Can she turn off (or turn down the volume) on the speakers themselves?   Not much different than a console radio which she probably had when she was younger.  If not, I'm not aware of a switch as you describe, but if your audio files are rather extensive, say 8 or 10 hours of music, and you don't mind leaving the computer powered on, you could start the 'song list' playing and simply cut the power to the speakers via a switch on the speaker power supply (typically a wall wart/black box).    They have extension cords pre-made with switches at one end for xmas tree lights, for example, or have her turn on/off a surge protector switch, etc. to simply power up the speakers.
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Here are a few options -  (items should be available at hardware/home stores as well) -  
http://www.amazon.com/Woods-Extension-Switch-Remote-15-Feet/dp/B000KKND86/ref=sr_1_57?ie=UTF8&qid=1372779823&sr=8-57&keywords=christmas+light+switch
http://www.amazon.com/Master-Electrician-6-Feet-Extension-Outlets/dp/B000W65LO2/ref=sr_1_4?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1372780075&sr=1-4&keywords=remote+switch+cord
http://www.amazon.com/PLUG-SWITCH-SAFETY-REMINDER-LIGHT/dp/B002BTZFLC/ref=sr_1_23?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1372780189&sr=1-23&keywords=remote+switch+cord

Paul Hachmeyer

Greetings,

 Is there a simple external physical switch that can be assigned in windows to perform a task (such as play/pause an open audio file)? Or would it have to have accompanying software such as gaming software that allows you to assign actions to keys? Maybe within the media player software itself?

 The motivation to do this comes from the fact that I have several older computers (early pentium and celeron chips) and a ninety-four year old mother who loves listening to music but can't deal with the controls of a dvd player. I'd like to make what looks like a typical house light switch. Labeled: "music ON" and "OFF". I'm pretty sure she could handle that. I want to put her favorite music in one folder and her devotional and bible related files in another so she can enjoy one or the other (that I open for her) for longer periods of time than she could with a cd and take a break from it with the flick of a switch.

Thanks,
Phillip

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