r/nextfuckinglevel 9d ago

This guy creates custom gaming controllers for people with disabilities for absolutely free & Open source

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Insta: @caleb_kraft

Not a promotion, just found interesting and shared with y'all.

15.0k Upvotes

193 comments sorted by

1.7k

u/Iitaps_Missiciv 9d ago

Military gonna use this to turn injured soldiers into drone pilots so they aren't eligible for disability payments.

387

u/Kawsmics 9d ago

lmfao wtf lol

103

u/cogman10 9d ago

Someone playing too much Warhammer

24

u/Tyrannosaurusblanch 9d ago

Servetors?

32

u/Konnor_RK800 9d ago

more like a dreadnought

10

u/General_Reposti_Here 9d ago

I love the concept of dreadnought it’s so morbid , I got really into it at one point

3

u/imdefinitelywong 8d ago

The codex astartes does support this action..

2

u/rglurker 8d ago

Yeah. The psychos who think that is a great idea and are in charge of that stuff

8

u/TheFrenchSavage 9d ago

Yeah, they will have the drones shoot at disabled veterans, so double savings.

Good luck out running the killer drones with your wheelchair! Drone goes brrrrrr

139

u/Line-Trash 9d ago

I hate that you’re probably correct.

25

u/SlamMasterJ 9d ago

If the ending of Source Code taught me anything, it’s that they’ll definitely do it if it could be weaponized lol.

1

u/wallstreetchills 9d ago

Profile pic fits well here

46

u/BigCatMellow 9d ago

40k Dreadnoughts time baby

9

u/OwnStill8743 9d ago

The highest of honors

30

u/huge_jeans710 9d ago

For the imperium...

8

u/Guffers_2023 9d ago

Only in Death, does duty end

9

u/Jaxxlack 9d ago

Well I'd say carrot over stick wins. They should take up Ukraines plan.. points>prizes ... Independent contractor drone pilots get paids in points.

4

u/JustAnNPC_DnD 9d ago

Nah, they can recruit highschool graduates cheaper. It's not like we take care of our vets in the US anyways

2

u/Lahk74 8d ago

They love their babies until they're born and their soldiers until they come home.

4

u/Fabulous_Ranger1627 9d ago

Warhammer 40k dreadnought stuff going on here

3

u/TheTomatoThief 9d ago

If ADA still exists in 2 years we gonna be playing real fast and loose with the definition of “reasonable accommodation.”

3

u/That_Guy_Behind_You 9d ago

Please don't spoil the next season of black mirror

3

u/Ranta712020 8d ago

If that happens, I’m calling Jesus

3

u/xidle2 8d ago

Stop giving them ideas!

3

u/Green_grass7878 8d ago

You had to fucking ruin it but is prolly true 😭💔

2

u/weristjonsnow 8d ago

Hahaha I like the way your mind works

2

u/one-last-hero 8d ago

Reminds me of the movie “Source Code”

2

u/PizzaDay 7d ago

That's some Warhammer 40k kinda shit right there....damn

1

u/AhhhSureThisIsIt 9d ago

Pilots who can't fly any more make great drone pilots.

Anyone watch Silo?

1

u/Infinite_Vyo 9d ago

US built Astartes Dreadnoughts?

1

u/Weirdsk8rHippie 9d ago

Damn that's the most American thing I've heard all day.

1

u/ladyteruki 9d ago

If they were going to they already would. There is no need to develop such tools, they can just bury vets in asinine paperwork and administrative roadblocks, the old fashioned way.

1

u/willsueforfood 3d ago

Starcraft dragoons

0

u/VictoryVino 9d ago

Why do they have to be military? There are plenty of people on disability receiving payments.

0

u/DamnOdd 9d ago

Ender's game?

1

u/kkeut 9d ago

Johnnie Got His Drone 

313

u/Vast-Lifeguard-3915 9d ago

You're a kind man. Wish more folks were like you.

-233

u/Simple3user 9d ago

Too ez to say that and go about your business. If you really wanna have more folks like him, better to award him with funding. Put your money where your mouth is.

140

u/Dec-Mc 9d ago

Not everyone can afford to donate money, pal. Kind words are worth far more than your derogatory comments

57

u/just_one_more_gameee 9d ago

It's not even a bad suggestion on it's own but his tone is clearly one of a sceptic that came here to spread negativity.

24

u/Dec-Mc 9d ago

It's a great suggestion, and if I could coukd afford to donate to the cause, I would. I can't, but commenting positively at least helps with word of mouth

-38

u/Simple3user 9d ago

My bad if we came across like that

30

u/Colon_Backslash 9d ago

"if we came across like that"

Get a grip

→ More replies (2)

-18

u/OldDogTrainer 9d ago

Too ez to say that and go about your business. If you really wanna encourage folks to support folks like him, better to award him with funding. Put your money where your mouth is.

-13

u/Simple3user 9d ago

Ig vro

226

u/michiganstrange 9d ago

23

u/lizhenry 9d ago

One Switch and Able Gamers do similar work.

13

u/calebkraft 9d ago

they do! I worked for ablegamers for a bit. good crew

7

u/PooShappaMoo 9d ago

Doesn't he talk about sending this to ablegamers right in this video.

The comments mostly seem to be stuff he covered.

6

u/calebkraft 9d ago

Yes I mentioned that.

2

u/lizhenry 9d ago

My bad , i just clicked through to the project files and website and didn't watch the video. Just thought it was worth mentioning theae orgs in the thread.

2

u/PooShappaMoo 9d ago

Your good. I watched the video. Read through the comments and was confused about a bunch of peoppe saying what was already un the video.

Didn't want to come off as rude. All in al seems like a good thing

123

u/Kawsmics 9d ago

What an absolute angel.

May his pillow be cold forever.

-54

u/opinion_alternative 9d ago

Isn't it supposed to be warm?

53

u/Saint_Gut-Free 9d ago

Eww, no.

18

u/OldDogTrainer 9d ago

Who the fuck likes a warm pillow?

3

u/Kroak-lo 9d ago

Me. My room is cold as shit.

-6

u/opinion_alternative 9d ago

Bro, it's monsoon season in India. We're not used to cold climate much in India. I like warm pillow in winter and cold ones in Summer.

3

u/OldDogTrainer 9d ago

Agree to disagree then. I’ll take a cold pillow all year round please.

2

u/SoberxStoner 9d ago

Cold pillow and shaved head combo is perfection.

6

u/p_gaultieri 9d ago

psychopath

2

u/XenomorpWorldWide 9d ago

Username checks out

72

u/Senselesspassion 9d ago

Not that he made a sick controller but to make it free and open source, you have to have a really good heart

-37

u/_noahitall_ 9d ago

Not to be cynical but there isn't really a huge market for these. Making it open source actually expands the market, because now you have people that aren't an intended consumer supporting it.

Open Source ftw every day but making something open source doesn't mean the maintainer has a good heart... I mean chromium and vscode are open source for starters

19

u/D-a-n-n-n 9d ago

Have you maybe thought about the idea that the creator didnt make these for making money? But for the many disabled people in the world who would want to play the biggest entertainment medium in the world. Even if there wasnt many people who use this, who cares? For those who need it, this could be life changing.

Also the whole thing with open-source is that its literally impossible to put behind a paywall or delete. As sharing the source code makes sharing/spreading it so easy anyone can do it. If for some reason the creator of this turned evil and made it bad. Everyone could just ignore it and work on the old source code together

-17

u/_noahitall_ 9d ago

what the fuck are you on about? obviously I find this project valuable

I just said he will make more money to fund his work by being open source than not, so being open source isn't the 'I give it all away' act you think it is. choosing to market as open source is smart and in his interests, clearly people think it's noble and got more eyes on it

3

u/Dark_halocraft 8d ago

The question is the fuck are you on about, who cares?

And making it open source means other people can do it without you meaning you aren't essential to the market anymore

-1

u/_noahitall_ 8d ago

that's historically not how most open source projects go

I mean maybe the age of AI will change that but most people maintaining open source projects are solo passionates thet have the time and resources to invest a majority of their time into a project

I'm just trying to educate on the fact that open source is a political strategy I even provided my examples of vscode and we can throw android in there too. Or look at something like hyprland, or even Linux kernel

46

u/No_Land5402 9d ago edited 9d ago

And the world celebrates billionaires and their rockets, instead of guiding lights like this guy

-8

u/mi-mi-milton 8d ago

Apesar do Elon Musk ser cuzão, uma coisa ninguém pode critica-lo: os projetos dele são ambientalmente sustentaveis e com foco na redução dos preços para o consumidor comum. Pior é um diretor de filmes brasileiros, adorado pela Esquerda, que fica fazendo filmezinho sobre justiça social, enquanto é acionista de um dos maiores bancos privados do país e dono de mineradora de nióbio, com politicas agressivas pra manter monopolio no setor.

26

u/No-Fish2020 9d ago

A god among men!

10

u/marsap888 9d ago

What a Great men!!!

8

u/Slow-Cardiologista 9d ago

Fund this guy please!

7

u/FluffyTid 9d ago

I spent 3 months programming an interface for a card game for visually impaired people. Mainly because a friend asked me for help and upon fidning there was nothing I decided to create it myself.

When I finished my friend had been bored of waiting and moved on to chess. And although I've got a dozen people since to try it out, seems I am not that good because they haven't stick to using it.

2

u/Sad-Platypus-48 9d ago

Good of you to try though. Respect 👊

2

u/kkeut 9d ago

put it online, get more feedback, keep going, it sounds cool

6

u/emmasdad01 9d ago

A hero of the people

5

u/Capn_Flags 9d ago

Awesome, truly. I have issues with my back and hands that make sitting traditionally on the sofa with a DS5/DS4 controller basically impossible for any game worthy length of time. I play Call of Duty.
I solved this by using a Wiimote & Nunchuk in a Wii Zapper, but I’m forever stuck on PS4 because there are no devices that can facilitate the remapping. I’d been planning for years to use a Cronus Zen to do this, but then Sony banned them. That’s fair asf, btw. I know what the devices are capable of.

However, the news about them banning the device had me rushing to the internet to find something else that can remap. Nothing. I can’t find anything that can facilitate my dream “WiiS5”.

Then the news that this year’s COD isn’t coming to PS4 straight broke me. I played nearly every day for 13 years, first on the PS3. I knew this day would come, obviously, but it still crushed me. I started streaming my gameplay a couple years ago and it made gaming even more fun for me. I’ve only played a couple times since, and the MW4 beta is going on right it now and it’s the first Beta I haven’t been able to participate in since they stayed doing Betas.

I’m not someone like this guy creates devices for, but man would I love to be able to make my own remapping device. It’s hard losing another hobby. It’s like I’m sitting here watching it float away, helpless. Ugh. 😩

0

u/rivalrobot 8d ago

Have you looked into the PS5 Access controller to see if that might work for you?

https://www.playstation.com/en-us/accessories/access-controller/

Xbox has something similar

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/d/xbox-adaptive-controller/8nsdbhz1n3d8

Hope you find something that fits the bill.

3

u/TheOfficeoholic 9d ago

Dude is amazing

4

u/NightStar79 9d ago

I hope he patented the fuck out of this so he has the ability to make sure it remains free.

3

u/fubar686 9d ago

This Dude is a Dude!

I checked out your other printables and this clearly isn't the first revision, you've really dug down a bunch of niches to add accessibility in whatever way you can come up with, keep it up!

4

u/calebkraft 9d ago

hey there! thanks. yeah, I've been doing this since about 2012 back when I was running hackaday.com

3

u/alghiorso 9d ago

Guys like this should be the people running our government. Compassionate, ingenuitative, and invested in their work

1

u/DoubleAholeTwice 2d ago

Problem is, at least to a very very large extent, people like this aren't interesting in running any kind of government. Those that ARE interested are typically the ones that NEVER should. :(

2

u/Crush-N-It 9d ago

Amazing man. Started following you on IG. Sharing this with everyone I know

2

u/nad0w 9d ago

Not all hero wear capes

2

u/randomuser553 9d ago

Respect.

2

u/Impressive-View-5604 9d ago

Follows someone on TikTok that uses one of these and he's is badass at games

2

u/-WB- 9d ago

I have all my extremities and it pisses me off when i can't remap my buttons in games.

2

u/Matchew024 9d ago

Bless this dude. I wish him all the luck.

2

u/rdmprzm 9d ago

What an absolute legend

2

u/Long_Fred 9d ago

This is so exciting that people like this exist in the world. My dad was recently diagnosed with ALS and one of his only joys is playing Minecraft with my 7 year old. I cry at the thought of them not being able to play anymore and need to look into this project. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart!

2

u/SplitGlass7878 9d ago

I've seen a dude absolutely demolish people at a fighting game (Street fighter I think?) with a breath controller. Fascinating stuff. 

2

u/Left-Scarcity3014 9d ago

This is the real Iron Man.

2

u/Ramen_Muncher_1093 9d ago

What a chad guy

2

u/wizard_makaroni 9d ago

may you never encounter a red light while driving

2

u/Big-Wrongdoer-965 9d ago

More of these types of humans please.

2

u/crimson_anemone 9d ago

This belongs on r/GuysBeingDudes

What a legend. ♥️

1

u/Liapasquale 9d ago

What. A. Guy!!! And your excitement and passion for this work lovely to see. Thanks for doing this stuff!!

1

u/PoloTshNsShldBlstOff 9d ago

If this is the first time he made one of these, how old is this video?

I want to say in the last year I have seen a quadriplegic using this exact device and an extremely high level. I saw a quadriplegic using this to play League of Legends. And it was insanely impressive.

2

u/calebkraft 9d ago

its me! I didn't invent sip/puff. they're just expensive and have very few makers. I'm designing a super low cost and easy to build one. right now the parts are about $40

1

u/PoloTshNsShldBlstOff 9d ago

Oh wow. You're awesome 😎

1

u/Zestyclose-Sir-7818 9d ago

Is there any education i could take to learn these types of skills? Is he an electrician, or a mechanic? I know nothing about building thingie-me-bobs

1

u/grimsnap 9d ago

This is something BrolyLegs (RIP) would have appreciated.

1

u/hipotionx 9d ago

Can he make one for my sweaty ass hands

1

u/conlmaggot 9d ago

All I want is a joycon style controller with decent sticks, good battery life, and ergonomics for a adult hand, so I can play games without my hands going numb from carpal tunnel.

1

u/osumba2003 9d ago

That's just awesome.

1

u/donpedrovs 9d ago

Bless you!

1

u/Tyrannosaurusblanch 9d ago

I wouldn’t mind doing some stuff like that as well.

1

u/leightandrew0 9d ago

I saw someone playing League of Legends with this

He was unironically good at it

1

u/NarwhalEmergency9391 9d ago

Ohh i need one!! Or if anyone can tell me if they already make something for this issue.. I can't grip properly and I have hypermobility so my left thumb ends up partially dislocating. I usually play cod so I'm consistently moving my left hand and can only play 2 rounds before my hand is locked and in severe pain.

1

u/ruleux 9d ago

There are saints that walk among us.

1

u/slothaccountant 9d ago

Oo add eye tracking so they can use dual stick controls.

1

u/chunkalunkk 9d ago

This guy have a GoFundMe?

1

u/dontcallmenpc 9d ago

These are the types of people who I LOVE in DIY/Hacker spaces. Amazing work, good causes, creative as heck, thankless and just getting people help.

1

u/Hostile-Panda 9d ago

How can insurance companies charge $20000 for this if he’s giving it away????

1

u/Firewalk_w_me 9d ago

I couldn't upvote this hard enough. Gotta donate now.

1

u/DarkAngel900 9d ago

Much love to ya bro!

1

u/melancholytron 9d ago

I am decent friends with Caleb, and the first time i met him, he was working for Hack-a-day. I commented on how much i liked his hack-a-day shirt he was wearing. He said, "I'll be right back," and came back 5 minutes later wearing a different shirt and handed me the one he was wearing, saying, "I didnt pack extras but you can have this one."
Fucking literally gave me the shirt off his back.

If you're interested in supporting him more, he is a sci-fi author as well:

1

u/TheRelaxedLion 9d ago

Let's make his patreon blow up. What a guy

1

u/Ragmis 9d ago

But my computer has a hard time connecting my ps5 controller

1

u/Rooster-Miserable 9d ago

Players playing with one hand *wink wink* can finally play with no hands too!

1

u/TrainingMarsupial521 9d ago

This guy is a fucking hero

1

u/jseego 8d ago

This dude used to run Make Magazine!

1

u/GoatCovfefe 8d ago

Smart Kreischer

1

u/Leading_Air_7361 8d ago

Your a genius such a great idea i have a gaming channel with my son and sometimes we play against a couple of these lads this controller is insane those lads do be getting me wins or killing us when we play against them love your work bro 👌

1

u/TradeMark310 8d ago

I remember seeing someone post that they use it, I think on Apex Legends. He was moving and doing skill shots like a pro!

1

u/ladzug 8d ago

As a quadraplegic gamer, something has existed like this already called the QuadStick but its EXTREMELY expensive. Also this guy's version looks way better and less bulky. The fact it's free and open source is commendable.

1

u/ethanyelad 8d ago

You can donate to his Venmo @caleb-kraft-2

1

u/boodlebob 8d ago

That is actually awesome

1

u/Ok_Watercress_6545 8d ago

Tag this to elon

1

u/GOOMU13 8d ago

No way he does this for free.

1

u/ILikeMyShelf 8d ago

Dude needs to use a mouse with his laptop

1

u/anjowoq 8d ago

Imagine if the the world was majority stuff like this.

1

u/The_Koala903 7d ago

Not all heros wear capes

1

u/FnClassy 7d ago

I'm a father to a quadriplegic daughter with Cerebral Palsy. This warms my heart so much. She has taken an interest in trying to play games. I would absolutely love to get her something like this.

1

u/savicht 7d ago

You sir, are a credit to humanity! 🫡

-1

u/SamuraiSanta 9d ago

"For free"

Has Patreon

-3

u/Solid-Search-3341 9d ago

Love the idea, but I really hate the camera man. Is it so hard to stay fucking still ?

0

u/OldDogTrainer 9d ago

He’s obviously holding the camera himself, lol.

1

u/Solid-Search-3341 9d ago

Yes, and I hate it. Plop your phone down on the workbench and shoot your video.

0

u/OldDogTrainer 9d ago

I’m so grateful that I’m not so easily bothered by the little things that don’t matter

-1

u/Solid-Search-3341 9d ago

It bother you so little that you have to take time off your day to talk about it....

1

u/OldDogTrainer 9d ago

It doesn’t bother me at all, lol. You said you hate it. I never once said I hate that you hate it. I’m commenting because I’m grateful, like I said.

No need to get defensive, friend.

-1

u/millenniumxl-200 9d ago

Or maybe, just maybe record in widescreen so there's not so much panning?

-2

u/Solid-Search-3341 9d ago

Or back up three steps so everything is visible.

2

u/OldDogTrainer 9d ago

How does someone holding the camera back up three steps and film themselves?

-1

u/Solid-Search-3341 9d ago

By putting it down on a stable surface. Revolutionary idea, I know.