Re: [Tuxpaint-devel] An idea that would make Tux Paint even better!!!

[Albert C. <aca...@gm...>]

On 12/30/06, EW...@ro... <EW...@ro...> wrote:

>  It turned out the device didn't plug into the "Pocket" version of the
> device that we had. I noticed that it had a plug that seemed
> compatible with a PS2 Keyboard connector for a PC though.

It's probably a PS/2 mouse device.

> HERES THE IDEA: It would be absolutely fantastic if you could come up
> with a driver that would enable a child to drive the software from
> this "VTech Art Studio" tool!!!
>
> I am an engineer, but not a big software (esp Windows) guy, so I don't
> know how hard this would be. Hopefully there is some PS2 keyboard port
> montitoring tool that could be used, and then map the control strings
> to the appropriate menus within Tux Paint.

Most of us aren't Windows developers either. Tux Paint is
native to Linux. Tux Paint runs on MacOS X too.

PS/2 port monitoring is much easier on Linux. Writing drivers
is also easier on Linux. Linux drivers are much smaller than
equivalent Windows drivers because the kernel serves as a
full-featured library, because there is no binary-compatible
driver interface layer, and because the driver interfaces have
been allowed to rapidly change for the better.

I give your device a 60% chance of working perfectly in Linux
with the existing drivers. Most likely the X server will detect
the device as some type of mouse. (maybe a touchpad)

> I imagine it may be even possible to convert the PS2 connector to USB
> with standard off-the-shelf computer components.

It might actually be USB or able to switch protocols automatically,
but probably not.