21 Dec
1998
21 Dec
'98
9:46 a.m.
On 20 Dec 98 at 18:25, Chuck McManis wrote:
Im going to have to keep my eyes open for any of his books. Quite
fascinating
stuff from an historical perspective.
Concerning his questions you have to keep in mind this was written in 1975.
As he says it may seem quaint or primitive at a later time , but these were
accute and problematic questions then.
Actally he had the specs to do just that in the book.
lwalker(a)interlog.com
My main find tho was a "TV Typewriter
Cookbook" from Sams by Don Lancaster,
the
author of the TTL cookbook among others. Might be old hat to most members on
the list, but I find it's an amazing book. My apologies to those who've seen
it before.
Wozniac and others must have been influenced by it.
A quote (long) from the end of the book is interesting.
Cool, I've got the follow-on book which is called the "Cheap Video
Cookbook" that uses a 6502 as a video processor. Some interesting notes :
* Can a basic
low-cost tv typewriter with cursor and memory be
built to retail at the hobbyist level for $39.95?
A "bare bones" VGA card costs $9.95, If you can find a CGA card they are less.
* Can a miniature calculator-style ASCII keyboard
and encoder with
quality features (2KRO, choice of strobe,
tactile response, two shot
keys) be built to retail at the hobbyist level for $14.95?
A 101 key IBM PC compatible keyboard is now around $8.00 new, $1.00 surplus.
* What is the longest length and highest
character quality that can be
obtained with direct rf entry of an unmodified
tv set?
You can easily do 85 x 30 lines on a modern TV using the S-video input.
* Can you build a legal, universal,
single-channel rf modulator to retail
at the hobbyist level for $4.95?
Yes, and from a surplus dealer they are $0.75
* What is the minimum possible cost for a snap-on
Selectric base-plate
adapter and converter? How fast will it
operate? Can it be made to
enter as well as print?
Don't know...
* How do you
add light-pen feedback to graphic and tvt displays?
Interrupts. Most mono-chrome PC cards had Light pen input.
* Can a single microprocessor such as an MOS
Technology 6502 provide all
the timing and control for a stand-alone tvt?
Yes, and he goes on to prove it in the Cheap Video Cookbook. These days I'd
consider using a PIC.
* What are the most effective software and
algorithms needed for graphic
display games and puzzles?
Turns out the bit-blt was pretty prevalent here.
* Can you design a simple CPU backup for a
graphics tvt that will move
chessmen following chess notation, e.g.,
Bishop to King's Rook 5?
Again, this is something Don does in the Cheap Video Cookbook.
* Can you build a basic compiler on a chip or
two?
Yes, witness the BASIC Stamp, the Phoenix, etc.
You can also build BASIC into a chip, vis-a-vis the 8052AH
* What is the setup needed for a tvt-oriented
wordprocessing system to
be used for addressing, printing form letters,
and so on? Can this be
done without a CPU?
Olivetti did it in 1988, there may have been others.
* What is the simplest and cheapest dedicated
"super front panel" tvt
configuration you can come up with that will read out the entire memory
contents of a microcomputer a page at a time? ? Can you make it
sequentially read out locations in hex or octa1 instead of ASCII?
???
* Can you come up with a simple and universal
locking system for video
titling and superposition on existing EIA sync
programs, both for
studio and home video-recording uses? Can you make it crawl, have
variable character size and shape, etc.?
Genloc chips from Motorola do this.
* How do you use a tvt for printed-circuit and
schematic layouts?
These days it is "How else would you do it?"
* What is he best way a CPU and tvt can interact
with an electronic
music synthesis system?
Thru an LCD panel? Most keyboards these days come with 4 line or better
LCD panels. Then again, with a Monster Sound MX300 you've got a pretty
good synth inside your computer!
* What about video art synthesis? Can you build a
super spirograph? Make
it follow music?
Seen homebrew versions, never a commercial one.
--Chuck