lpb@csadfa.oz (11/19/85)
Here, in the Dept. of Computer Science at the Australian Defense Force
Academy, we are involved in a research project to write a Portable Authoring
Language with a high graphical content, for use in Computer Assisted Learning.
As part of this project we intend using remote graphics terminals driven using
NAPLPS code sequences. Being an interactive system we need some form of locator
input such as a mouse, or a graphics tablet. Herein lies our problem: on our
reading of the NAPLPS standard (ANSI X3.110-1983 or CSA T500-1983), it says very
little (if anything) on interactive input. In particluar we need to know:
- how to integrate a mouse/graphics tablet to an existing NAPLPS decoder
- what code sequences the mouse/tablet should send to the host
- how these code sequences are to be interleaved with keyboard input,
only one tty line is being used
- whether the mouse/tablet input is continuous, externally triggered,
or supplied on request from the host (and how is it requested)
- how is the mouse/tablet position echoed/tracked on the terminal,
is it a local loop, or a remote loop (note the host may be linked via
phone-lines, may be handling a number of terminals at once, and is
a normal UNIX mini or super-mini, not dedicated to just this task)
- which "cursor" is used for tracking the mouse/tablet, one of the
cursor's defined in the standard, or a dedicated cursor (which impacts
on question 1)
If anyone has any experiences with this type of setup or application,
knows of any articles or books on it, or generally has any suggestions, then
please mail me at one of the addresses below. If I get enough responses I will
summarize to the net.
Thankyou.
Lawrence Brown.
--
Programmers Dictionary: ``argc'' - Expression of frustration. See argv.
Lawrence Brown ISD: +61 62 68 8167
Dept. Computer Science STD: (062) 68 8167
University College ACSNET: lpb@csadfa.oz
Uni. New South Wales UUCP: ...!seismo!munnari!csadfa.oz!lpb or
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Canberra. ACT. 2600. ARPA: lpb%csadfa.oz@SEISMO.ARPA
AUSTRALIA CSNET: lpb@csadfa.oz