Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!mit-eddie!uw-beaver!cornell!batcomputer!sun!sun.soe.clarkson.edu!naughton
From: naughton@sun.soe.clarkson.edu (Patrick Naughton)
Newsgroups: comp.ivideodisc
Subject: Re: Getting Started with Interactive Videodiscs
Message-ID: <367@sun.soe.clarkson.edu>
Date: 4 Feb 88 06:11:42 GMT
Sender: naughton@sun.soe.clarkson.edu
Reply-To: naughton@sun.soe.clarkson.edu (Patrick Naughton)
Organization: Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY
Lines: 69


[Don Jackson writes:]

> 0) Which is the best video disc player to buy?

      Do you mean which is the "top-of-the-line"? or the best for your
    application?  The level of functionality of the player required
    is directly dependant on the kind of interaction response time
    your system requires.

> 1) Are there any consumer video disc players that can
>    be controlled by computer?

      Generally, consumer, (read: low-priced) players are too slow for
    commercial applications.  Also the only computer control available
    is via the remote control jack on the player.  Limited control,
    as is found on the RCU's is available through a 5 pin DIN or
    a 24 pin amphenol connector.

> 2) Are there any 'professional' video disc players that
>    can play 5" CD-V discs?

      I am not familiar with the CD-V format disks... (other than the
    general impression that they offer limited playing time for the $$'s).

> 3) RS-232 control is preferable to HP-IB control (for me),
>    are there any advantages of one over the other (aside from cost?)

      RS-232 control is generally faster and more powerful, but it
    usually costs more and ties up one of the PC's COM: ports...

> 4) After I get a video disc player, and hack up some code to
>    control it from my computer, what are some good discs to
>    buy?  

      Again, this is application specific.  I'd say for simple
    hacking around, Any disk, (i.e. Mary Poppins..8-) would suffice.

Be prepared for lots of hacking around with the manual in hand, (that is
if you can get the manual) to get the correct sequence of bytes to make
the player do what you want.  Also, you will require extra hardware to
mix graphics and video onscreen at the same time.

There is a company called U.S.Video who sells overlay hardware, (for the
EGA) and the software device drivers to communicate easily with most of
the popular laser disc players.

U. S. Video Inc.
900 Winderley Place
Suite 140
Maitland, Florida  32751
(305) 875-0800

(if no reply / redirection there, I believe they may have relocated...
		sorry, no phone number, 555-1212 should get it tho')
62 Southfield Ave
Stamford, CT  06902

Ask for David Medin.


Patrick J. Naughton
23 Pleasant Street, #3
Potsdam, NY  13676
(naughton@sun.soe.clarkson.edu)

p.s.
	Is this for a project at Sun?
	(Possibly using the X11 video protocall extension?)