Total Armageddon USB Programmable Kill Switch

For those days when the process of clicking through the Start Menu to shut down my computer is just too boring, I built a USB kill switch using a very nifty looking safety toggle switch from RadioShack and the guts of an old USB mouse. With some simple soldering, this USB switch is programmable using the freeware AutoHotkey and doesn't require a microprocessor board.

Step 1 Materials

Here's what you need:

USB mouse (or keyboard, or any game controller)- you can often find these for free or a couple bucks at a yard sale
Toggle switch- this one I bought from RadioShack for $5
Some sort of switch mount- from the electronics store, $1.50

Tools and other mats:

Soldering iron and wire
Electronic tape
Freeware AutoHotkey (www.autohotkey.com)
Project container for the controller, or in my case, Tupperware

Comments

[whatsisface]

Can AHK tell the difference between the switch and your regular mouse? I could imagine it being fairly irritating if you tried to scroll and your PC turned off.

[fhidiort]

AutoHotkey differentiates between middle button press and wheel scroll up/down. I programmed the middle button because I never use it (I use a touchpad). You could do combos of buttons too.

[whatsisface]

Cool, cheers for the clarification.