kwgst@unix.cis.pitt.edu (Filip Gieszczykiewicz) (01/24/91)
Greetings. I wanted to ask this question of people who know
what they are doing...
How many _input_ channels are necessare for a simple VR system?
That is, how many digital (on/off), how many 8-bit-resolution
analog, how many 16-bit-resolution, how many serial ports, etc.
For now, this can be considered a "theoretical" question.
(Something people around here love :-)
For, say, the typical IBM AT clone, the digital inputs can
easily be accomodated with a parallel I/O chip. They typicly
have 3 ports of 8 bits each. That's 24 bits. If one has 3 such
chips, 72 inputs are attained. Notice that they may also serve
as output controls. (Or one can add another card for 72 inputs
and 72 outputs).
Now, for the 8-bit-resolution analog channels. I recently used
an 8-channel, 8-bit ADC chip in a design. With 4 of these chips,
one can have 24 analog inputs. These can be used for slow
speed, low accuracy data aquisition. These analog channels can be
used for events such as pressure feedback, etc.
Similar chips are available for the "opposite" function, DAC
(analog outputs). These could be used to control a device that
_exerts_ (sp?) pressure.
As for the 16-bit ADC channels; they can be used for events that
require the most precision. Can't think of one, but I'm sure
they exist :-)
The serial ports can be used with systems such as the (recently
talked about) PowerGlove, the DataGlove, and other various
systems that use a serial port to communicate with the host.
I would like people to reply with the # of each that they think
would be useful in a typical VR system. Be reasonable. Please
comment on why you think each port(s) could be useful.
******
# digital inputs
# 8-bit ADC ports
# 16-bit (or 12-bit for us poor peopl) ADC ports
# serial ports
******
Take care.
P.S. I will archive all I receive and make it availiable.
Please give me a week or 2 before sending the "Me too!!" :-)
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