title: Control a USB light via software
body: <p>I have a little USB-powered light. I'd like to be able to turn it on and off with software. I'll be attaching it to a Linux computer. I have an <a href="http://www.atmel.com/dyn/resources/prod_documents/doc2543.PDF" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Atmel ATtiny2313</a> from a <a href="http://makezine.com/10/brainwave/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">previous project</a>, but I'd rather do this with a simple hack than repurpose my microcontroller.</p>
  
  <p>Is this possible? I suspect this can't be done as the computer won't talk to a device without some kind of USB-compliant firmware?</p>
  
  <p>I found <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/1762989/is-there-software-or-code-to-alter-usb-power-output">this question</a>, which has a comment suggesting that the OP use an LM317 voltage regulator to change the voltage of the USB out. I don't think this is applicable to me, but thought I'd mention it.</p>
  
  <h1>Update:</h1>
  
  <p>Looks like I could maybe put <a href="http://www.xs4all.nl/~dicks/avr/usbtiny/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">USBtiny</a> on my microcontroller, then I could wire it up to the light, then I could write an app to control the controller. Sounds like a lot of work, though. I'd rather do a simple hack, but I lack experience with USB.</p>