traveling desk on iPad

[uhlhorn]

Hi,

would it not be nice to have the train controls for the train on PC on an iPad?

I mean: Trainz is running on a PC/Mac, and an iPad or iPhone shows the controls for this train. You can use the throttle, the brakes, light, horn, you can see the speed and the power. All on an iPad, or perhaps an iPhone too. And this iPad is remote controlling the train on the PC.

This would be nice, isn’t it?

Gerhard

 

[RRSignal]

I've thought about this, and I wouldn't. For a lot of reasons. For one, it's awfully expensive hardware for such a basic task. You could buy 3 Railrivers for the cost of an iPad. Also, I like my keyboard and mouse; I loathe touch-screen anything. And, lastly, smartphones have far too small a screen and keyboard to be very useful in my book, let alone enjoyable. Think about it - you need help to be able to write a simple text message because the size of the controls have surpassed the ability of many if not most people to operate them effectively. I don't see a good way to simulate all the controls of a locomotive in such a very physically limited environment. Some tablets like the iPad have a little more room but are still very limited.

 

[BLACKWATCH]

Would it not be nice, if the tightwads would condecend to buy an 'actual' PC to run a Sim that was based on a PC, instead of trying to run it on a mobile phone ?

C'mon, you spent 'HOW MUCH' !!!!!!! on a 'Blackberry' just to phone someone, so how about spending some of that easy cash on a computer, that would let you use the sim without complaining ?

Trainz is only going to get better, that means, better graphics, higher frame rates, more content, how do you expect a glorified mobile phone to be able to give you that ????????????

 

[uhlhorn]

I own an actual computer and I own an iPad. So it would nice to control the train via hardware (okay, touch controls) instead of an ugly mouse and keyboard.

 

[KenGreen]

I use an iPad I also have Trainz installed on it in my opinion Trainz on the iPad is too difficult to use it's merely a novelty aimed at the people that upgrade phones because there's something new and they must have the latest to keep up with their social network friends.
The iPad is good to use on the Auran forum but as to controlling Trainz give me the mouse and keyboard any day.

Ken

 

[uhlhorn]

No no! I meant large controls on the iPad, not so tiny controls like the controls in Trainz for iPad!

 

[uhlhorn]

So, now I have made some illustrations to this idea. I hope it helps to understand my idea. ;-)

 

[clam1952]

Do you actually mean use an iPad to control Trainz on a PC or Mac from a console type aspect? Its a novel idea, Now you need to work out how to actually do it!

 

[uhlhorn]

Now you need to work out how to actually do it!

No, that's the work of a developer. ;-) I brought the idea only.

 

[KenGreen]

I think your representation is excellent it certainly has some merits being a modern version of raildriver. The interface may be a problem, but you are right that's up to developer to pick it up and run with it. I can see it wouldn't suit those people that are not used to using touch screens, but for those who have become used to ipads and iPods it could catch on.

Ken

 

[uhlhorn]

The interface may be a problem, …

Yes, perhaps. It’s only an idea. And it’s only a quick and dirty rendering. But You get the idea. ;-)

How can I get the developers to read this?

 

[clam1952]

Yes, perhaps. It’s only an idea. And it’s only a quick and dirty rendering. But You get the idea. ;-)

How can I get the developers to read this?

Might be an idea to post something in the Suggestion Boxcar forum and link it to this thread? I don't think the actual interface between Ipad and Computer is much of a problem, we have Wireless, Bluetooth even ethernet, add a bit of networking know how and it should be quite possible, as you can already control PC's from other PC's and devices anyway.

 

[JCitron]

Might be an idea to post something in the Suggestion Boxcar forum and link it to this thread? I don't think the actual interface between Ipad and Computer is much of a problem, we have Wireless, Bluetooth even ethernet, add a bit of networking know how and it should be quite possible, as you can already control PC's from other PC's and devices anyway.

This is called SNMP or Simple Network Management Protocol. Servers and switches use this to phone home when there are issues like bad drives or failing network ports. Using SNMP calls, which are a standard IEEE spec, the device could easily talk to the software loaded on any computer.If you think about it, the controls are fairly simple - forward at different levels, reverse with the same, stopping, and other on-off functions for horn, bell, sander, etc.

This is an excellent idea. Let's see what the Brew Crew has to say about it.

John

 

[uhlhorn]

Okay, do You want to forward this to the developers?

 

[JCitron]

Okay, do You want to forward this to the developers?

You can do that by either reposting this in the Suggestion Boxcar, or by linking this thread to a thread in the same forum.