The PowerPoint Glove
Walks through hacking the retro NES Power Glove with an ESP32 microcontroller to build a custom Bluetooth presentation controller.
Summary
Hacking Retro Gaming Accessories
The iconic Nintendo Power Glove, released for the NES in 1989, remains a beloved cult accessory. Modern microcontrollers allow enthusiasts to repurpose its sensors for practical computing tasks.
Reverse Engineering the NES Controller Protocol
Parsia Hakimian breaks down the proprietary shift register communication protocol used by the original NES controller port, explaining how flex sensors and keypad buttons report physical state.
Interfacing with the ESP32 Microcontroller
Wiring the Power Glove to an ESP32 development board enables reading button scancodes and flex sensor resistance in real time, translating gestures and button presses into standard HID keyboard commands.
Building a Wireless Bluetooth Presentation Tool
Configuring the ESP32 as a Bluetooth HID device turns the Power Glove into an interactive PowerPoint remote controller, demonstrating accessible microcontroller hacking for conference presentations.
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