Method for mapping a long key press to another key?

iscariot · 01-28-2014, 10:42 AM

Is there something for linux that would allow you to map a long key press to another key? The reason I'm asking is because we are building a set of kiosks for a local community center, and they are using a limited keyboard to control the system. In this case, we don't have any function keys, ctrl, alt, home, etc. Is there some sort of way in linux to have someone hold down like the backspace key for 5 seconds and it would send an escape keypress?

pan64 · 01-29-2014, 03:30 AM

I think: the keyboard handler counts the delay (length of keypress) and sends repeatedly the same key event, so you need to modify it to do something else.

iscariot · 01-29-2014, 07:17 AM

I see. Is there something out there that already does that or is that something that needs to be written? No sense reinventing the wheel.

iscariot · 02-18-2014, 03:06 PM

Anybody?

harryhaller · 02-18-2014, 03:34 PM

Instead of a long key press, designate a few keys as a prefix keys. If you press the prefix key, the system waits for the second key. You can even chain these together so that you could type a whole word

How you do it will depend on the WM you are using. I use xbindkey to define the primary prefix key which then hands control over to my script, after which I am in control. the details after that are then very wm specific - I use ratpoison as my wm....

DavidMcCann · 02-19-2014, 12:07 PM

I think they'll have to get a different keyboard. There are plenty of kiosk keyboards with a variety of configurations. e.g.
http://www.electronickeyboards.com/kiosk-keyboards.html

Of course it depends on their budget: the kiosk boards are all expensive and if the usage is not expected to be too heavy, it might make sense to get standard office-quality keyboards and replace every few years.

iscariot · 02-28-2014, 12:40 PM

One of the things we have is that this is a limited key matrix, IE we have like 10 buttons, or "keys" on the kiosk. I was hoping we could just press and hold one to make it do a separate action.