From: jlb31348@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Jim Brain)
Subject: TECH: U of I Call for Specification Discussion
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 20:02:31 GMT
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana


This is a follow up article to U of I PGSI Update 11-2-92, so please read if 
you need any more info.

The University of Illinois ACM Chapter is currently working on the PowerGlove
Serial Interface. Although the unit is still in preproduction beta, the time
has come to discuss a standard for functions to be used in user's programs
that incorporate the PGSI.  As chief designer of the unit pertainig to this
discussion, I would like to foster a discussion about a standard interface
to allow all users of the unit, regardless of machine or configuration or
compiler to recompile the programs across platforms without much difficulty.
Maybe this is futile with all the choices and problems, but if anyone is in
a position to make a standard, the manufacturers of the device are the best
hope.  My appeal to this newsgroup is that all readers take an active interest
in the discussion and cross-post to other interested.  There are a few 
guideleines and hopes I have about this discussion:

I would like to end up with a working description of the needed functions.

I would like to have functional yet simple functions.

And a final (maybe too dream-filled, but...):

It would be nice to build a set of commands that would work for more than just
the PowerGlove and Sega Glasses.  A description that would include the Data Glove, Polhemus Tracker, and other such things.  I doubt the Sega Glaases have
a contemporary.

Please help us out with some answers.

Jim Brain

-- 
Jim Brain, Power Glove Serial Interface Project Leader (for the summer)
brain@cs.uiuc.edu
Yes, my last name REALLY is BRAIN!