Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!uupsi!rice!uw-beaver!milton!hlab
From: xait!dee (Donald Eastlake)
Subject: Re: powerglove/ Goldbrick
Message-ID: <1991Apr27.011614.3883@milton.u.washington.edu>
Sender: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu (Human Int. Technology Lab)
Organization: Transfinite Systems Company, Inc., Cambridge, MA
References: <1991Apr26.071001.15565@milton.u.washington.edu>
Date: Fri, 26 Apr 91 21:57:12 GMT
Approved: cyberoid@milton.u.washington.edu



Well, its fairly easy to get a license from Apple to build a device to go onto
the Apple Desktop Bus (ADB )like we did and I think the license is only about
$50 a year.  Apple assigns you a unique "device handler ID" if you are not
going to emulate a standard device.  The problem is that if you wanted to
convert ADB to RS-232 you would not just be an ADB device but would have to be
an ADB master and as far as I know Apple has never licensed anyone to produce
an ADB master device.  Apple has some sort of patent(s) on ADB.

Also, while there is a lot on interest in our Gold Brick Nintendo controller
to ADB interface in the handicapped commuity, we don't write any software
particularly oriented towards that.  We just provide some simple demo
software, including a wire frame hand display primarily intended to be run
from a glove.  In fact, to encourage other to write more software, we have
announced a $1,000 first prize for software using Gold Brick submitted by
sometime towards the end of this year.  If you are interested, call us at
617-969-9570 or send EMail.  Details are in our standard info packet.

Donald
        +1 617-969-9570         Donald E. Eastlake, III
        ARPA: dee@XAIT.Xerox.COM    usenet:  {cbosg,decvax,linus}!cca!dee
        AppleLink:  D2002       Box N, MIT Branch PO, Cambridge, MA 02139 USA