Lots of games, etc. have a "Boss mode" - you press a key and the game freezes, to be replaced my an innocent looking spreadsheet.
This is a similar idea. The "Boss Pedal" plugs in line with your keyboard. When the pedal is toggled (pressed or released) by a discreet foot movement, it sends a preprogrammed key sequence to hide whatever you're doing and pop up some "real work" (Yuk).
So when the boss is on the prowl and you're browsing the Halfbakery, you don't even need to touch the keyboard or mouse to hide your sin.
I suppose a set of pedals plugged on a game port could be adapted to do the same thing with a bit of software, but they are not so discreet. The Boss Pedal will be really small, no bigger than a mouse, and very slim.-- 8th of 7, Jun 19 2002 Boss Pedals http://www.bosscorp.co.jpA little bigger than a mouse, perhaps. [waugsqueke, Jun 19 2002] Game for 8th of 7 http://www.microsof...ice/clippy/game.aspZap the paper clip [dare99, Jun 24 2002, last modified Oct 21 2004] Another game for 8th of 7... http://www.stolk.info/xgameThis pits Tux (the Linux mascot) against Clippy, but requires a Linux-modified XBox to play I think. [krelnik, Oct 15 2002, last modified Oct 21 2004] nXPeds "Boss Pedal" http://www.nxpeds.comMake an icon on your desktop for scrsave.scr and make a shortcut key like "Alt+F12" to it. Program that into the nXPeds and you got a "Boss Pedal". Simple as that! [dr_ephemeron, Oct 04 2004] You could also use it as a "kwel" pedal, to hid from people that you are working instead of playing a game ...-- Aristotle, Jun 19 2002 And then the Evil Microsoft Office Assistant pops up with a dialog box reading, "Did you know? To switch back to your game without starting over, just press ALT-TAB" and reads it aloud in an eerie robotic voice for all to hear.-- jester, Jun 19 2002 Jester: Yes... sombody please PLEASE write a game where you get to blast those wretched paperclips into vapour with a major-league directed energy weapon.-- 8th of 7, Jun 19 2002 I'll give an O-vote for that anno!-- mwburden, Jun 19 2002 Waugsqueke: Uncanny ! Physically larger than what I had in mind, but the principle is sound ....-- 8th of 7, Jun 19 2002 Better yet (maybe): place your pedal in the aisle outside your cubicle, under a runner.-- nick_n_uit, Jun 19 2002 You could mount it at the top of your seat-back, so when you spring up in surprise at your boss's sudden appearance, your shoulders or head hit the switch and the game disappears.-- pottedstu, Jun 19 2002 nick's got it. I'm for strategic placement of a pressure plate switch in front of the cubicle. As much advanced notice as I would need.-- RayfordSteele, Jun 24 2002 nick_n_uit, RayfordSteele: This would have the added advantage that it would operate even if you weren't there and had carelessly left something on your screen ...-- 8th of 7, Jun 25 2002 It is a bad feeling to see a reflection in the monitor... of THE BOSS! A rear vision mirror gives an earlier warning.-- pfperry, Jun 26 2002 ..or, you could do work... wait, where's the fun in that?
Leisure Suit Larry had the best boss key.. (pie chart of 3rd quarter condom sales or something)-- Mr Burns, Oct 15 2002 Tip: Put a glass covered picture or a certificate real low, right above or on your desk. You can use it as a mirror and see if the Boss is coming. :)-- dr_ephemeron, Apr 03 2003 i don't know if any of you folks are guitarists, but the brand name of a very prevalent line of effects pedals is "boss".
i enjoy the coincidence.-- urbanmatador, Apr 03 2003 random, halfbakery