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Using a webcam, the Steam Controller can now seek out it's charger by vibrating across the desk
(fossprime.github.io)
I drove my steam controller to work today.
this post was submitted on 26 Jun 2026
227 points (99.1% liked)
Steam Hardware
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This reminds me of the guy on sharktank that had an app for iPhone to take panoramic pictures on its own by standing up the phone on its edge and it used the vibrating frequency to move.
The app was nothing big or special and no one wanted. The programming on how they achieved it was all anyone wanted and they made a shit load of money selling it.
And no-one actually uses it. Well done them, rich without consequences, living the dream.
fEeD mE eLeCtRiCiTy
its
My English Achille's heel
I'm a native English speaker, and still every time I write something I read it back and expand every "it's" into "it is" or "it has" in my head, just to make sure. And replace every "its" with "his" or "hers".
It's even worse with on screen keyboards, because sometimes even if I typed it right, the autocorrect will "fix it", so I have to reread.
it's charger it is charger
But why? You can just.... put it on the charger.
Why would anyone buy a Roomba when they can just vacuum the floor themselves?
I've never been sold on the roomba idea, but vacuuming can take some time and physical effort depending on the size of the living/working space.
Putting a controller on a charging puck should take all of five seconds, to be generous. It even has magnets!
I feel like the real answer here with the controller is "because we can/because it's cool"
Well, also "as proof of a concept that may to lead to something more useful"
Also true! Though in a Roomba's case with room mapping, sometimes more terrifying... 😔
Sadly that's the risk of any innovation, that someone will use it to manipulate and abuse others for power or pleasure.
I was kinda joking with the Roomba comparison.
I could kinda see a use for this where the controller could wake itself up and try to plug itself in if the battery gets low, but the steam controller battery life is so good that it's a pretty low need
I know you think you are making a point but you aren't roombas do a shit job and you have to vacuum anyway.
I had a roomba it was garbage
Science isn't about "why?" it's about "why not?"
Too much work.
What if...I point the webcam...at other stuff?
Then it won't find the charger :(
Oh... Well it'll keep trying though, right?
Yes, and then it becomes toy story 12, the latest pixar adventure where andy has moved on from the old toys and now plays videogames.
But when not playing games he still tries to "charge" the controller, right?
Well at that age Andy is probably charging his controller all the time but I doubt that it would be in the movie.
Toy Story 2?
Look, if you just want something that vibrates there are a lot of easier ways to achieve that.
But this appears to have some sort of built in gps that knows where to vibrate precisely.
To continue the listing what we got so far:
- play music: https://inv.nadeko.net/watch?v=T0RHXColYXU
- Wilhelm scream: https://inv.nadeko.net/watch?v=Mc22cAIIP4g
- remote control: https://inv.nadeko.net/watch?v=g-8S8zk4dn8
- (new) vision tracker: https://inv.nadeko.net/watch?v=hwq-xr2fDBU
Fourth link
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwq-xr2fDBU
- YouTube (embed): https://www.youtube.com/embed/hwq-xr2fDBU
- Invidious (instance list): https://redirect.invidious.io/watch?v=hwq-xr2fDBU
- Invidious (nadeko.net instance): https://inv.nadeko.net/watch?v=hwq-xr2fDBU
Nice. For some reason this particular video wasn't there when I checked it. I update my reply.
Uhhh that's scary please stay away from me Steam controller (cool too!)
Next thing ya know, it's gonna lock onto you like a target and bzzzzzt bzzzzzt run after you - while you and the controller are both screaming. How fun!