diff --git a/buttonreader.py b/buttonreader.py
index 34ad2e5..54f9e20 100644
--- a/buttonreader.py
+++ b/buttonreader.py
@@ -2,7 +2,78 @@
 # https://gist.github.com/elshaka/2999082
 # and make this configureable
 from __future__ import print_function
+
+import os
+import serial
 from PySide import QtCore
 
+from player import ButtonEvent
+
+_inputs = {}
+
+def _add_input(inputType, inputClass):
+	global _inputs
+	_inputs[inputType] = inputClass
+
+def get_input(inputType, args, app):
+	global _inputs
+	if inputType not in _inputs:
+		raise ValueError("'%s' is an unknown input type" % inputType)
+	return _inputs[inputType](app, *args)
+
+class BaseInput(QtCore.QThread):
+	def __init__(self, app, parent=None):
+		super(BaseInput, self).__init__(parent)
+		self._app = app
+
+	def _sendButtonEvent(self, btn):
+		if self._app.activeWindow():
+			QtCore.QCoreApplication.postEvent(self._app.activeWindow(), ButtonEvent(int(btn)))
+
 class SerialThread(QtCore.QThread):
 	dataReady = QtCore.Signal(str)
+
+class SerialInput(BaseInput):
+	def __init__(self, app, device, baudrate=9600, bytesize=8, parity='N', stopbits=1):
+		super(SerialInput, self).__init__(app)
+		try:
+			self._serial = serial.Serial(device, baudrate, bytesize, parity, stopbits)
+		except serial.SerialException as e:
+			raise InputException("Error: %s" % e)
+
+		print(" >> serial %s initialized with rate %s %s%s%s" % (device, baudrate, bytesize, parity, stopbits))
+
+	def run(self):
+		while True:
+			c = self._serial.read(1)
+			if len(c) == 1 and ord(c) > ord('0') and ord(c) <= ord('9'):
+				self._sendButtonEvent(c)
+
+_add_input("Serial", SerialInput)
+
+class FifoInput(BaseInput):
+	def __init__(self, app, fifoPath, debug=False):
+		super(FifoInput, self).__init__(app)
+		self._path = fifoPath
+		self._debug = debug
+		if not os.path.exists(self._path):
+			try:
+				os.mkfifo(self._path)
+			except OSError as e:
+				raise InputException("Could not create fifo '%s': %s" % (self._path, e))
+		if os.path.isfile(self._path) or os.path.isdir(self._path):
+			raise InputException("Fifo '%s' is not a fifo" % self._path)
+
+		print(" >> Fifo initialized, using '%s'" % self._path)
+
+	def run(self):
+		fifo = open(self._path)
+		while True:
+			c = fifo.read(1)
+			if len(c) == 1 and ord(c) > ord('0') and ord(c) <= ord('9'):
+				self._sendButtonEvent(c)
+
+_add_input("Fifo", FifoInput)
+
+class InputException(Exception):
+	pass
diff --git a/seopardy.py b/seopardy.py
index 9458f94..07dd996 100755
--- a/seopardy.py
+++ b/seopardy.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ from question import Questions, QuestionException
 from gamestate import GameState
 from game import SeopardyGame
 from config import check_config
+from buttonreader import get_input, InputException
 
 def _parser():
 	parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="Sebas jeopardy/beopardy clone")
@@ -69,6 +70,23 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
 				print("Error: Could not load music %s (file %s)" % (name, path), file=sys.stderr)
 				sys.exit(1)
 
+	# create and start input threads
+	print(config["playerInput"])
+	inputs = []
+	for playerInput in config["playerInput"]:
+		args = playerInput.get("Args", [])
+		if args is None:
+			args = []
+
+		try:
+			inp = get_input(playerInput["Type"], args, app)
+			inputs.append(inp)
+		except InputException as e:
+			print("Error: %s" % e, file=sys.stderr)
+			sys.exit(1)
+
+		inputs[-1].start()
+
 	# create board
 	board = SeopardyGame(questions, gamestate)
 	board.show()