Real-time USB status information
in [UK Mac]
|
From: Howard on 3 May 2010 10:39 D.M. Procida <real-not-anti-spam-address(a)apple-juice.co.uk> wrote: > I have an Apple Pro Mouse that's playing up; every so often it appears > to hang for a few seconds. > > I don't think the problem is the cable, because no amount of interfering > with it seems to trigger the behaviour. > > Is there a utility that will report in real tim on the state of USB > devices on the bus? > > Daniele Is it the mouse that is hanging or the computer ? is the computer connected to an external drive ? H
From: Rowland McDonnell on 3 May 2010 13:53 T i m <news(a)spaced.me.uk> wrote: > usenet(a)alienrat.co.uk (Woody) wrote: > > >Richard Tobin <richard(a)cogsci.ed.ac.uk> wrote: > > > >> D.M. Procida <real-not-anti-spam-address(a)apple-juice.co.uk> wrote: > >> > >> >I have an Apple Pro Mouse that's playing up; every so often it appears > >> >to hang for a few seconds. > >> > > >> >I don't think the problem is the cable, because no amount of interfering > >> >with it seems to trigger the behaviour. > >> > > >> >Is there a utility that will report in real tim on the state of USB > >> >devices on the bus? > >> > >> I don't know of one, but have you tried plugging it in to a non-Apple > >> computer? > > > >Why a non apple computer? I get plugging it into another machine, but > >any would do. His mouse is not working, why does he have to be more > >depressed? > > ;-) > > I think the idea was the notifications some people whinge about on > Windows that are very handy in such circumstances. Only if you can interpret the information and then do something about it - which most people can't. > I wonder if the same whingy people remove the internal trafficator > repeater lights and audible sounders on their cars, after all, they > have applied the indicator switch then don't need confirmation that > they are working do they? ;-) There's a difference between being given notification of the state of manually operated controls that need to be operated with care and attention to detail so as to avoid death or serious injury to people; and being given notification of the status of fully automated sub-systems forming part of a greater fully automated system that, if it had been implemented competently, would `just work'. And if they don't, it's not a life or death matter as it is with bad driving (or shouldn't be, not if the users aren't being seriously fuckwitted). One big difference is that these notifications you refer to are nothing other than a pure annoyance to most people, since they are - most cases - a malign interruption and waste of time. That is because most people cannot interpret them, or do anything about what they say. And properly speaking, such notifications shouldn't be needed at all - they should be kept silent unless a techie is trying troubleshooting. But it's dead handy to be warned that your indicator's left on. However, I know that the only thing which lets my dad know that his indicators are on is a passenger in the car prompting him with the word `indicators'. That's because he blanks the warning lights and clicking sound from his consciousness, for the sake of avoiding being distracted so as to permit him to drive safely. Not all `safety features' actually work: he might as well switch off the warning lights and bleeper, because he drives as if they don't exist anyway. What *he* needs is a detector to tell him when he's gone round the corner and to (in a `bored son' voice) mutter `indicators' at him if he's done so and they're still on. Then again, a reliable `auto-off' indicator mechanism would do... Rowland. -- Remove the animal for email address: rowland.mcdonnell(a)dog.physics.org Sorry - the spam got to me http://www.mag-uk.org http://www.bmf.co.uk UK biker? Join MAG and the BMF and stop the Eurocrats banning biking
From: T i m on 3 May 2010 14:28 �On Mon, 3 May 2010 18:53:48 +0100, real-address-in-sig(a)flur.bltigibbet.invalid (Rowland McDonnell) wrote: >> I think the idea was the notifications some people whinge about on >> Windows that are very handy in such circumstances. > >Only if you can interpret the information and then do something about it >- which most people can't. You are probably right, however it doesn't affect the usefulness to those people who can interpret them (not that a 'dom ding' and 'Your new hardware is ready' (the first time round) etc takes much interpretation IMHO). > >> I wonder if the same whingy people remove the internal trafficator >> repeater lights and audible sounders on their cars, after all, they >> have applied the indicator switch then don't need confirmation that >> they are working do they? ;-) > >There's a difference between being given notification of the state of >manually operated controls that need to be operated with care and >attention to detail so as to avoid death or serious injury to people; >and being given notification of the status of fully automated >sub-systems forming part of a greater fully automated system that, if it >had been implemented competently, would `just work'. I know? However, it's the function not the level of the consequences I was referring to. > And if they don't, >it's not a life or death matter as it is with bad driving (or shouldn't >be, not if the users aren't being seriously fuckwitted). Erm? > >One big difference is that these notifications you refer to are nothing >other than a pure annoyance to most people, since they are - most cases >- a malign interruption and waste of time. That is because most people >cannot interpret them, or do anything about what they say. I would suggest that such notifications for such people simply bled into the melee of other stuff, popups and 'issues' they ignore / dismiss regularly. > >And properly speaking, such notifications shouldn't be needed at all - >they should be kept silent unless a techie is trying troubleshooting. If you are talking about (say) Apple hardware being plugged into other Apple hardware and both running Apple software then you may well be right. The majority of the world isn't functioning in such a closed and managed environment and so such notifications are, for those that are looking out for them quite reassuring and informative. > >But it's dead handy to be warned that your indicator's left on. Or if you mouse / DTV tuner has been detected or not. On the indicator thing, (and as you should acknowledge as a biker), it can be very easy for a motorcyclist to miss the 'indicating' indicator on the clocks / dash (especially in daylight, if not a regular rider and in comparison with the audio and in-line-of-sight equivalent in a car). So, they (we) do what you have to do on a Mac and actually take a special look every time to see if all is as it should be. [1] > >However, I know that the only thing which lets my dad know that his >indicators are on is a passenger in the car prompting him with the word >`indicators'. That's because he blanks the warning lights and clicking >sound from his consciousness, for the sake of avoiding being distracted >so as to permit him to drive safely. So choosing to ignore an indicator rather than just noticing one you mean. Maybe that's what people do on Windows when stuff 'just works' but then have the option to take note when they suspect all may not be well (and just what I believe the OP was looking for). > >Not all `safety features' actually work: he might as well switch off the >warning lights and bleeper, because he drives as if they don't exist >anyway. What *he* needs is a detector to tell him when he's gone round >the corner and to (in a `bored son' voice) mutter `indicators' at him if >he's done so and they're still on. ;-) > >Then again, a reliable `auto-off' indicator mechanism would do... I think the best one is a semi-automatic solution (like a car) backed up by a (switched on) human. I think some bike ones self-cancel after a time period but that can also be an issue. I often find myself either holding-on or canceling early the self canceling indicators in my cars. Cheers, T i m [1] I was doing some errands in daughters Ka the other day and after putting a bag of stuff in the boot and pulling away I instantly noticed the right indicator system was running fast (suggesting a failed bulb). I pulled into a car park and check the external lights and as suspected, one was out (the rear). I opened the boot and checked the cabling where it joined that light cluster and lo-and-behold the connector was half hanging off. I plugged it all back in properly and the indicator worked ok (as did the internal 'indication' of the problem'). There was no explicit indication of the fault (no special fault light etc) but because I knew what I was doing the new indication (increased pace) told me everything.
From: Woody on 3 May 2010 15:28 T i m <news(a)spaced.me.uk> wrote: > On Mon, 3 May 2010 11:41:48 +0100, usenet(a)alienrat.co.uk (Woody) > wrote: > > >T i m <news(a)spaced.me.uk> wrote: > > > >> On Mon, 3 May 2010 11:20:29 +0100, usenet(a)alienrat.co.uk (Woody) > >> wrote: > >> > >> >Richard Tobin <richard(a)cogsci.ed.ac.uk> wrote: > >> > > >> >> In article > >> >> <1jhwsy8.1jcp79j19xauglN%real-not-anti-spam-address(a)apple-juice.co.u > >> >> k>, D.M. Procida <real-not-anti-spam-address(a)apple-juice.co.uk> > >> >> wrote: > >> >> > >> >> >I have an Apple Pro Mouse that's playing up; every so often it > >> >> >appears to hang for a few seconds. > >> >> > > >> >> >I don't think the problem is the cable, because no amount of > >> >> >interfering with it seems to trigger the behaviour. > >> >> > > >> >> >Is there a utility that will report in real tim on the state of USB > >> >> >devices on the bus? > >> >> > >> >> I don't know of one, but have you tried plugging it in to a non-Apple > >> >> computer? > >> > > >> >Why a non apple computer? I get plugging it into another machine, but > >> >any would do. His mouse is not working, why does he have to be more > >> >depressed? > >> > >> ;-) > >> > >> I think the idea was the notifications some people whinge about on > >> Windows that are very handy in such circumstances. > > > >dont know about you, but if I get a popup every 5 seconds saying my > >mouse is still working, that macine is going through the window! > > Indeed, however it doesn't work like that does it. ;-) So how would the notifications help? > >> I wonder if the same whingy people remove the internal trafficator > >> repeater lights and audible sounders on their cars, after all, they > >> have applied the indicator switch then don't need confirmation that > >> they are working do they? ;-) > > > >They would if they got alerts telling them their car is a bit messy, and > >would you like the car to tidy it up? > > But if they knew what they were doing they could turn that one off the > first time they saw it and just take advantage of the useful ones? If they knew how, yes > p.s. Did you get round to firing up the Nokia? I did - it was dead, I plugged it in, it is still sitting there. For some reason it doesn't want to connect to the internet, it maybe that I have just changed the internet to be wireles N only, although it does see it (and get its name). Maybe it can't do the other form of authentication? I will take some pics though so you can see. -- Woody Alienrat Design Ltd
From: T i m on 3 May 2010 16:07
On Mon, 3 May 2010 20:28:48 +0100, usenet(a)alienrat.co.uk (Woody) wrote: >> >dont know about you, but if I get a popup every 5 seconds saying my >> >mouse is still working, that macine is going through the window! >> >> Indeed, however it doesn't work like that does it. ;-) > >So how would the notifications help? By indicating when the device was inserted that it was detected / ok or not (by the tones) or that it wasn't supported (too much power drain, no driver) or that it could perform better (USB 1/II)? > <snip> >> But if they knew what they were doing they could turn that one off the >> first time they saw it and just take advantage of the useful ones? > >If they knew how, yes If they didn't then little would be to use to them anyway. I thought they say summat like 'if you don't want to see these notifications again click here' or somesuch? Not exactly difficult for even a numpty to understand is it? > >> p.s. Did you get round to firing up the Nokia? > >I did - it was dead, I plugged it in, it is still sitting there. Ok cheers. > For >some reason it doesn't want to connect to the internet, it maybe that I >have just changed the internet to be wireles N only, although it does >see it (and get its name). Sounds plausible. > Maybe it can't do the other form of >authentication? As does that. > I will take some pics though so you can see. Cheers. T i m |