Inkwell without Tablet? Need "Pen-Down" modifier key?

[penum6ra]

Hey all:
Since I have gotten so many awesome tips from here in the past, I figured I would ask a question to get the ball rolling on a dream of mine, and probably many other readers.

Can we make Inkwell handwriting recognition work with the trackpad on our laptops?

By removing this pair, "NSPrefPaneHardwareTest" from the info.plist of the Ink.prefpane (System/Library/PreferencePanes/) I have been able to make it load into the System Preference. Then you can turn Inkwell on and off and change all sorts of options, to no apparent ill-effect (just make sure you turn it off when you are not using it, otherwise mouse clicks act screwy).

The question is: Now that it is active, it appears to be waiting for some sort of a "Pen-Down" or "I am a pen pay attention to me" type signal.

First question: Does anyone know how to reproduce this 'signal?'
Second question: Is there a way to make this 'signal' onto a modifier key combo?

The way I figure it, it that Inkwell will work, if we can make the trackpad track the movement of a stylus/finger and think it is a pen with the proper signal.
Trackpad is USB, Tablet is USB
Trackpad has one button, Tablet has none (external).

Maybe there might even be a way to capture the Trackpad button's click as the modified only if there were an external mouse attached?

Think of the possibilities for art programs too in using the trackpad for this...

Then again, this could be WAY over simplifying things. (I'm sure it is) but just wanted to get the discussion started with those who know more!

<penum6ra>

[Mikey-San]

Actually, your trackpad is ADB.

No kidding.

It's routed through your power management unit as an Apple Desktop Bus device.

Sorry.


[thermodynamics:~] mikey% ioreg | grep ADB
| | | | +-o IOPMUADBController <class IOPMUADBController>
| | | | +-o 2-c3@2 <class IOADBDevice>
| | | | | +-o AppleADBKeyboard <class AppleADBKeyboard>
| | | | +-o 3-01@3 <class IOADBDevice>
| | | | | +-o AppleADBMouseType4 <class AppleADBMouseType4>
| | | | +-o 7-1f@7 <class IOADBDevice>
| | | | +-o AppleADBButtons <class AppleADBButtons>


-/-
Mikey-San

[penum6ra]

You're right.
My bad. One point down.

Does the fact that it is ADB make a difference?

I guess since Inkwell only supports USB external tablets then this precludes the possibility that this might work?

Well one can wish... I still think that there might be a way to trick Inkwell into thinking that there is a pen down.

Thanks for the info!

Anyone else?

<penum6ra>