Benheck’s new single handed “Access” controller revealed
Resigned to the fact that people know me as Benheck I put it in this article’s title, to save other web sites a little time rewriting their links. How considerate of me.
For a larger version with no captions click here.
Anyway, today I’m going to show you all the prototype for the new single handed controller I have designed and built, which I’ve been calling the “Access Controller”. This is actually the second prototype, a more refined version of the first. Alongside the new Elite-based Xbox 360 laptop (yes, it is coming) this has consumed most of time in recent months, hopefully explaining the drought of new projects.
Here’s the basic principle: You lay this controller on your leg, table or arm of a chair and all the buttons are available on the top surface. The gag is that each of the five sections is removable and you can plug them anywhere you want. This not only makes the controller work for both left and right handed use (simply mirror the layout) but it also allows the user to optimize the button placement on a game-by-game basis. Even if the user has partial use of both hands it should still be easier to work with than a standard controller.
In this configuration example the thumb controls the left analog (player movement) where the forefinger is on the right analog. The middle or ring finger can press the analog shoulder buttons.
More details and photos follow below. This unit is currently in pre-production for manufacturing thanks to the folks at eDimensional.com and will first appear as a wireless model for the PS2/PS3, with an Xbox 360 version pending. If you’re interested in obtaining one of these or simply wish to express interest please email them directly at access@eDimensional.com. All other normal inquiries (photo permissions, interview requests, offers to send me free beer) can go to my usual address using the link over on the right.
Here’s a shot of the controller casing before the guts were put in, along with a module. Each module is about 3/4″ thick with a pin header on the bottom. This header connects to a signal bus inside the main unit, which provides each module hole with every possible signal required by the game controller. This allows any module to be placed wherever the user wants and it will retain its original function.
End view of the controller, top. By designing something that would fit the curve of a leg, specifically the top of a thigh, it ended up being shaped like a big hip flask! This wasn’t the original intention (as I am not a fan of hard liquor) but as the controller came together it resembled something I couldn’t quite my finger on it… Until one day when it just hit me. Anyway, fun story for you all.
Bottom of the unit. The prototype was an Xbox 360 controller, and as mentioned the first production units will work on the PS2/PS3. The battery position may change, might be 3 instead of 2, but they’ll be in this general area, flush inside the case with a door.
Well that’s about all I have to say about this unit at this time, more details as they become available. Again if you’re interested in this project please email Michael directly using the link above.
Bonus fun story: One day, to test this unit, I sat out on my porch to play Uno on Xbox Live Arcade. I can see the TV in the living room through the sliding glass, so it’s quite doable. So I’m sitting there, drinking a beer with one hand, playing Uno using the controller with the other. But I didn’t put the headset jack in the prototype. So I go into an Uno room and some dude is like “Hey it’s Benheck!”, since, well, my gametag is Benheck. But I can’t say anything because I have no mic. So after a bit the guy is like “Oh, the great and might Benheck is too good to talk to us!” And then I get booted.
So the moral of the story is use your microphone on Uno or you’ll get booted. But fear not, if we do an Xbox version of this controller it WILL have the headset jack, so you’ll be good to go.
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October 24th, 2007 at 2:32 pm
I like that design! It reminds me of a PS2 controller I had that you could switch the button layout.
October 24th, 2007 at 3:43 pm
Saitek’s Cyborg Rumble Pad lets you reverse the position of the d-pad and the left analog stick at will, but that’s all it lets you screw around with on the controller. But hey, it lets PlayStation fans play PC games the wrong way. ;)
This looks pretty nifty, but I can’t really think of a way that someone who’s sans an arm would have direct access to as many buttons on this controller as they would on your other one-handed controllers. Honestly, I don’t see how they (they being one-armed people, as opposed to the “they” involved in proxy wars and all that Nevada airstrip business) could be anything more than barely competitive in the game with this controller, on account of having to use each finger on their hand independently to control one of the pieces, with perhaps two fingers on one of the pieces (I can’t say they’d normally have two fingers on two of the pieces these days, considering the amount of games that require instant access to both the face buttons and the right analog stick). Also, it seems that regardless of the layout of the pieces, one will really have to stretch out their hand (again, they being the aforementioned one-armed people) to get some good access to all of the pieces. Also, is it at all feasible to lay your fingers just across the bumper buttons on the piece with them and the shoulder buttons? There are certainly a number of games that require an L1+R1/LB+RB input to make something happen. I do have to say, though, that driving with one finger rolling on and off both of the analog shoulder buttons in tandem looks like it’d be a wickedly fun challenge.
Jesus, making this post coherent (which it barely is, if that) was an absolute nightmare for some reason.
P. S. - Heh, I just realized that the controller’s actually called “Access”.
October 24th, 2007 at 4:37 pm
Ecksem Diem put it perfectly. I really think that if your picking a one handed controller to be manufactured your previous two seemed make a bit more sense since this one wouldn’t work that well with FPS’s which are more than half of the 360’s games. On the PS2 I guess this will work pretty well for alot of games since i cant think of to many that require all the buttons. How much are these going to go for anyway? The person who booted you has balls but you have to tell us all his gamertag so we can harass him.
October 24th, 2007 at 5:13 pm
I have a friend who plays with normal controllers like this! He puts them in front of him and puts a finger on each individual button/stick. BTW - he pwns. I think this is a design that may take getting used to, but would definitely work.
October 24th, 2007 at 9:26 pm
I’ve been waiting for a decent left-handed keyboard for almost 30 years. I’ve been watching artificial limbs development creep along. (That brings a weird image to mind. Like everything else, electronics, vehicles, etc., we need a new battery technology.) It looks like this game controller will beat all.
October 24th, 2007 at 9:42 pm
“Oh, the great and might Benheck is too good to talk to us!†hahahaha great stuff
October 24th, 2007 at 10:57 pm
[…] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments […]
October 24th, 2007 at 11:01 pm
I have one hand, and use the pad as normal,
except sitting on the floor, holding the pad between finger and thumb,
first finger for left d-pad and analogue stick
second finger for back, guide, start
little finger for right analogue and ABXY
third finger and thumb to hold the pad and use the floor as rt / lt / rb / lb
Im looking forward to trying one out, good work
October 24th, 2007 at 11:11 pm
i want something similar i use the hori fighting stick it has too many limitations since i have no real hand movement i get tore up online tekken….. i’d prolly crush this product, there is a lot of quadriplegic gamers looking for something similar –nme
October 24th, 2007 at 11:31 pm
[…] benheck.com:[QUOTE]Today I’m going to show you all the prototype for the new single handed controller I […]
October 24th, 2007 at 11:48 pm
[…] Everyone’s favorite hardware hacker Benjamin Heckendorn is at it again, and his latest mutant mashup is the one-handed Access controller. The modular rig features five interchangeable pods — one each for the analog sticks, d-pad, main buttons, and shoulder buttons — that can be rearranged to make any control scheme one-hand-friendly. Ben says the Access is in pre-production with eDimensional, and will be hitting in PS2 / 3 versions first with a planned 360 version to follow — although it certainly looks like a brave 360 controller was involved in making that prototype. For more info Click Here […]
October 24th, 2007 at 11:57 pm
I like the ability to rearrange the location of all the buttons/sticks. btw, I tried to register on the forum as “jordanaction” and “Jordan Action” and still am getting no email confirmation. If someone could help me out, that would be great.
October 25th, 2007 at 12:13 am
That is really cool! I did like the first one that you made! But this is nice how you can change it to left or right handed people, because I’m left handed! Great job!!! You should check out the NES PC that is being sold on ebay right now:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&Item=160172835464&Category=140075&_trksid=p3907.m29
October 25th, 2007 at 1:14 am
man i hope to get one of these the minute it comes out. i have a friend who was an avid gamer and he was involved in a bad accident and lost an arm and started pc gaming alot & pwns but with the ability to game on the consoles out would be a dream come true. i’d like to thank you for your work on these, and hope you come up with more innovative controllers for single handed use.
ps. you own. :]
October 25th, 2007 at 2:16 am
Dear BenHeck,
THANK YOU! As a disabled gamer this controller ill be a godsend to me. While I have two hands to work with, my fingers are deformed and webbed together due to a really rare skin disorder. Even with surgeries to remove the webbing they always come back and usually worse than ever. With this controller I’ll finally be able to play Halo 3 and Gears of War. The only reason I was able to play Halo 1 and 2 was because I found a rare controller that allowed you to remap the buttons yourself, which of course didn’t work with the 360. I will be first in line for this controller and thank you once again for your time and effort in making this. I know you’re a busy man, but if you ever would like feedback from a disabled gamer I would love to help. Thanks again!
Matthew Porter
October 25th, 2007 at 2:57 am
[…] Katso lisätietoja projektista näet täältä. […]
October 25th, 2007 at 2:57 am
[…] Katso lisätietoja projektista näet täältä. […]
October 25th, 2007 at 3:18 am
Great, it’s a great new for all the gamers :)
That can help so many people, it’s a really great invention.
You do have nobel price :D !
October 25th, 2007 at 7:08 am
Hey to all fellow one handed gamers. I have been following this production since announcement and personally find that after looking at the design, i would be more comfortable using just an original un-modded 360 pad. Just ova a year ago i lost use in my left arm due to a RTA on a motorbike. Already a gaming fanatic i thought ” Well thats my gaming out the window”. That was July 2006. April 2007 i asked myself would it be poss for me to adapt to a normal 360 pad. After a week of adjusting the pad to a comfortable gaming position i was able to play pgr3 and crackdown just aswell as my mates. Slowly creeping back onto online gaming i then realized was not all that bad. Im not here to comment on a negative point towards the design, time and effort undoubtably put into this work, but i just want to say that as i have adapted this way i would find it hard again to adapt to a whole new design. An example to say how well i think iv adapted is, my gamerscore was 8000 from when my crash was to when i bought a new 360. And is now approaching 24000. Any other one handed gamers out there on a 360 feel free to add me on your friends list.
P.s As you probably guessed my gamertag is OneHandBand1t
October 25th, 2007 at 7:18 am
[…] Quelle: Benheck.com […]
October 25th, 2007 at 8:27 am
I could definitely use that. When you use one hand for along time you function totally different at trying to solve a problem, and since the buttons are interchangable id probably move the triggers down to the thumb with the two analog sticks sitting next to each other on top.
October 25th, 2007 at 8:37 am
[…] Source: benheck.com […]
October 25th, 2007 at 8:56 am
Ben, Put some rubber strips along the bottom of that controller. I think the last thing a person with physical disabilities wants to do is pick the darn thing up off the ground after it’s slid off his leg, arm of a chair, or table.
Little rubber feet might work for the last two, but a couple of long rubber strips would provide good grip on a leg. imho, I liked your other one handed controller better, but I like how this one is modular…I just don’t like the layout it forces on ya.
October 25th, 2007 at 9:07 am
[…] Fler bilder och information om projektet hos BenHecks egen hemsida. […]
October 25th, 2007 at 10:07 am
Hello.
I saw your controller and I’m very excited. With limited function in my left arm Ive always
depended on homemade solutions. Right now I use a modified xbox controller along with a
mouse to aim with, as playing FPS without a mouse on a PC is a disadvantage…
Ill link to some pics of my current setup.
On this I used Lego, as it has many different parts with the option to change without breaking
and screws with glue to secure it.
With it I can push both triggers with one hand, be it the right or left hand. Also Ive lengthened
the sticks to make them lighter and more accurate, for me that is.
I look forward to testing your controller.
My controller:
http://s27.photobucket.com/albums/c164/DVint/Xbox%20Lego%20Mod/
October 25th, 2007 at 10:40 am
Saweet!! Just one thought, make a version with the sockets rotated 90° and market it as an arcade controller.
If you can make the commercial version do that it would kick ass even more. I suppose I can always hack it 90° on my own anyway ;).
I think it is cool, but is it better for FPS’s than the last one? It seems like it might be harder to move/strafe/look and change/reload/fire all at once than your old one. (PS, just ruminating, I can’t even play FPS’s on consoles, I am lost without a mouse and WASD)
October 25th, 2007 at 10:58 am
I’ve got a one handed controller for you, it’s called a wii remote
October 25th, 2007 at 11:45 am
[…] Benheck’s new single handed “Access†controller revealed [Benheck.com] […]
October 25th, 2007 at 12:24 pm
I’m so pleased, Ben! I wondered if your superb controllers would find support - fantastic to see that they have. So many people get in touch with me after the discontinued Dragonplus DuoCon2 RPG controller, but are frustrated because they are so hard to get hold of - this will give renewed hope for comfortable gaming to many. Well done!
October 25th, 2007 at 3:01 pm
Love the idea of the modular controller — how cool would it be if you could replace either or both analog sticks with arcade-quality joystick parts? Or split out the face buttons into 2-4 separate modules with one arcade-quality button each? (losing the D-pad and/or shoulder buttons)
It’s like a Lego controller!
October 25th, 2007 at 3:40 pm
[…] [Hit up BenHecks site for the full rundown] […]
October 25th, 2007 at 8:02 pm
Hey, I play with one hand and I don’t see this as being very practical. Not putting it down or anything. Just giving my opinion as someone with only one arm to play with. I play with my regular 360 controller mounted to a board and levers attached to the triggers that come over to my pinky and my thumb. While my pointer and ring finger control the toggle’s. And I just reach over and hit y,b,a, or x when I have to. I compete with the best of them in Rainbow, Graw 2, and the COd4 Beta when it was out. I’m currently playing Ace Combat 6 and it’s a little tough flying and shooting at targets, but it’s doable. Hit me up if you want any information on my way of gaming with one arm. timeizmoney22@hotmail.com TIMEISMONEY22 is my live gamertag also.
October 25th, 2007 at 8:24 pm
this thing will totally work.. i could see how for some the xbox controller [unmod] would seem as something more efficient, but for someone like me and what seems like alot of people on here, if youve lost the use of an arm and its been like that for years, theres nothing you cant figure out. a motorcycle accident which resulted in my nerve roots getting ripped from my spine, rendered my left arm completely paralyzed, limiting my efficiency in fps games or gaming in general. this was a great idea ben and i look forward to testing this thing out. thumb for left analog, middle for right analog, little finger for the abxy, and ring for the triggers. whambam. agree/disagree??
sign me up!
October 26th, 2007 at 1:31 am
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October 26th, 2007 at 5:43 am
As a disabled gamer (right side paralyzed), I feel I should put my 2 cents in. Having just purchased an Xbox 360 in June, I am somewhat of a n00b to the online scene. I find that games like Two Worlds, Jade Empire, Overlord and Beautiful Katamari wouldn’t need a controller like this. All you have to do (and I do this now) is get a rubber pad like the ones to open stuck jars with, lay it on your lap and lay the controller on that. I use a normal controller that way. To everyone else, this controller looks sleek and shiny. When I look at this controller, I see it sliding all over my lap. Give me a controller that has some friction & traction.
With that being said, I would STILL purchase this because I could place the trigger buttons EXACTLY where I could get the most use and I could finally play me some Halo! I’ve always liked 1st person shooters and I could never get used to moving and firing with the right trigger. Try it sometime, you’ll see what I mean. Lots of games are set up exactly the same way and the only ones I actually purchase are the ones that let you re-map the buttons. I have had a little more luck with PC games, PS2 and the Wii (yes! I play Metroid with 1 hand!) but now I can get into my Xbox 360 so much more. They have a 1 handed controller for the PS2 http://www.consolesandgadgets.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/1616 so its about time someone caught up.
October 26th, 2007 at 11:22 am
i don’t see how this would work it looks like way too many buttons for a person only using one hand. it would be cool for uno and all because you could eat and drink when playing but for an fps i think i would get pwned
October 26th, 2007 at 2:51 pm
[…] 360 controller was involved in making that prototype. More photos await you at the read link. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsOffice Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the […]
October 27th, 2007 at 11:29 am
Hmm, I WANT ONE!!!
Very nice work ben. Im sure it will sell great.
October 27th, 2007 at 11:32 am
(but please don’t hold me resposable if it don’t sell well)
October 27th, 2007 at 6:04 pm
@ Travis: I think people might lose out on the nunchuk part though.
October 27th, 2007 at 6:13 pm
[…] bekend van de Xbox 360 laptop, heeft een bijzonder joystick gebouwd voor de Xbox 360: de Access Controller. Een joystick die met één hand kan worden bediend. De controller kan op je been of op de leuning […]
October 28th, 2007 at 5:30 am
Interesting concept. Using the idea for interchangeable pots is a good one for some people, however it may prove hard to space them apart in “the perfect places” for a mass market as opposed to players with more specialist needs, especially as there is no set hand size.
Interchangeable pots could be a good application too for portables (got me thinking)… If you have a multiple portable system, a different pot could connect to a different games system via different sets of contacts (and also power it as well as provide the controls) making manual switching less important… eg joystick inserted one way works with system 1, turn joystick other way around, works with system 2.
October 28th, 2007 at 6:42 am
one word, ingenious. Tell us when I can get one.
October 29th, 2007 at 10:37 pm
[…] Benheck’s new single handed “Access†controller revealed [BenHeck] [via Engadget] […]
October 29th, 2007 at 10:37 pm
[…] Benheck’s new single handed “Access†controller revealed [BenHeck] [via Engadget] […]
October 30th, 2007 at 12:49 pm
[…] unter access@eDimensional.com melden und dort nähere Details erfragen. Mehr Fotos und Infos hier. Auf den ersten Blick ein nützliche Sache, aber für ungeübte Zocker ist es bestimmt […]
November 1st, 2007 at 4:56 pm
kick ass! i think the black adds to it and the fact that u can repsition the buttons. i would buy one but im only 14 and when ur parents dont pay u for chours, it sucks. im down to $20! only a 20. sry : (
November 3rd, 2007 at 6:31 pm
No offense but the previous iterations of this concept seemed much better designed than this current one slated for manufacture. This one is especially good http://benheck.com/01-25-2007/single-handed-xbox-360-controller-revision-2-right-hand . The new one is bulkier by a good margin and also seems as if it would be difficult to use well. In my opinion you’d be much better off manufacturing right and left handed versions of the prototype I linked above.
November 26th, 2007 at 9:25 am
[…] The Official Site of Benjamin J Heckendorn […]
December 11th, 2007 at 10:31 am
My girlfriend’s left arm is partly paralyzed. Ever since I got the X360 we’ve wanted to play together. So far no luck.
Your controller looks like a definite candidate to resolve this problem. The day she beats me at Viva Piñata will be worth every cent :-)
December 11th, 2007 at 12:20 pm
Dude!
This is freaking awesome. How are you making the case? It looks like CNC of some sort. Is this one like some of the other controllers you make?
Cool.
Ivan Irons
December 11th, 2007 at 1:53 pm
[…] They include things like larger controller/joy sticks; head, mouth and eye controls; and one-handed controllers. Three stores that specialize in devices for disabled gamers are Game Accessibility, Able Gamers, […]
December 31st, 2007 at 7:11 am
Would this help your buddy any?:
http://www.claw.com.au/
I received it about two days ago. Shipping was fast & inexpensive
While the buttons positions can’t be rearranged, it comes with software that allows all the buttons to be programmed for specific commands.
I purchased it mainly for World of Warcraft, but it can be programmed for other games.
The software has a menu that you enter the commands in, so no programming knowledge is required.
January 13th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
About the position of the buttons, would it be possible to place the analog sticks on the left/right side of the unit instead of on the top. I’m referring to the anatomic structure of the thumb itself doing fine movements on a horizontal plane (as in controlling the aim of a gun). The thumb does not sit flat like the fingers do. It sits vertically. Seems to me it’d be much easier to control if the stick could be positioned similar to the side buttons on a mouse.
Just a thought from a single-handed player…
January 15th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Any news on a release date, Ben?
January 15th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
[…] Single-handed Controller - The Official Site of Benjamin J Heckendorn […]
February 3rd, 2008 at 2:43 pm
What can I say? Gimme! I’ve been using an Ascii Grip V2 - my wrist gets really worn out from supporting the weight of the controller, and the wire is wearing out at the base! Plus there are a lot of buttons that are useless because of placement.. X_x
Thanks for your work, Ben, and Godspeed!
February 11th, 2008 at 2:45 am
Im a Halo junkie myself and I have a cousin that games but cant play Halo because hes paralyzed on one side of his body so I wanted to see if there was anyone doing anything about it online. Im glad to see that there are individuals like yourself using innovated thinking to come up with ways to make the once impossible, possible for the many gamers out there (like my cuz) that can benefit from this. simply put -You Rock dude. Good luck in all your future projects! …oh yah and how long till it comes out for the 360?
February 13th, 2008 at 3:42 am
[…] Click here to go to Ben’s blog for more details. addthis_url = ‘http%3A%2F%2Fwww.iqwang.com%2F2008%2F02%2F13%2Fben-hecks-onehanded-access-controller.html’; addthis_title = ‘Ben+Heck%26%238217%3Bs+New+One-Handed+Access+Controller’; addthis_pub = ”; Tags: Xbox-360Posted under Game | […]
March 9th, 2008 at 10:44 am
[…] A: Again, there is too much labor involved to build one for every request. However the official production model - which we talked about last fall - is forthcoming. PS2/PS3 versions first, Xbox 360 to follow. Click here to read our last update. […]
March 16th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
[…] isn’t the production model that I’ve been working on with eDimensional, you can read more about that here. But this is a refinement of a right-hand only design, similar to one I did last […]
March 17th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
[…] Одно из, неÑомненно, полезных изобретений найдено здеÑÑŒ и здеÑÑŒ: геймпад, управлÑемый одной рукой. Ð’ блоге […]
March 17th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
[…] soldaten die een hand hadden verloren en toch nog wilde gamen. En dan nu is hij terug met een nieuwe controller die je met de rechter hand kan bedienen, en laten we eerlijk wezen als je gehandicapt ben of met […]
March 18th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
[…] it wasn’t intended for mass consumption. Ben’s other one handed controller, called the Access, on the other hand, is soon to be made available to the […]
March 18th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
[…] it wasn’t intended for mass consumption. Ben’s other one handed controller, called the Access, on the other hand, is soon to be made available to the […]
March 19th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
[…] Heckendorn created this prototype as a “one-of-a-kind built for a customer that requested it,” though he is also working with a firm called eDimensional on bringing a seperate one-handed controller design to the mass market. […]
March 21st, 2008 at 4:47 am
hi yah,
i wanna ask about the one hand controller im left handed coz im got the stroke. how much and where to get it coz i wanna see it so i know what is look like. i appriciate your reply in my wife’s email address.
thanks very much!
paul holliday
March 22nd, 2008 at 5:39 am
[…] have to love the single handed controller. Anything that can bring more gamers of all abilities to XBL is a good […]
June 4th, 2008 at 9:12 am
I WANT THIS TO WIPE RAID GROUPS IN WOW