[vox-tech] Fwd: Re: [OT] Electronics & hardware geek sought

[Bill Kendrick]

Lee responded from a non-subscribed address. Fwd'ing to the list on his
behalf:

----- Forwarded message from vox-tech-bounces at lists.lugod.org -----

The attached message has been automatically discarded.
Date: Mon, 05 Jan 2009 07:05:26 +0000
From: lwelter02 at comcast.net
Subject: Re: [vox-tech] [OT] Electronics & hardware geek sought
To: "lugod's technical discussion forum" <vox-tech at lists.lugod.org>

Bill,

Check out this (from Wikepedia -- but you will also find other about the same topic:

 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
An accelerometer is a device for measuring acceleration and gravity induced reaction forces. Single- and multi-axis models are available to detect magnitude and direction of the acceleration as a vector quantity,[1] and can be used to sense orientation, vibration and shocks. Accelerometers are present in numerous portable electronic devices and video game controllers, including the iPhone[2] and Nintendo's Wii Remote.[3]
 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Accelerometers are available in small relatively inexpensive packages with "digital" output or wireless data transmission: see http://www.analog.com/en/mems-and-sensors/imems-accelerometers/adxl202/products/product.html for an example.

If it would be helpful to you, I could try to find that name of a student who several years ago cleverly used such devices to automatically document patient positioning.

Lee Welter



 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: Bill Kendrick <nbs at sonic.net>
> 
> I keep playing games on my friend's Wii and thinking how trivial it would
> be to make similar games, with interesting input devices (like a Guitar Hero
> style controller, Rock Band style drums, and WiiFit Balance Board [*])
> for my Atari computer.
> 
> Between the Atari's two controller ports, you've got eight digital I/O ports
> (joystick up/down/left/right x 2), two digital input ports
> (joystick fire x 2), and four analog inputs (paddle potentiometer knob x 4).
> 
> I've been swinging my Metro Electronics in downtown Sac recently to grab
> some parts, and I finally got my own soldering iron to learn how to use.
> 
> I think it'd be pretty trivial to put together a Wii Balance Board clone
> for the Atari using two or four of the analog inputs.  Someone on the
> Atari 8-bit Usenet newsgroup suggested that a pivot point in the center,
> plus some pulleys to rotate two POTs, should do the trick.  It wouldn't
> be able to _weigh_ you, like the Wii Balance Board can, but it could
> detect how off-center you are. [*]
> 
> He described it as follows:
> 
>   Make a base 1' x 1' On this base add a pivot point in the center and
>   below this point put in 2 pots under the pivot. At each corner you
>   need a lttle pulley wheel.
> 
>   Now make a top that sits on the pivot point and has a wire that goes
>   from corner to opposite corner on the underside, in an X pattern.
>   These wires pass through the pulleys on the base and wrap around the
>   stem of each pot. Add a spring on each side of the base to hold thetop
>   level and to return it to level. Now when the top is leaned in any
>   direction it will turn the 2 pots and you will have the direction of
>   lean.
> 
> Based on that, I imagine the analog data coming in (e.g., when you do
> a 'PRINT PADDLE(0);" ";PADDLE(1)' in Atari BASIC) being something like:
> 
>   * Neutral:  128 128
>   * Forward:  255 255
>   * Back:     0 0
>   * Left:     255 0
>   * Right:    0 255
> 
> (Assuming leaning all the way in those directions.)
> 
> 
> Since Mark Kim now lives in New York, I'm looking for a mentor who could help
> me with projects like this. :)  (I'd really love to put together some
> simple drums, and have a kooky idea for a violin/fiddle.)
> 
> Anyone out there who could help?  (It'd also help me get out of the house
> for some adult time that isn't work. :) )
> 
> 
> [*] Back in the early 1980s, a company called Amiga (yes, the one that went
>     on to make the most excellent computers sold by Commodore) created a
>     digital joystick controller that you stood or sat on called the Joy Board.
>     It just had latches, so only detected left/right/up/down, and not
>     varying degrees as such.
> 
> -- 
> -bill!
> "Tux Paint" - free children's drawing software for Windows / Mac OS X / Linux!
> Download it today!  http://www.tuxpaint.org/
> _______________________________________________
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----- End forwarded message -----

-- 
-bill!
"Tux Paint" - free children's drawing software for Windows / Mac OS X / Linux!
Download it today!  http://www.tuxpaint.org/