Keyboard actuator

From: Fred Cisin <cisin_at_xenosoft.com>
Date: Wed May 10 19:26:43 2000

On Wed, 10 May 2000, John Foust wrote:
> Sounds like fun. How could it come close to hitting any key on any
> keyboard? Are the solenoids positionable?

Not quite ANY. It has a little bit of positional adjustment, but not
much, and has provision for different key heights (for "Selectric", etc.).
The good news is that key spacing is, for all practical purposes,
standardized. Different key arrangements can be handled by swapping
solenoids around, or in software. It only does the regular "alphanumeric"
keys, and does not operate function keys, etc., even if they ARE where god
intended.

> Certainly in some situations, a parallel-to-serial conversion box
> could capture the bitstream from an archaic computer. That route
> would have the benefit of a buffer in most cases. Does this gizmo
> have a buffer?

Although it could be used for transferring FROM a machine whose only
external manifestation is a centronics port, for THAT I would agree that a
parallel to serial converter is simpler.

If there is any buffer, it's surely no more than a few characters.
Instead, it is using the paralel port handshaking signals. There are
"inline" parallel printer buffers that would work with it.

Serial port is fine IFF
1) there is one. not on the Merganthaler from hell.
2) there is appropriate software. a VERY common lack.
Cabling is an inconvenience, but not a major obstacle. usually.

> At 01:08 PM 5/10/00 -0700, Fred Cisin (XenoSoft) wrote:
> >This is THE device that will transfer files to ANYTHING. IF you can stop
> >laughing.
> As such, it would be most useful for getting data *into* a system
> that didn't have a way to import an ordinary text file. You could
> even write filters to massage the stream in order to hit weird
> key sequences to reformat the text.

That's right. For routine transfer between relatively ordinary machines
there are other ways. As you know, MY preferred method is reading and
writing alien soft-sectored disk formats. But there are some machines for
which NONE of the "reasonable" methods apply. (such as that Merganthaler
typesetter)

--
Fred Cisin                      cisin_at_xenosoft.com
XenoSoft                        http://www.xenosoft.com
2210 Sixth St.                  (510) 644-9366
Berkeley, CA 94710-2219
Received on Wed May 10 2000 - 19:26:43 BST

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