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Ask HN: What toys have turned into tools for you?
7 points by digitalsushi on Dec 20, 2016 | hide | past | favorite | 1 comment
I did an experiment for a friend recently to prove that a USB foot pedal could be mapped to Photoshop functions, in order to retrieve his left hand from command-z on his laptop and put it back onto his cintiq. It worked, of course.

Not really have the same need, I have found myself creating keyboard maps for other programs - my foot has muscle memory for Youtube's 10 second fast forward. When I am in consumer mode, I can lean back with my hands bundled up in my hoodie pockets and not freeze them in this 48 degree New England house on winter savings mode.

What are some toys you have that were elevated to tool status? Computers, commute, cozy, craft, doesn't matter.



Another that my wife noticed - I have been obsessed with smart bulbs for 14 months, brand agnostic. I did a f.lux script that makes the office lights all start faking a sunset every night at 9pm, up until midnight when the flicker out. It doesn't follow the season, it just follows a static day.

It might be completely unrelated, but I have been falling asleep for some time now. I don't expect they are actually circadian invoking quality, but even if just placebo, I find myself winding down as the lights take their last couple hours to fade away.




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