From: jlb31348@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Jim Brain) Subject: TECH: U of I Powerglove Update 6-17-92 Date: Wed, 17 Jun 1992 20:02:47 GMT Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana As an aside, does anyone need filled in Summary and Description lines in a posting? OK, I am pumped. I got the SEGA circuit to work last night, and the frequency of the oscillation can be controlled via software. How about that for flexibility. This works with both the Glen Harris circuit and the original (I got mine from Dave Stampe, so I'll call it the Stampe circuit. However, I am not sure if Dave pioneered the idea. Nonetheless, Dave deserves credit for all the help he has given me.) It took a few tries and a little swearing at the errors in the HC11 book on timers, but all is well. I added in the second glove code last night, but did not turn it on. That may have to wait. Suffice it to say that the software for the second glove is 50% there. For all those who got the code, I did fix a bug or two in my earlier version, so I am happy. The board layout people are putting pads on the board to accomodate the 8 A/D ports on the HC11. This will end up as : 8 bits resolution for fingers! How about that? It will entail breaking open your glove, but the software is easy. I will just tack on 4 bytes at the end of the 11 byte packet. You will have to wire yourself, but all is easy. Look for that in the finished product. I need a phone number for Curtis. Anyone got one. I wanted to see how much 50 units was, but I saw I did not have the number. I think I have 40 people willing to buy one. Keep telling people. I found out today that SpectroChem Software (sp) is selling the ORIGINAL PGSA fr $155.00. That makes me feel a little better, but I still wish costs weren't so high. I knew there was a MAC version for $150.00, but did not know about SpectroChem. That is OK. We both have rights to the AGE code and box. People have asked about a FAQ. I will try to get one made up. What do I do with it when finished? [MODERATOR'S NOTE: Pass it to madsax@u.washington.edu for incorporation in the sci.virtual-worlds archives, and put one up in your own host. -- B.J.] I may be able to offer units without the SEGA support for those interested. Keep watching for further developments. I can also ship units with attachments but I need to know what attachments to sell. Anyone got a good MAC->RS232 cable they would be willing to detail for me. I want to make one. Also, anyone have a quick and dirty prg to read and send data to the serial port? I have had requests for MIDI output and Parallel output. I might sell a serial->parallel converter, but I dunno about MIDI. I have absolutely NO knowledge of it. Anyone think it is feasible? Some others have talked about HMD's and other goodies. If you want me to take a good look at putting something else in, please send me some tech docs. I cannot answer truthfully about this sort of stuff until I see what I have to do. My expertise is not that spectacular. I wired up Glen Harris's circuit and ran the demo, but did not get a good 3-D effect. Anyone got a good SEGA demo for either type of interface they would send me to look at. I want 3-D. I am running out of room. I am up to 1.5K from an original 600byte prg. Wow, I am amazed. I need someone (Dave Stampe or someone else) to help me modify the deglitching code in Ron Menelli's HC11 code to include Z axis. It is time to work on the finer points of this program. Here is something for everyone to get involved with. The new box may have what is called (by me) a TEST MODE, where the keys on the glove will do special things to the box. Right now I am using a few keys to change critical timings while I am in a program, but would like to know, if this was included in a final product, what do people want to be able to change from the glove. Changing the baud rate, the continuous/request mode, Menelli, AGE emulation, and deglitching(on/off) are possible ideas. Tell me what you think. Can someone please tell me (Glen Harris) why the oscillation rate is a factor in the SEGA circuit. It seems to me you could just set it at 400Hz and forget. Pease tell me why before I add another command to set this number. Other people could tell me also. Well, I am done for today, but Tomorrow is another day, and there will be more then. As always, please get /pub/VR/Sources/pgsa.doc or /pub/Incoming/VR/pgsa.doc if you are new to this thread from KARAZM.MATH.UH.EDU or from me. Jim Brain (Havin' tons o' fun) -- 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.