Check out this episode of The Ben Heck Show.
Ben builds a removable device to allow a one handed person to control both flippers.
Nice job Ben.
While I admit we don't have a pinball machine in the schools I work at, its great to see devices like this to allow people with disabilities to stay in the game.
I did do a search before posting that link, but I guess I didn't use the best keywords.
None the less, Ben deserves the props.
Quoted from Jasontaps:None the less, Ben deserves the props.
Agreed. If anyone missed the original thread, this one should grab them. The title is a little less crytic.
Quoted from Jasontaps:I did do a search before posting that link, but I guess I didn't use the best keywords.
Not trying to be critical of you, just pointing out that there's more info on the background.
The whole other thread is really cool when you follow the progress of this.
And yes, Ben is awesome. 
Quoted from RCA1:Not trying to be critical of you, just pointing out that there's more info on the background.
The whole other thread is really cool when you follow the progress of this.
And yes, Ben is awesome.
No biggie. My bad. I honestly did a quick search.
I agree with Herg, and missed the original thread. At least this brings it back to light for those of us that missed it.
My Tivo used to automatically download The Ben Heck Show and now it doesn't for some reason. That's why I missed it the first time I guess. I try to go back now and then and watch his past episodes. I like watching the whiteboard version of America's Haunted. Fun seeing a pin in such early stages.
But could he build the device with just one hand? Very cool idea and it was great to see Ben send it to someone that can use it.
As a life long left handed person I wonder why everything is always for the right handed person. This should be a generic ambidextrous device.
Great work.
I work in a school district that is always buying special devices such as large mouse buttons or a Bluetooth wheel chair that a student controls with their head.
To see someone build something for a hobby like pinball was really cool. Couldn't have come from a nicer person too.
Quoted from Taxman:As a life long left handed person I wonder why everything is always for the right handed person. This should be a generic ambidextrous device.
Great work.
Because in this case, he was doing it on a short schedule as a proof of concept for a person who doesn't have a left arm. If you read the other thread, he has said he would look into making improvements, one of which would be making it ambidextrous.
Quoted from Taxman:As a life long left handed person I wonder why everything is always for the right handed person. This should be a generic ambidextrous device.
Great work.
But the guy he built this one for has a right arm. heh.
Quoted from swf127:I thought he BUILT it with one hand.. That would've been impressive. :-\
Ben heck does not build stuff with hands, he merely wills it into existance!
I had a dream one night that my brother mounted "monkey bar" handlebars from my dad's old Harley motor bike on my Getaway HS2. The bars had the actuators for the flippers in the pistol grips. It was if as I was 'Easy Rider' in a pinball world of highways and metal balls...... It was a short dream....sadly.
I hope Ben (or someone as talented) could make that mod too one day...
This will be perfect also for the beer drinkers amongst us that don't like cupholders.
Great job Ben.
Quoted from beelzeboob:But what am I supposed to do with my other hand?
That's simple: Beer
Quoted from beelzeboob:But what am I supposed to do with my other hand?
I'm doing something like this with John's Arcade (Youtube channel) next, and the revised buttons we come up with could be used for an improved version of this down the road.
And yes Hilton, I know there's lag. I know EVERYTHING wrong with my projects.
Quoted from Whysnow:Thanks!
Why would you quote my comment? 
Quoted from benheck:I'm doing something like this with John's Arcade (Youtube channel) next, and the revised buttons we come up with could be used for an improved version of this down the road.
And yes Hilton, I know there's lag. I know EVERYTHING wrong with my projects.
Someone needs to keep to artistic types in check with hard critical comments 
Without friends like Aurich and I you would get too big an ego. 
You also need guys like us around to fend off all the hot chicks constantly hugging you.
Quoted from Jared:Why would you quote my comment?
I was part of this project. I was saying thanks for the compliment.
Quoted from benheck:Don't worry Hilton, the fact that chicks DO NOT gravitate towards my accomplishments is more than enough to keep my ego in check.
LOL. I have been posting how much you like hugs on all the gamer forums recently and encouraging all hots chicks to come give you random hugs at MGC 
Quoted from Whysnow:I was part of this project. I was saying thanks for the compliment.
Are you in the video? I wouldn't recognize you if you were.
All the same: good job. This is an awesome project and will do good for people. Well done to all involved.
Quoted from Jared:Are you in the video? I wouldn't recognize you if you were.
nope, I prefer to not be in video, esp ones as popular as Ben's show.
We have met/talked 2 years in a row at expo... Guess I am not as memorable as my mama said
It is an amazing project and I love anything that can help out people like Todd!
I also want one so I can drink beer and play pinball
Quoted from Whysnow:nope, I prefer to not be in video, esp ones as popular as Ben's show.
We have met/talked 2 years in a row at expo... Guess I am not as memorable as my mama said
It is an amazing project and I love anything that can help out people like Todd!
I also want one so I can drink beer and play pinball
I am famously bad with names and faces. I have family members who I have seen every year for 30 years: still do not remember their names. I know I have seen them before, but I forget the names or get confused.
I also cannot remember how to spell refrigerator, neutral, or 7x8 off the top of my head.
Not remembering names is one of my worst attributes and I hope to improve on it.
I like the concept, but kinda dont see how someone with one hand can attach it themself. a simple push rod (across the glass) and cantilever (like teeter totter) could work, all mechanical to do away with the servo lag. the simplicity of that naturally puts the opposite side button topside of the machine's button, but right or left handed is a simple 180 flip and ready to use.
not criticizing Ben's effort, its a darn nice idea! suction cup mounting is great, I'm thinking mechanical would have a better tactile feel, no sensor-servo-battery or lag, just a 3/32 or 1/8 push rod to kinda ignore when playing, plus - when mounted it wouldnt really be in the way for another player taking turns, when the cantilever would sit wide open.
Quoted from Taxman:As a life long left handed person I wonder why everything is always for the right handed person. This should be a generic ambidextrous device.
Great work.
yes, exactly what I'm thinking, keeping it straight up simple mechanical. I can only imagine what it'd be like with only one hand to work with, trying to place a device onto a pinball machine. push rod simple could possibly need only one suction cup each side. two units could give access to magna-save buttons?
Quoted from zizzlemeplease:I like the concept, but kinda dont see how someone with one hand can attach it themself. a simple push rod (across the glass) and cantilever (like teeter totter) could work, all mechanical to do away with the servo lag. the simplicity of that naturally puts the opposite side button topside of the machine's button, but right or left handed is a simple 180 flip and ready to use.
not criticizing Ben's effort, its a darn nice idea! suction cup mounting is great, I'm thinking mechanical would have a better tactile feel, no sensor-servo-battery or lag, just a 3/32 or 1/8 push rod to kinda ignore when playing, plus - when mounted it wouldnt really be in the way for another player taking turns, when the cantilever would sit wide open.
so what are you waiting for?
Stop typing and start building! I am serious. Put your idea into action. This is an arena where more good ideas are needed, but you need action behind them.
the challenge is of course:
1. It needs to 'feel' like pinball (i.e. no pulling when it should be button pushing). Player interface needs to be a flipper button! this is pinball and hence needs to interface like players do with most pinball machines >> a flipper button
2. It needs to be transferable to any machine and adjustable for the different button geometry
3. No damage or permanent alteration of a machine
4. Good response time (i.e. it still needs to feel like pinball)
5. Ability for mad flipper skills (i.e. staged flippers with single button)
bonus rounds
6. Can be easily mover for either right or left handed play to be more versatile.
7. Ability to flip out of way or remove so able bodied people can play the game in 'normal' fashion and needs to be done in short time.
anything I am missing?
Quoted from zizzlemeplease:I'm thinking mechanical would have a better tactile feel
What about player fatigue? Since a mechanical solution is going to require more force or a longer throw, I'm thinking that would cause the player to tire much more quickly.
Oh, and if I'm ever playing somewhere, and someone needs help installing one of these on a machine, do not hesitate to ask me.
I get what you're saying herg, if the cantilever is very close to equal, difference in button throw would be pretty minimal, there would be a little extra weight (not much for being lateral) for the push rod, which -might- require a light pressure return spring. a couple grams or less if the rod slips freely.
Whysnow, nope you're not missing anything and I'd though of button location for Ben's sketch-diagram, could be solvable with adjustable height hinge pin for the cantilever (got the clear pic in my head anyway). what I dont have is suction cups and 3D printer or sheetmetal working tools to actually build functional prototype. thick sheet could allow banging them out quickly in a punchpress but that'd also require tooling (blank, pierce, form) that 3D printing wouldnt. about best I can do here is sketch up a rough in MS-paint (eek!), but it'd be a startpoint for someone to continue with at least.
this is what my simple mind see's, it can reverse right or left. rod guide on button side could sit lower, so the button can hang down a little lower than the cartoon shows. the button box shallow so it isnt a huge step from the machines button to the cross-side actuator button.
across the distance (20" about), a little un-parallel wouldnt be a huge issue if the rod guide has some clearance. at the receiving end a wingnut adjusts length, a pin adjusts "teeter-totter" cantilever for different machine button height. the pad right of the suction cup keeping the inverted L shaped body tight to the side of the machine, with the line of the rod itself keeping it all straight.
this just "chicken-scratch" diagram yup.. but you can maybe see the potential for two units, one to make magna-save available for the opposite side. if the spot below where the rod's wingnut is were hinge pinned the action might be a little lighter, or if the pushrod is small enough diameter it'd be able to flex a little while still being strong enough to push the flipper button through the cantilever..
(1/16 or 3/32 maybe?)
dont get me wrong, Ben's plenty cool! he mightta overcomplicated a GREAT idea, or maybe I oversimplified? if a one handed person were playing against someone, there should be room to easily pop it forward-away an inch from the button itself. the actuator button right over the machine's button shouldnt be a problem.
Wanna join the discussion? Please sign in to reply to this topic.
Great to see you're enjoying Pinside! Did you know Pinside is able to run without any 3rd-party banners or ads, thanks to the support from our visitors? Please consider a donation to Pinside and get anext to your username to show for it! Or better yet, subscribe to Pinside+!
This page was printed from https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/ben-heck-builds-a-device-to-play-pinball-with-1-hand/page/1 and we tried optimising it for printing. Some page elements may have been deliberately hidden.
Scan the QR code on the left to jump to the URL this document was printed from.
Salem, NH
Vancouver, BC