Plasma Ball and Touchpad: Bad

So I was playing with a plasma ball, and I touched my computers touch pad while touching the ball and now my touch pad does not respond....

Is my touch pad fudged? Or will it reset with time?

Help me please!

 

Odd question...

BUT, to be honest, I am not sure what exactly could have happened. Plasma Ball's do nothing but transfer static electricity if I am correct therefore it sounds like you may have a build up.

Ground yourself and then try your touchpad.

I have never heard a question like this. But that is my educated guess.

Try it and let me know.

BTW: Grounding yourself=Touching a metal object

 

If its a build up, try this:
1. taking out the battery and ac adapter
2. Then hold down the power button for ~30 seconds and let go.
3. And Plug back in the ac adapter and turn it on.
See if the touchpad works after that.

 

Wikipedia actually mentions that plasma balls can cause touchpads to malfunction. Interesting read.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasma_lamp

 

Nice find. ^^

It is temporary.

If I am correct, touchpads use the bodys natural electro-mag force to sense "touch"

 

What is a Plasma Ball, and what does it look like?

Please post an image, I am curious.

K-TRON

 

Hahaha ^^

You have definately seen one before!


You can put your hand on it and the rod's of "electricity" follow your hand around the globe.

 

wikipedia is your friend.

 

I dont use wikipedia cause of personal things.
That is one crazy looking device. I have never seen one before. I have seen lava lamps, but thats the closest thing.

I guess I can see why its causing problems. The electricity flowing from the device into your hand is causing your skin to hold some capacitance thus changing it from the range that the touchpad can pick up.

K-TRON

 

Really? Hm.. Interesting!

K-Tron, you attend RPI?

 

yeah, I have never seen one.
I am an architecture student, so the most I see at RPI, is the architecture building, and the clean room/physics building where my girlfriend is. They dont have any of those plasma things in their. We have much crazier stuff.

K-TRON

 

I think you can find these in Walmart actually.

Edit: You can.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10057079

 

Ahh, IcIc.

We should start a "get k-tron a plasma ball" fund. hahah there actually pretty trippy to watch. Not a bad $5 investment if you ask me.

I worked at Walmart photo center over the summer, just like your edit says you can.

I learned two things workin at Wally world.

1. Photo Lab is a cool job until you realize 95% of the nude pictures you get are dudes.

2. Walmart carries ammo and weapons..Need I say more...They got everything...