This is a Panic Button. I got it for $7.50.

What happens when I push it?

This USB button came with some really lame software for windows, so I set out to find out how to use it in linux.

After a bit of googling, I found it requires that you install the perl library Device::USB::PanicButton from the cpan repository. Next you have to write a script to make it do something interesting. And finally you have to give the button a good whack.

Here is a video of someone using my panic button:

The video was made in Blender 3D by mashing together a bunch of youtube videos and a video of a game called "Defcon". I _do not_ recommend you try doing something similiar in Blender as Blender is still quite bad with importing video. Come to think of it, Blender is generally quite bad.  Here's the video in browser form:

While writing the script I found that currently the support for this button is pretty limited, it is only supported by the cpan perl module and it requires you to be logged in as root to use it. Unfortunately this means you have to sudo or su to root to use any such script.

Well, heres my script and the high resolution video in case anyone wants it. Keep in mind you have to have elevated privileges to use it. My script calls MPlayer, so thats another requirement.

Perl Script
1920x1200 Attack Video (h264 video, mp3 audio)

Try ./panic.pl --help for usage.