Channel 9 has added a series of videos to introduce Mayhem, the recently open-sourced Windows Scripting tool, to developers. A contest to promote the use of Mayhem has now been extended until June 30th.

What is Mayhem?

The official answer is: it lets you trivially connect any device or service to any other device or service.

Or as explained in our previous report, it's a tool that helps link different Windows applications in a single workflow in a graphical environment in a way that is similar to how batch files string together programs in a command-line environment.

In the video below Eli White provides an introduction to Mayhem, explaining that it makes it simple for, anyone - even the presenter's mom who has computer issues - to do things that would previously have required some programming. Examples include:

• Use your cell phone to control your PowerPoint presentation.
• Receive an email reminder to winterize your house when the temperature drops below freezing.
• Automatically update your Facebook status to "I'm rich!" whenever Microsoft stock hits $50 a share.
• Add an auto-save feature to a program that doesn't have it.
• Pause a video automatically when you leave the room.

If you want to see Mayhem in action watch Eli create a "reaction module" to alter the volume of your computer

There is also a walk-through complete with video for a project which increments the volume on the computer to a specified volume.

Obviously, to make Mayhem a useful facility, more such scripts are needed and this is why there's the Make Your Own Mayhem contest with a prize fund of $5000. You now have until June 30th to submit as many entries as you are able to come up with. The contest site has example ideas for adds on but it is looking for creativity and invites developers to "surprise us!".

More Information

Mayhem Contest

Related Articles

Microsoft Makes Mayhem Open Source

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