Putting a controller to life
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Hi Our team of university engineering postgrads has undertaken a challenge to create from scratch a computer-connected tactile matrix touch pad meant to let blind people sense with their fingers shapes others can see. Whereas we will eventually need to get the programming job done by professionals, we would like to get a feel of what making a usb connected controller device live. We would greatly appreciate advice pointing us to the relevant online resources with regards to the following: - the choice of the programming language - how controllers are programmed these days and which frameworks (if that is the right word) are best to be used - the path to making the chosen framework implementable in a newly designed device - at which stage of the controller design is it supposed to take place Greetings Tom
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Hi Our team of university engineering postgrads has undertaken a challenge to create from scratch a computer-connected tactile matrix touch pad meant to let blind people sense with their fingers shapes others can see. Whereas we will eventually need to get the programming job done by professionals, we would like to get a feel of what making a usb connected controller device live. We would greatly appreciate advice pointing us to the relevant online resources with regards to the following: - the choice of the programming language - how controllers are programmed these days and which frameworks (if that is the right word) are best to be used - the path to making the chosen framework implementable in a newly designed device - at which stage of the controller design is it supposed to take place Greetings Tom
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Too easy for you guys? That's okay. I will do the research myself and would only ask for correcting me if I am wrong on something. I hope noone minds my using this thread as a note board and perhaps someone googling for similar information one day will find it useful. Here is what I found overnight. First of all, I was mistaken about python language. The key word here was "driver". Windows will require a driver made using a Driver Development Kit to convert ascii sent by the device to the computer (this kind of programming may require putting windows into a virtual machine). The communication is actually going to be in two directions. Now, I will need to find out how to make an electronic device capable of sending and receiving ascii. Anyone, is that right so far?
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Too easy for you guys? That's okay. I will do the research myself and would only ask for correcting me if I am wrong on something. I hope noone minds my using this thread as a note board and perhaps someone googling for similar information one day will find it useful. Here is what I found overnight. First of all, I was mistaken about python language. The key word here was "driver". Windows will require a driver made using a Driver Development Kit to convert ascii sent by the device to the computer (this kind of programming may require putting windows into a virtual machine). The communication is actually going to be in two directions. Now, I will need to find out how to make an electronic device capable of sending and receiving ascii. Anyone, is that right so far?
Member 9640444 wrote:
is that right so far?
Probably yes, but you need to do the R & D yourself to find out whether it works for what you want. This is really not an easy question to answer since there are so many variables. People here will try to help you with specific questions, but we cannot second guess what might happen in a project that does not yet exist outside of your brain. See How to get an answer to your question - Hardware & Devices Discussion Boards[^].
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Member 9640444 wrote:
is that right so far?
Probably yes, but you need to do the R & D yourself to find out whether it works for what you want. This is really not an easy question to answer since there are so many variables. People here will try to help you with specific questions, but we cannot second guess what might happen in a project that does not yet exist outside of your brain. See How to get an answer to your question - Hardware & Devices Discussion Boards[^].
Of course, thanks Richard very much for your help. Like I said, this is an initial phase, but we want to get an outlook of what will be there to be done even as the lab team are working on the mechanics of movement. Therefore, I hope you do not mind me using this forum to verify our team's findings and assumptions. Forums is place where many ideas can get combined into new ones - and one can not always predict what the outcome will be. Thus, may I use the forum to ask some further questions to a broader public?
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Of course, thanks Richard very much for your help. Like I said, this is an initial phase, but we want to get an outlook of what will be there to be done even as the lab team are working on the mechanics of movement. Therefore, I hope you do not mind me using this forum to verify our team's findings and assumptions. Forums is place where many ideas can get combined into new ones - and one can not always predict what the outcome will be. Thus, may I use the forum to ask some further questions to a broader public?
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Of course, thanks Richard very much for your help. Like I said, this is an initial phase, but we want to get an outlook of what will be there to be done even as the lab team are working on the mechanics of movement. Therefore, I hope you do not mind me using this forum to verify our team's findings and assumptions. Forums is place where many ideas can get combined into new ones - and one can not always predict what the outcome will be. Thus, may I use the forum to ask some further questions to a broader public?
I have a question concerning python - again, just to check. Does the stage of the hardware design require taking into consideration the specific language planned to be used, f.e. python vs R? If not at all, when is this decision to be taken? Is it that a matter of compatibility with the software that is going to talk with the device?
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Hi Our team of university engineering postgrads has undertaken a challenge to create from scratch a computer-connected tactile matrix touch pad meant to let blind people sense with their fingers shapes others can see. Whereas we will eventually need to get the programming job done by professionals, we would like to get a feel of what making a usb connected controller device live. We would greatly appreciate advice pointing us to the relevant online resources with regards to the following: - the choice of the programming language - how controllers are programmed these days and which frameworks (if that is the right word) are best to be used - the path to making the chosen framework implementable in a newly designed device - at which stage of the controller design is it supposed to take place Greetings Tom
Are you building your own "controller"? If not, the manufacturer / vendor will dictate what "language" / protocol the controller supports (e.g. MODBUS). Then there's typically a "driver"; that is written in the "host" operating system's language (e.g. C; C++; Assembler). Then there's the "application" that communicates with the "driver"; using just about any language that is compatible with the driver. I would first familiarize myself with what is available / doable before "building from scratch". [Arduino - Home](https://www.arduino.cc/)
"(I) am amazed to see myself here rather than there ... now rather than then". ― Blaise Pascal