ICS.DEKEN@UTEXAS-20.ARPA (03/16/84)
I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has successfully designed/installed an alternative keyboard for the Apple. A friend wishes to send the output from a cheap "front end" micro to the Apple, and have it treated as if it were generated by the keyboard. The application is to make existing software programs accessible without modification to a variety of handicapped users, at very low cost. (The front-end micro system could be obtained off the shelf nowadays for <$100.) Thanks in advance. -------
tam@mi-cec.UUCP (Thomas A. Maier) (03/20/84)
I, too, would be interested in such information for use with handicapped individuals. Thanks in advance. Tom Maier Mellon Institute Computer Engineering Center 4616 Henry St Pgh, Pa. 15213
darrelj@sdcrdcf.UUCP (Darrel VanBuer) (03/21/84)
Assuming the IIe keyboard is similar to the II/II+ keyboard, the interface
between the keyboard and processor board is pretty simple (and documented in
the Apple II Reference Manual): seven parallel data lines carrying the
ASCII character, an edge-triggered strobe line (a short pulse sets the
character available latch), and a few lines for power to the keyboard.
I.e. all you need is an 8 bit output port on your substitute keyboard
(and an 8-bit input port if you want to read the "real" keyboard yourself).
--
Darrel J. Van Buer, PhD
System Development Corp.
2500 Colorado Ave
Santa Monica, CA 90406
(213)820-4111 x5449
...{allegra,burdvax,cbosgd,hplabs,ihnp4,sdccsu3,trw-unix}!sdcrdcf!darrelj
VANBUER@USC-ECL.ARPA