Show HN: A Low-Level Bluetooth Hid Remote for Blind Mobile UI Macroing
by SEMIPREMIUM | 2025-11-29 12:10:19+00:00
As a former insomniac and engineer, I built this simple, battery-operated HID remote to solve a specific, recurring problem: the unavoidable light exposure and cognitive effort required to skip mobile app ads or sponsor reads while trying to fall asleep. The simple act of fumbling with a bright screen destroys melatonin production, actively sabotaging one's sleep hygiene protocol.

The Problem with Standard HID Standard Bluetooth media remotes fail this use case because they rely on the Next Track code, which often skips the entire episode in popular podcast players. They also cannot interact with proprietary UI elements like in-app skip buttons or YouTube's "Skip Ad" overlays. The HID standard and the consumer controls usage table does not include time skipping.

The Technical Solution: Pointer Anchoring and UI Macroing This device implements a custom protocol to achieve reliable, precise, and blind UI interaction across both iOS and Android:

Low-Level Reports: The firmware leverages basic 8-bit relative mouse movement with LMB (Left Mouse Button) reports, which are universally accepted by both operating systems.

Pointer Anchoring: The user enters a quick setup mode to precisely anchor the pointer's location over any desired UI object (e.g., the +30s skip icon on a media player or the lock screen widget).

Coordinate Storage: This position is stored in non-volatile memory (NVM). The system then creates a physical, tactile, and fully customizable remote-controlled button for any UI object that executes an LMB click at that stored location with every press.

This hardware macro system bypasses the limitations of the standard Consumer Control profile, enabling specific, high-value actions:

OSK Preservation: Crucially, the device strictly avoids registering a keyboard Report ID in its report map, which is the mechanism that disables the On-Screen Keyboard (OSK) on iOS. Instead, device wake-up and lock screen interaction are handled exclusively through precisely timed pointer input macros, preserving full OSK functionality on both Android and iOS.

Ad and Sponsor Control: Remote control skipping of skippable ads on YouTube on iOS and fast forwarding over embedded sponsor and ad-read segments on YouTube mobile.

Full Device Control: Seamlessly controls core device functions, including both device volume and brightness.

This is fundamentally a hardware solution to a software problem, allowing the user to maintain complete darkness and silence while interacting with complex mobile applications.

Status and Ask I've filed a patent application on the core functionality described in this post. The device is currently small-batch, launched as a semi-assembled kit on Etsy and Tindie. The goal of this phase is to validate the demand for this specific technical solution to fund the DFM process. I've designed a 3D printable PCB and manually assemble it, and the whole product is made with 3D printing and off the shelf components.

I am particularly interested in feedback on:

Cross-Platform Longevity: Specific OS versions or custom Android skins that might present reliability challenges for the anchored pointer functionality.

Protocol Extensions: Ideas for leveraging the core pointer anchoring functionality for other low-friction, high-value mobile use cases (e.g., single-button launch macros).

Companion app: I am curious about knowing more on how a companion app could add value to the product-feature set. I.e automatic triggering of skipping through touch tap emulation through HID with AI detection and execution of what now requires a manual button press.

I'll be monitoring the thread to discuss the firmware architecture and the specific challenges of managing the BLE profile for a device designed to be used while sleeping.

Here is a YouTube video showing time skipping in podcasts (product shown after a minute): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBmGddUc8do