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Who's Cornering the Market on Koala Pads? — Parallax Forums

Who's Cornering the Market on Koala Pads?

Comments

  • codevipercodeviper Posts: 208
    edited 2012-04-22 13:53
    sorry to be the one to say this but they have become rare.
    I had one, it was stolen and I have been looking for another that I could afford ever since.
    Andy Warhol had one I think, but few artists thought art on a computer was feasible, and most people thought the keyboard was enough back then.
    But you could make your own with some Digital potentiometers and the prop translating from a modern pad to the paddle inputs on the C64s game port.
    which is how i think the old C64 version worked.
    but if you want a real one for nostalgia $100 is pretty much the norm.
    good luck and stick to swap meats yard sales and dump swaps.
    everything on eBay sales too high.
    thrift stores are ok as well
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,259
    edited 2012-04-22 13:59
    I'm pretty sure there's one up in my attic. I'just like to know what people are doing with them!
  • Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
    edited 2012-04-22 14:01
    I've got a couple of those kits...

    Nice to know they are starting to increase in value..
    They are very low resolution and not extremely accurate, but could make an interesting Propeller project using an ADC.

    OBC
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,259
    edited 2012-04-22 14:08
    Yep, even a Stamp could RCtime a Koala Pad for XY graphic/spatial input. That's what got me thinkin'... offbeat apps.
  • Duane DegnDuane Degn Posts: 10,588
    edited 2012-04-22 15:04
    erco wrote: »
    Remember the old Koala pad input devices for Atari and C-64?

    We had one with our Apple][+. According to my computer, I still have it in box #5 in the garage. (I have box #137 sitting next to me,) I started using box #5 a long time ago. There is also a set of Apple game paddles in the same box.
  • xanaduxanadu Posts: 3,347
    edited 2012-04-22 15:12
    Good stuff. :)
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,259
    edited 2012-04-22 19:24
    Duane Degn wrote: »
    We had one with our Apple][+. According to my computer, I still have it in box #5 in the garage. (I have box #137 sitting next to me,) I started using box #5 a long time ago. There is also a set of Apple game paddles in the same box.

    You flashy types who number your boxes think you're better than the rest of us, that the rules don't apply to you. Well I got a news flash for ya, Joyboy! Party time's over for you and yer good time buddies...

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zePQavforA&feature=player_detailpage#t=70s
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,259
    edited 2012-04-22 19:35
    One thought I had was to make a musical instrument using two theremin-like tone generators. Could just use a 556 timer and no processor. X controls one tone, Y controls the other. Two part harmony, done properly.

    And then there are pan/tilt apps where the Kpad is almost a remote mouse pad... aiming blazing laser pointers... but that's dangerous; we never had this conversation.
  • Beau SchwabeBeau Schwabe Posts: 6,568
    edited 2012-04-22 20:01
    I've got a couple of the membranes with the metal backing somewhere... If anyone (erco) is interested I could try to find them and send them your way.
  • PJAllenPJAllen Banned Posts: 5,065
    edited 2012-04-22 20:14
    erco wrote: »
    Here's a manual or an empty BOX for over $10 shipped each!

    Sometimes we had more fun with the boxes than the toys in them. I think that was the premise of a Crayola commercial once upon a time.

    Speaking of cardboard boxes...
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,259
    edited 2012-04-23 00:01
    Beau Schwabe (Parallax) wrote: »
    I've got a couple of the membranes with the metal backing somewhere... If anyone (erco) is interested I could try to find them and send them your way.

    Now you're barking, Beau! No rush, but if you come across 'em, I have a few apps in mind. Thanks!
  • Duane DegnDuane Degn Posts: 10,588
    edited 2012-04-23 00:24
    erco wrote: »
    One thought I had was to make a musical instrument using two theremin-like tone generators. Could just use a 556 timer and no processor. X controls one tone, Y controls the other. Two part harmony, done properly.

    And then there are pan/tilt apps where the Kpad is almost a remote mouse pad... aiming blazing laser pointers... but that's dangerous; we never had this conversation.

    I'd think there would only be a few apps where a Kpad would be better than a joystick (or accelerometer). A Wii Nunchuck lets one use a joystick and/or an accelerometer to control things (lasers) and they're not scarce at all.

    I've flown a RC helicopter with a Wii Nunchuck, I don't think I want to try to fly one with a Koala Pad.

    I do see where it(Koala Pad) would be useful as a robot arm input device. You could use the Kpad as a freehand input for one of your robot arms. The arm could draw on paper the shapes inputted to the Kpad.

    I better stop thinking about this. I have too many active projects already.

    Duane (aka Joyboy)

    (I bet I have an overdue library book in one of those boxes.)
    (Party time's just getting started.)
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