WHAT'S HOT

The TiltCONTROL hardware

...and installed on a Pocket PC

It may be small, but it really still works well.  Here's some shots of it dynamically rotating my screen while I physically rotate my PPC:

Here's the Pocket PC in the normal position

Rotate it to the right and the screen follows suit

Continue to rotate the Pocket PC and the screen keeps up, even upside down

...and finally to the left, with the screen properly rotated again.

SETUP

PRODUCT FEATURES

TiltCONTROL settings

Tapping on the TiltCONTROL Settings icon in the TiltCONTROL folder brings up the driver settings dialog:

    The driver settings dialog shows the current readings from the TiltCONTROL hardware (if connected) and its status (connected or disconnected).  The is a check box that allows you to disable the driver (in case it interferes with another serial-connected device like a keyboard).  You can also choose your performance level.  The "High" setting is very responsive but may slow down other programs as it gives priority to TiltCONTROL messages.
    Tapping on the [Calibration Wizard] button walks you through the process of calibrating the software to your TiltCONTROL hardware.  It begins by asking you to make sure your TiltCONTROL hardware is connected, then displays the Zero G Calibrate screen:

    The Zero G Calibrate screen takes the readings for your device while it's sitting on a flat surface.  The [Zero G calibrate] button stores those readings.  The [Back] button goes back to the hardware connection warning.  The [Cancel] button stops the calibration process with only those reading that you've already taken being stored.  The [Next] button proceeds to the next phase of calibration.  At each stage, you'll be asked to tilt your Pocket PC for minimum and maximum vertical and horizontal positions.

Once the calibration is completed, a test screen is displayed with a cursor that shows the tilt position.  Tilting the Pocket PC will dynamically move the cursor.

Pressing the Action button on your Pocket PC will exit the test screen.

The [Manual Calibration] button on the main screen calls up a single screen that allows you to manually adjust the calibration by adjusting the sensitivity and offsets:

    You can also use the Manual Calibration to reverse horizontal or vertical action or to swap horizontal and vertical axes.  These options may be useful if you have a WM2003SE machine and more often use it in upside-down portrait or landscape orientations.
    The icons at the bottom of the screen show the four maximum/minimum positions with the [Zero G Calibrate] button at the top.  To calibrate to those positions, you simple place the Pocket PC in the position that matches the icon and press the matching icon (or place the PPC in the zero position and press the [Zero G Calibrate] button).  You can also enter the sensitivity and offset numbers manually.

CONTROL-EMUL8R

    Before you use CONTROL-EMUL8R, you need plug-ins for the programs you wish to use with the TiltCONTROL.  You can download a set of plugins from the ECERTech web site or you can create your own.  To do the later you use the provided Plugin Creator program:

    The main screen of the Plugin Creator allows you to create, delete (remove), edit, and test plugins.  Creating and Editing follow the same series of dialogs.  We'll look at them first.  When you create a new plugin, you'll be asked for a name and description or comments:

Conversely, if you Edit an existing plugin, you'll be asked to select it from a list of currently available plugins:

    After you've selected the plugin you want, you can immediately edit the Description/Comments.  Tapping [OK] from either of the screens above takes you to the screen that allows you to select either the Advanced or the Wizard editing mode:

    We'll take the wizard mode first.  As with the driver settings program, it first warns you to make sure your TiltCONTOL device is connected, then it allows you the chance to Calibrate to your TiltCONTROL hardware (if you haven't done so already.)  The next screen allows you to select from two "control types:"

    (The "None" types are not implemented at this time and represent future options.)  The Stylus type emulates pressing the stylus on the touch screen and moving it.  The next screen sets up the method of emulation:

    You can choose either "discrete" (emulating tapping and releasing while moving) or "continuous" (tapping and holding while moving).  The Stylus Hold Time is the total time that the emulated stylus is held down before releasing.  The Stylus tap frequency is the number of times the emulated stylus will tap the screen per second.
    Once you've chosen the method, you'll need to define the area of the screen that the emulated stylus moves in.  You'll select that area by tapping in one corner of the area and dragging to the diagonal opposite corner.  The selected area is shown by a yellow rectangle on the screen.  When you complete that, the plugin creator asks you to set the TiltCONTROL thresholds.  Since that works the same for both Stylus and Arrow Key types, we'll visit the arrow key screens and return to the threshold settings at the end.

The Arrow key emulation type has three different methods.

    Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) increases the time that an arrow key is held down as the device tilt increases.  Frequency increases the number of times an arrow key is pressed as the device tilt increases.  On/Off presses the arrow key when the tilt passes a particular threshold.

After you've entered the emulation method, you'll select the "Zero Control Position" for this plugin:

    As you can see from the above, the ZCP doesn't have to be while the handheld is laid flat.  In fact, I got the vertical tilt shown above by holding the handheld naturally in my hand.  That way, when it's in neutral position in my hand, it's in neutral on the control.
    After the ZCP, you'll set the Horizontal and Vertical Sensitivity:

    The sensitivity is the angle that represents the control at full on (100%).  In my case, I found a sensitivity setting of 30-45 degrees works well.  You can set the control manually, by entering a number or dynamically, by tilting the PPC and tapping the [Set...] button when you're at the point you want.
    Next you'll be asked for the horizontal and vertical minimum and maximum thresholds:

    The thresholds are measure in % of the Sensitivity numbers and indicate the point where the control emulation starts occurring.  After you've entered the four thresholds, you'll be asked for a "Digital Filter Length:"

    The filter length is length of an internal digital filter that is used to "de-bounce" the controls.  A larger filter length will eliminate response to quick (and possibly accidental) movements.
    Following the filter settings, you'll get a screen that will allow you to reverse and disable the horizontal and/or vertical controls:

    The "reverse" options are for those programs in which it might make sense to tap the "down" key when you tilt the PPC up or the like.  The "disable" options are for programs where you only want to control either horizontal or vertical action with the TiltCONTROL, but not both.
    The next screen in the Plugin Creator allows you to "capture" the Window and Class name (used by Windows CE to identify a program).

    You do this by removing the TiltCONTROL hardware, starting the "monitor," launching the application, and then attaching the TiltCONTROL hardware again.  Plugin Creator then reads the current Window name and Class name and enters it into the boxes at the bottom of the screen.  With this information, EMUL8R can know which of the plugins when the matching program is on-screen.  It's a nice touch that eliminates the need to manually select the plug in.  Unfortunately, it can run aground on programs that alter their window name with each file you load.  (eReader is an example.  It changes the window name to the currently loaded eBook title.)
    The next screen allows you to test the plugin to see if the action is as you expected.  The final screen allows you to save your new or edited plugin.

    The [Advanced] button allows you to edit the same information as the Wizard, but does it in a tabbed interface.  As the name implies, this mode gives you a bit more control, but requires some experience before using it.

    An added feature of the Advanced mode are some Graphical settings screens.  The one shown below is for adjusting the Horizontal and Vertical Sensitivities:

The sliders allow you to adjust the sensitivity while the + cursor shows you the affect on the control as you tip your Pocket PC.

Once you've created the plug-ins, you can control their actions using the EMUL8R Settings program:

    The main screen of EMUL8R Settings has a check box to disable CONTROL-EMUL8R entirely, a button to change the TiltCONTROL driver settings (including calibration), and a button to Manage Plugins.  Tapping the last button brings up a the following screen:

    The first pane on the screen lists "installed" plugins.  Selecting a plugin will allow you to see and edit it's Description/Comments.  Once it's selected you can tap the [Uninstall] button to remove/delete it completely or the [Disable] button to keep it from controlling the associated program.

TiltCONTROL in Action

    With a device like TiltCONTROL, it really helps to actually see it in action.  Fortunately, the folks at ECERTech agree and have created a number of Windows Media Player format videos that show the TiltCONTROL in action:

• TiltDISPLAY in action
• CONTROL-EMUL8R playing Pocket Breakout 2
• Other interesting clips

HELP SUPPORT

OPTIONS
    There are a number of additional programs that work with the TiltCONTROL hardware:

• TiltDISPLAY dynamically rotates the screen to match the orientation you're holding your Pocket PC in.  This is the application you saw at work in the What's Hot section.  (For WM2003SE models only.)
• TiltMOUSE allows you to control the cursor position on your desktop by tilting and tapping your Pocket PC.
• TiltCONTROL SDK allows you to create your own programs which use the TiltCONTROL hardware for input.
• TiltLEVEL graphically displays the current angle at which the Pocket PC is held.
• Pocket Pedometer uses the TiltCONTROL and Pocket PC to calculate the number of steps the user has taken and covert to distance traveled and calories burned.
• V-Tech Performance Calculator uses the TiltCONTROL to measure acceleration.  By entering a few specifications about your vehicle you can calculate 1/4 mile performance, 0-60ft time, 0-100ft time, 0-60mph, 0-100mph, 60-0mph, Rear Wheel Horse Power, Real Wheel Torque and more.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

BUGS AND WISHES

    The TiltControl hardware is already very small and easily carried, but I did think about one wish for the form-factor:  It does stick out from the bottom of the Pocket PC.  As such, it won't fit into any case designed for the handheld.  If you use it a lot, you'll find yourself constantly taking it off to put the handheld in the case and putting it back on to use it.  If the hardware curled around the base of the handheld, it might fit in many cases and need only to be removed for synchronizing.  A second thought would be to make it in a Compact Flash or SDIO card.  That would take up a slot, but it would fit completely within the machine.
    Another wish would be for some OEMs to implement the ECERTech components within their hardware.  This would allow the functionality without tying up the serial port at the bottom of the unit.
    The final wish would be for an addition to the CONTROL-EMUL8R software.  I'd like to see an additional angle-sensitive modifier.  This would allow you to walk by tilting slightly and run by tilting at a greater angle.  (This is done by emulating holding down the shift key in a number of first-person games.)

PURCHASING

PROS

• Control-EMUL8R adds rotational control to any application
• Hardware and software is compatible with PPC2000, PPC2002, WM2003, and WM2003SE
• Hardware and software are reasonably priced

CONS

• Hardware occupies bottom connector
• Finding optimum settings can be a bit time-consuming

OVERALL IMPRESSION