jen

Last night I resolved data input from the TNG-3B from MindTel (www.mindtel.com) to my laptop computer, running XP. I am now able to take sensor input from the TNG and have this drive events within Neat tools software.

About the TNG: TNG stands for Totally Neat Gadget and is pronounced ‘thing’, apparently derived from Dr Seuss books… now that I have your attention: Its an analog to digital converter box that can take up to 8 analog sensors and 8 digital sensors. It draws its power through a DB9 serial interface to a pc. The serial plug has been the difficulty because not many laptops have serial inputs these days, and the serial to LPT port adapters that you can purchase don’t transmit all the data your device might need, since they are designed for printers.

I personally experienced an LPT adapter not working and have also read that not all USB to Serial adapters will do the job.. these being quite a bit more expensive again, I therefore found it quite opportune when
a) the Keyspan Serial /USB adapter that we have in the main studio (connects the floor pads) worked - yeah!
and
b) I was able to reconfigure (Neat tools) software to look for the com port that the keyspan assigned it - and not the default com 1.

About Neat tools:
Neat tools is a graphical API in C++ for windows, linux, irix, sun. Its freeware and downloadable from www.pulsar.org/2k/neattools. The API includes a TNG object and support for the sensor inputs as well as a variety of logical and other operations (e.g. boolean tests and calibration). According to the documentation it also supports midi and a joystick interface, among other things.
Neat tools does not appear to be actively developed for anymore. There is however a small set of tutorials downloadable and it was one of these that I now have running, that takes a couple of sensors and maps it to a couple of events.
Point to note: I’m running it fine with Windows XP SP2 (with Keyspan serial/usb adapter), and Cory and I have successfully used it on his desktop Windows 2000 pc (serial connection).

Neat tools is not the target for me here. Either pd (pure data) or MAX MSP/JITTER are. My next step in this respect is to get the device interfacing to that event driving environment. OR Derivative, if it doesn’t kill me first.

The coolest thing about the TNG is the sensors:

The device is built for plug and play: no soldering, screwing, its fairly robust because it uses 1/4 inch and 1/8 inch RCA (phono) plug connectors. So the sensors just plug in. To my mind this makes for an easy expansion and development of new sensors.

A fairly robust and modular design. They have sensors available for purchase and I picked up a kit of 6 for about USDX. All of them work fine. I have 1 digital switch and 5 analog sensors: a bend or flex sensor, light, pressure (extremely sensitive), and two potentiometers: sliding and rotating. They also have other cool bits ‘n pieces, including an accelerometer…

COST:
Buy it from www.sensyr.com for these prices.
TNG 3B =$100 (USD)
6 sensor kit =$65 (USD)
Neat tools is freeware and it + documentation can be downloaded from www.sensyr.com or www.pulsar.org/2k/neattools.

Credit and thanks to Cory Houston for his help in working through the tng neat tools tutorial and debugging serial port recognition back in June/July of 05…

What else is out there?

1. What’s in the studio downstairs?? What’s handling the floorpads..mmm..
2. Rodney showed off his new Blue tooth Analog/Digital converter today, that has a straight midi output. It also replaces the whole usb or serial interface into the computer with a bluetooth wireless connection. Of course your sensors are still wired to the box (screwed in, actually). It uses a 9v battery and you’d really want the duracell baby to be replaced by some Lithium batteries to get it a bit smaller… but like rodder’s says, depends on the battery life. The box can output signals too- i.e. drive analog devices. I think the TNG is input only…
Rodney’s box is from a bloke in Newcastle, Australia.
3. What’s the other box that we have in the lab/ that Brigid mentioned Shigeki was playing with?

This entry was posted on Thursday, November 10th, 2005 at 2:08 am and is filed under CCS, Thesis Stuff. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.