Description and Supporting Documentation for the POWER GLOVE SERIAL ADAPTER II (tentative June 12,1992) Author : Jim Brain Organization : The Association for Computing Machinery at Urbana Champaign Urbana, IL 61801 Special Interest Group : SIGARCH Date : June 12th, 1992 INTRODUCTION: The Power Glove Serial Adapter, Revision 2 (hereto referred to as the PGSA II, or "the box") provides the microcomputer user with a means to interface the Mattel Manufactured Nintendo PowerGlove (tm) to his or her personal system. The PowerGlove is a 3 dimensional input device capable of providing the user with X,Y, and Z coordinates to help facilitate 3-D software requirements. In addition, the PGSA II allows the users similar access to the SEGA(tm) 3-D Shutter Glasses. With both of these capabilities on-board the PGSA II, low cost Virtual Realism and 3 dimensional visualization systems are a reality. HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS: The only hardware requirement is the ability for a user's system to accept standard RS-232C (EIA-232D) serial data at a bit rate of 9600 bps with 1 stop bit, no parity, and 8 data bits. The PGSA II comes with a "standard" female DB25 connector commonly used for RS-232 devices, although users can change that restriction by using adapters. The PGSA II allows the users to gather input from the PowerGlove without having to know the specifics of the input device at the hardware level. The interface box provides all the necessary buffering and translation, so that the user can receive up-to-date information on the position of the PowerGlove and control the SEGA glasses. AVAILABILITY: Although the PGSA II is currently under development, finished units will not ship until early in August. This information is provided for potential customers eager to learn more about the use of 3 dimensional input and output devices, as well as potential software authors drawn to the idea of using 3 dimensional devices in future product releases. There is an installed base of software for the so-called "parallel interface" which uses the processor on the host computer and special lines on the printer port of the host computer to provide a subset of the functions available in the PGSA II. While the "parallel" interface has been refined considerably for users of newer IBM compatible systems, other machine owners have been less fortunate. The PGSA II hopes to solve these problems when available. REQUEST FOR MORE INFORMATION: The Internet News Group SCI.VIRTUAL-WORLDS receives up-to-date information about progress in the areas of 3-D viewing and input devices. Many readers of this newsgroup, names being too numerous to mention, can provides answers to common questions related to the use and development of devices such as the PGSA II and appropriate software. Alternately, This author can be reached at the internet and land address found at the closing of this document. Although in its initial stages, low-cost virtual reality is fast becoming a real reality. Page 1 SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS: Although no installed base for the PGSA II exists, it can easily emulate the Menelli Interface, designed as a project by Ron Menelli, or the Abrahms Gentile Entertainment, Inc. (AGE) PGSA Interface. This provides the user with a means to utilize the new inteface box, while waiting for software to be written that will fully support the new box. In the area of SEGA support, the PGSA II will work with all currently available software utilizing RTS control or the newer RTS/DTR control designed by Glen Harris. PRODUCT CONTENTS: The PGSA II system comes standard with adapters to interface 1 Nintendo PowerGlove and one pair of SEGA shutter glasses. The system terminates with a connector that will accept a standard RS-232 DB-25 male plug. A complete set of documentation will also be included. This documentation will explian how to use the interface, how to program the interface in common languages, how to troubleshoot the interface should anything go awry, and how to enhance the unit. The documentation will also detail the theory involved. A demonstration disk containing sample programs and help files will be included, provided the user states his current system type. WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED: The user must supply his own means for power generation. A jack has been included to allow hookup of many low-cost "brick" power units, commonly referred to as "battery eliminators". The sytem can be powered by any AC or DC voltage from 6 volts up to 35 volts. The user must also supply the needed PowerGlove and/or SEGA glasses. The system will function perfectly without the SEGA glasses installed, but the unit will operate the SEGA glasses in only 2 of 4 modes of operation if the glasses are installed alone. Potential customers are discouraged from buying this unit solely to operate the SEGA Glasses. If the user has an RS-232 interface incompatible with the DB-25 connector, he or she can either buy the unit themselves, or purchase it from SIGARCH. ACCESSORIES: Users who wish to enhance the operation of the PGSA II may do so in many ways. Although the current version of the controlling software does not support it, the current hardware and future versions of the software will include support for up to 2 PowerGloves. Also, future versions of the controlling software will include support for one or more Nintendo U-Force controllers, a device similar in operation to the PowerGlove. SOFTWARE UPGRADES: Registered owners of of the PGSA II will receive updates to the controller code as they are finished, along with documentation and programs to load the new code into the interface. The interface is "field-programmable", which means that updates to the controller code can be made by the end user using special programs. The user will also be notified of other products produced by SIGARCH. Page 3 MISCELLANEOUS: The PGSA II has been made with flexibility in mind. The user can select the following options on the standard board: Control SEGA Glasses using RTS direct control. Control SEGA Glasses using RTS/DTR direct control. Control SEGA Glasses using interface control. Select 1 PowerGlove active. Select 2 PowerGloves active. Select On-board SEGA voltage generation (for 6-9 volt power supplies) Select User supplied SEGA voltage gen. (optional for 10+ V supplies) Select High or Low initial baud rate. Plus, there are 3 configuration options for users with nonstandard RS-232 requirements. COST: SIGARCH is still evaluating the retail price for these units, but factors tentativly support a price of $85.00. SIGARCH cannot guarantee this price until all evaluation has been finished. SIGARCH is looking into the possibility of offering kits of the PGSA II at a reduced price, but the decision has not been discussed thoroughly. Note that cost will largely be determined by the number of people committing to purchase a box upon manufacture, since SIGARCH will take prepaid orders for the units. A base of 50 purchasers is required before final production can start. ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION: SIGARCH is a non-profit special interest group (SIG) of the Association of Computing Machinery at Urbana Champaign (ACM at UIUC). The president is Mr. Mike Schaffstein, and the PGSA II Project Leader is Mr. Jim Brain. The PGSA II Project is a fundraising attempt to gather funds for more such projects and their associated development. SIGARCH is the Special Interest Group in Computer Architecture, so this and future projects will utilize microprocessor based systems. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jim Brain is a senior in Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. He presently lives in Urbana and will seek a graduate degree in Electrical Engineering upon completion of his bachelor's degree in May, 1993. He can be reached at the following addresses: Jim Brain 305 N Lincoln Avenue N116 Urbana, IL 61801 brain@cs.uiuc.edu