemons since everyone else is obviously getting them.

2020-11-05 00:18:19

Update: Day 2.
All of the keys I can access on my keyboard have now got sounds of some kind. some examples include:
The function keys: Various types of birds.
Left bracket: a baby sneeze.
Space: cha ching.
Windows: Funny horn.

Things will likely slow a little now while I source a sighted person for help in getting images and sight verification of the screens showing.
On this topic though, if anyone should happen to know a freelancer who is looking for a little bit of money and happy to do a bit of slightly repetitive work and is happy to give feedback, I am happy to pay up to 25 bucks for a service and would rather it be someone who needs it so do let me know.

Finally, @nightshade and @nocturnus I was wondering: I had a thought to make it so that keys 1 to 0, instead of showing pictures, changed the colour of the screen. Is this a good idea?

All the best.

Nathan Smith
Managing Director of Nathan Tech
It's not disability
It's ability!