Ability to toggle the Steam Deck touchscreen input #169

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opened 2024-12-25 23:40:19 +00:00 by ikogan · 1 comment

Describe what you'd like to be able to do

I wrote a script here that uses sysfs to toggle touchscreen input. This is useful in instances when you want to keep the screen protected or not accidentally touch it when using an external display. Some examples:

  • Using an external monitor & keyboard when sitting in a chair.
  • Watching a movie on a plane with XR glasses or an external display.

I'm considering writing a Decky plugin but, since this requires root anyway and is fairly minimal functionality, thought it may be better implemented as a function for this plugin.

Describe alternatives you've considered

Writing my own plugin, using a Non-Steam App.

Anything else?

I'm likely willing to add a PR for this plugin, I'm just looking to see if that's something you'd be interested in accepting, although I might have trouble setting up a dev environment since I'm effectively developing on the deck itself.

### Describe what you'd like to be able to do I wrote a script [here](https://gist.github.com/ikogan/1e731919db7fc617adf297183307eb2a) that uses sysfs to toggle touchscreen input. This is useful in instances when you want to keep the screen protected or not accidentally touch it when using an external display. Some examples: - Using an external monitor & keyboard when sitting in a chair. - Watching a movie on a plane with XR glasses or an external display. I'm considering writing a Decky plugin but, since this requires root anyway and is fairly minimal functionality, thought it may be better implemented as a function for this plugin. ### Describe alternatives you've considered Writing my own plugin, using a Non-Steam App. ### Anything else? I'm likely willing to add a PR for this plugin, I'm just looking to see if that's something you'd be interested in accepting, although I might have trouble setting up a dev environment since I'm effectively developing on the deck itself.
ikogan added the
enhancement
label 2024-12-25 23:40:20 +00:00
Owner

Generally the requirements I have for adding a new setting to PowerTools are:

  1. It must affect power (either power in; charging, or power out; power usage)
  2. It should be intuitive to anyone, especially those who are tech illiterate
  3. It can't damage the system

Does disabling the touchscreen satisfy those? I have a concern about this satisfying 2 and 3: it's not obvious how to re-enable the touchscreen if you've turned it off with the touchscreen. If they're not aware that they can use the button controls to interact with the menu, they might think they've killed their touchscreen. That sequence of thoughts sounds a bit silly but the amount of people who ask why their Deck no longer charges to 100% after they enabled the charge limit is significant, and the touchscreen is a much bigger deal.
I'm also not convinced disabling a driver has any effect on power usage (1).

Generally the requirements I have for adding a new setting to PowerTools are: 1. It must affect power (either power in; charging, or power out; power usage) 2. It should be intuitive to anyone, especially those who are tech illiterate 3. It can't damage the system Does disabling the touchscreen satisfy those? I have a concern about this satisfying 2 and 3: it's not obvious how to re-enable the touchscreen if you've turned it off with the touchscreen. If they're not aware that they can use the button controls to interact with the menu, they might think they've killed their touchscreen. That sequence of thoughts sounds a bit silly but the amount of people who ask why their Deck no longer charges to 100% after they enabled the charge limit is significant, and the touchscreen is a much bigger deal. I'm also not convinced disabling a driver has any effect on power usage (1).
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Reference: NG-SD-Plugins/PowerTools#169
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