Lee responded from a non-subscribed address. Fwd'ing to the list on his behalf:
----- Forwarded message from [email protected] ----- The attached message has been automatically discarded. Date: Mon, 05 Jan 2009 07:05:26 +0000 From: [email protected] Subject: Re: [vox-tech] [OT] Electronics & hardware geek sought To: "lugod's technical discussion forum" <[email protected]> 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 <[email protected]> > > 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/ > _______________________________________________ > vox-tech mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.lugod.org/mailman/listinfo/vox-tech ----- End forwarded message ----- -- -bill! "Tux Paint" - free children's drawing software for Windows / Mac OS X / Linux! Download it today! http://www.tuxpaint.org/ _______________________________________________ vox-tech mailing list [email protected] http://lists.lugod.org/mailman/listinfo/vox-tech
