Sound feedback for faster shape handling and drawing in Visio

[David.P]

Hi forum,

since I've always been an ergonomics junkie I thought I'd share my little sound feedback trick (see attachment).

For me personally, this makes editing much faster and more accurate since Visio makes a little clicking sound as soon as the mouse pointer engages with (hovers over) a line, shape or other element.

Enjoy,
Cheers David.P

PS: This idea (a long time ago) was inspired by the wonderful Logitech/Immersion iFeel Mouse which unfortunately was a decade ahead of it's time and therefore discontinued.

[Yacine]

Hi David,
I would have liked to test it, but it did not work with Vista32 + V2007 .

[David.P]

Hey Yacine,

did you put the included WAV file in the same folder as the EXE? If yes, then it might be a problem with the cursor names that could be different in Vista and/or Visio 2007...

I changed the script a little, maybe this version works.

Cheers David.P

[edit: removed attachment] Please use the original attachment in the first post. You might have to provide you own "clicky" WAV file if the included file is too subtle for your sound system.

[Yacine]

It was not the script but the wav that is either too quiet or corrupt. Replaced the wav file. Now it works.
Unfortunately, I some how did not really get the idea. I get the sound only when the mouse hovers over a shape and is not dragging any point or object. I think it should be the other way around.

[David.P]

Yep, the idea is to give more than only visual feedback whether you actually already hover a shape (thus being able to select it) - or whether you are still too far away.

It's kind of the predecessor of tactile feedback... @Microsoft, Apple, Immersion, anyone: I want tactile feedback like Logitech used to have it  

I use the tool all the time because it makes possible to select lines, shapes etc. without having to squint/exactly watch the cursor. Thus your eyes can already start to move to some other spot on the drawing while your ears can check the confirmation of the proper selection. Kinda' like that.

Anyway, for me it's become indispensable.... For example when quickly cleaning out dozens of redundant lines from imported CAD drawings.

Cheers David.P

[Visio Guy]

I thought that's what you were trying to do, but I didn't have time to figure it out. So when you mouse over a shape, the cursor changes. That change in cursor can be accompanied by a subtle, quick tone, which gives the effect of a bump. Cool!

I thought that gamers still use buzzing, vibrating mice. Maybe one of those could be hooked up? It's not like there's a shortage of buzzing devices these days - every handy/cell-phone has one!

[Bluegryffin]

Hi David:

I'm trying to use your script, but where should the script be placed? In what Visio application folder?

Also is there a way you could create a script for what Yacine described? A sound file for when the card is dropped after dragging it? I found the perfect sound file for that, like a pushpin being inserted. I'm trying to create this for the company I work for. Any help?

[David.P]

Hi Blue,

the script is actually a separate program that watches the mouse cursor shape and gives sound feedback on certain changes of the cursor shape. It doesn't matter where you place the script as long as the wav file is placed in the same folder as the exe.

I'm not sure what you mean by "dropping a card". Possibly you could create a script (using AutoHotkey) that issues a sound when this happens -- IF there is a way for an external program to recognize the respective event in Visio.

Since Visio itself doesn't support sound events (like e.g. PowerPoint does), it is rather difficult to implement this kind of sound feedback.

The only thing my script is supposed to do is improve usability and speed while you actually are drawing -- by giving someting that is as close as possible to tactile feedback.

Hth,
Cheers David.P

[Bluegryffin]

Hi David:

Thanks so much! What I mean on the card being "dropped" is in a "drag + drop" event in Visio, where moving the card would be like tacking it into the board after letting go with the mouse cursor. Now I understand what your script is controlling (the mouse) and also ends my quest to put a sound profile into Visio!