From: jlb31348@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Jim Brain) Subject: TECH: U of I Powerglove Update 6-15-92 Date: Mon, 15 Jun 1992 22:35:10 GMT Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana Well, The day flies when you have fun. I think I may have found THE box to put this project in. It is affordable, has a precut opening for the RS232 port, and is WAY COOL (pardon my cliched phrase use). For those who understand this, the box is the same one that is used to make those Ethernet adapters for laptop computers that fit on laptop computers. I think it will work, but it is up to the layout people. The box is not a garden variety hobby box. It has ribs, and is curved to fit the hand (Don't ask why, it just is). Anyway, the box cost a lot less than hobby boxes at all the places I looked into, and is more sturdy. So, layout permitting, the box for the PGSA II will look like that. I am now getting a lot of responses for the kits, but I must tell all that the kit does involve soldering a surface mount component with 52 pins, so beware. I would like to see at least half of the people buy the finished unit, but that may be a pipe dream. I have one person that said he would repost to Compuserve if I gave him the info. The more coverage this gets, the cheaper it will be for everyone, so I encourage others to spread the word about this. Just be sure and tell everyone that I need 50 units committed before manufacture. For anyone who is just starting this thread, please get the file called pgsa.doc from either I or karazm.math.uh.edu in pub/VR. This update is meant mainly for those following this and not as a doc file. I am stuck on a bit of HC11 programming, so anyone competent please offer your services. I have ditched the 555 in glen harris's SEGA circuit favoring to do the timing by software(more programmable), but am having trouble getting the two interrupts to work together. I am not too proud to ask for a little help. I can do it without interrupts, but with would be nicer. Another thing. For those interested in a kit, I will tell you that the OK has been given, but the price may not drop as far as you hope. The supplier of the parts gets his money whether he makes the board or not, and I have to pass on the price. However, I will try to keep it down, both prices. This is a definite learning experience. I hope everyone going into electronics or computer engineering has the chance to do as I have done, because it really opens your eyes about the subtleties of making a project into a product. I also have received two replies stating they would like to write up stuff for the user manual. I ask anyone remotely interested in helping to write aspects of the manual to please send me mail so that we can coordinate the piece to write about. I am interested in putting in all kinds of theory, small demo programs (source code), advanced topics, overview of attachments, other projects, on and on. I will try to write the basic manual(although I wouldn't mind someone else taking over the job), but this other stuff is for someone else to do. Just email me and we'll talk. Please allow 2 days for a response as I get 20+ msgs a day. (24 today) Talk to you tomorrow, JIm Brain brain@cs.uiuc.edu (actually I am a Comp E major, but ACM is in CS) (Who cares anyway) -- Nothing is better than Eternal Happiness. jlb31348@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu A ham sandwich is better than nothing. Jim Brain Therefore, a ham sandwich is better than eternal happiness.