Rockbox for a blind, phsically limited user

[mo-seph]

Hi All,

I'm currently carrying out a project to improve the quality of life for a person who is both blind, and limited to movement in a single arm; he has a great sense of sound, though and loves music.

I'm aiming to create some custom hardware that fits his capabilities, and I'm looking at Rockbox on some mp3 player as a platform.

I'm looking for two kinds of advice here:
- how to implement the features I need in rockbox
- experience with specific players and stability - basically, can I get something which will "Just Work" once installed

The plan is to modify rockbox so that only two buttons are used:
- Button 1 cycles between different music folders (different genres of music), playing FM radio and Off.
- Button 2 skips tracks, or moves to the next radio station.

Also, when moving to a different directory (or to the radio), a recorded file should play back, to provide a audible menu.

As I understand it, the audible menu stuff is already part of rockbox, and I can adapt that functionality. What I'd like is advice about how to go about implementing the control functionality. As far as I can see, I'll need to:
- take over two of the hardware buttons on the unit, and assign these to the actions outlined above
- ensure that the unit is always on "Random play in a certain directory"
- make sure that the list of directories is available (or generated from the file system)

Can anyone advise whether I can do this as a plugin, or if I will need to edit stuff more deeply?

(I'm developing with eclipse on linux, and I've got a copy set up and happily compiling)

Thanks very much!
Dave Murray-Rust

[mschneider]

Well if you look here: http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/WebHome
You can find a list of ports and information on their current functionality. Also if you look at "buyer's guide" there is a helpful table that shows some of what you may need.
just from quickly skimming through the ports it seems like a Cowon will be your best bet.

[mo-seph]

Great, thanks for your help!

Anyone have any suggestions on the best way to implement the playing behaviour I'm after?

[LambdaCalculus]

The iAUDIO X5 can pretty much be controlled by one hand. It has a "joysitck"-like nub that controls volume, navigation, and selection. The major buttons are all on the right hand side of the player, so you can hold the device in one hand and reach all of the major controls with your fingers and still have all of the functions you need.