Re: [Tuxpaint-users] An experimental tablet for TuxPaint

[Bill K. <nb...@so...>]

(Responding to both -devel and -users.)

On Tue, Jun 03, 2008 at 02:30:26PM +0800, Shih-Chin Yang wrote:
>    Hi, Bill:
>    Many thanks for your  comments.
> 
>    As a matter of fact, I would like to make the tablet as simple as
>    possible, but with features like large drawing area, transparent. The
>    tablet would still require a tethered stylus, but not pressure sensitive.

Ok, so it's technology closer to a Wacom tablet than a Koala Pad drawing
tablet or a touchscreen (e.g., a CRT at an Automated Teller Machine)


>    Even though the prototype work for windows only for now, but with proper
>    drivers, it could also support Linux, Mac OS etc. And it could work with
>    any software other than TuxPaint.

How does Windows see the device?  I would imagine it would not need to act
much different from a plain pointer input device (like a mouse or trackball).
Is it (going to) connect(ed) by USB?

The Koala Pad on the Atari 8-bit acted as two Paddle controllers
(potentiometers), one representing X, the other Y.  The two buttons on
the Koala Pad acted as Paddle fire buttons (digital on/off).

Once upon a time I had a little device a friend and I made which allowed me
to connect Atari Paddle controllers to a PC's joystick port (the kind you
used to find on sound cards like the SoundBlaster).  I imagine I could have
used the X/Y/Fire of the joystick input on the PC (say, under Linux) to
utilize the Koala Pad.

Unfortunately, at the time, I had no Koala Pad.  And these days, PCs don't
have the old-style analog joystick input.  I've got a StellAdapter
(Atari video game/computer system controller to USB converter), but I don't
recall if it supports Paddle inputs... it may only do joystick
(which were 4 digital values on the Atari).


>    What hardware features(buttons) do you think might help to put on the
>    tablet? Other than a plain transparent board?

Honestly, I don't know!  I think keeping it simple would be the best and
most flexible route.

Have you looked at the Digital Arts and Crafts Studio's drawing tablet?
It includes an assortment of buttons for choosing colors, tools, etc.
I can map most of those to controls within Tux Paint, but really, Tux Paint
can do so much more than the DACS software can (in some ways, at least),
so those buttons are more of a burden. :)

What do others out here think of Shin-Chin's device?

PS - I'd happily accept a prototype to play with. :^D

-bill!