Has anyone looked into hacking an AlphaSmart 3000 or Neo to build a portable system?

KeithE · 2013-01-01 20:55

I was wondering if anyone has looked into hacking an AlphaSmart 3000 or Neo into a portable propeller system. You can get these units pretty cheaply on eBay, and it might come in handy as a piece of lab equipment, or just a portable system for playing around. I've never opened up an AlphaSmart though, so I don't know how suitable it is as raw materials. I searched in the forum and found people interested in building TRS-80 Model 100 like systems, but didn't see any references to the AlphaSmart. The 3000 looks like it has a fixed 40x4 LCD, but the Neo appears to be more flexible. I guess that the Dana should be excluded either as it has the most interesting display.

Oldbitcollector (Jeff) · 2013-01-01 21:13

I get a batch of them in from time to time.. If fact that is where my 40x4 LCD "pulls" come from.

The unit itself has a serial port, so in a sense it's already Propeller compatible. The main chip is a write-once EPROM from TI. At most the board itself doesn't appear friendly to hacking. The last batch I pulled apart I saved a bunch of the keyboards from. (maybe useful). Probably the most interesting thing you could do with the Alpha Smart is recycle the keyboard, LCD and case then replace the board with something that had a Propeller on it. (Plenty of room.)

That's my take on them.. That and $1.99 will buy you a cup of coffee in most places.

Jeff

KeithE · 2013-01-01 22:15

Jeff - just don't mention that you are killing AlphaSmarts anytime in November. Angry writers may come after you ;-) (Think NaNoWriMo) If you get them in, one thing could could try is customizing them (e.g. flashy coat of paint) and selling them on the NanoWriMo forums. Sort of like of some guys made a business out of reselling cleaned-up Model 100's. But think flashier. You could also trying giving them each a unique name and using that in the listing. Given how low you are selling the pulls for, you might make more money this way. Only half joking here - thanks for the input.

Oldbitcollector (Jeff) · 2013-01-02 06:47

If there's interest in them, I'll save a few of the next batch and put them on the Bargain Bin for a while.

Jeff

Heater. · 2013-01-02 06:57

Good grief, all this time hanging around computers and I had no idea what an AlphSmart is!

Wikipedia enlightens me, only to find this "Barrus and Kothari also hold a US patent on a "portable keyboard computer", applied for in 1992 and granted in 1995"

Another moronic patent that inclines me to think destroying AlphaSmarts as fast as possible is a great idea:)

mindrobots · 2013-01-02 07:53

That's OK, I had to look up NanoWriMo too!

I'm thinking life is too short and the alternatives too intriguing to start hacking AlphaSmart 3000's!

KeithE · 2013-01-02 11:05

@Heater - destroy one smartphone and you have covered the bad Karma of thousands of AlphaSmarts ;-)

@Jeff - I have some interest in the 3000's or later. Any idea how much you would sell them for?

For anyone not acquainted with them they do make a good writer's tool especially now that they are so cheap. Hundreds of hours of battery life, instant on/off, no worrying about saving files, leave it unattended at your cafe of choice without worrying about theft (assuming that you're syncing it up often), and no distractions from web browsers etcetera. Maybe this is all it's good for, but I was thinking about extending it with more connectivity options, ideas from SwyftCard, or perhaps as a simple serial terminal. If they are cheap enough and cleaned up then they could definitely find a home somewhere just with the stock firmware. My nephew had some problems with fine motor skills and used one at school for a while.

Edited to add -Here's an example of what a writer might do to one of these:

Oldbitcollector (Jeff) · 2013-01-02 11:28

Keith,

I'll let you know next time I get them in... The first batch was the original Alphasmart, the second batch was 3000 series, and the last batch was the original again.

Jeff

Bean · 2013-01-03 04:17

Jeff - I'd be interested in getting a couple too.

Bean

sharkking · 2013-01-12 18:07

Hi there, just a quick question. I came into the possession of an Alphasmart 3000, but the motherboard has since failed. I would like
to utilize the 40*4 LCD screen it has. Can anyone help me with pinouts for this? I know the fellow at the top of the thread is selling them, but
all I saw was a black, ominous connector with 16 pin holes.

I really would like to utilize this beautiful display, so if anyone could help me in revealing what these 16 holes mean, I would be
extremely greatful,

Thank you kindly,

Sharkking

KeithE · 2013-01-12 20:55

sharkking wrote: »

Hi there, just a quick question. I came into the possession of an Alphasmart 3000, but the motherboard has since failed. I would like
to utilize the 40*4 LCD screen it has. Can anyone help me with pinouts for this? I know the fellow at the top of the thread is selling them, but
all I saw was a black, ominous connector with 16 pin holes.

I really would like to utilize this beautiful display, so if anyone could help me in revealing what these 16 holes mean, I would be
extremely greatful,

Thank you kindly,

Sharkking

Jeff not only sells them, he has example code - http://propellerpowered.com/shop/?page_id=707

sharkking · 2013-01-13 09:01

Thank you for replying quickly to my comment, however, I have looked at the code and it gives no indication as to how one should plug this into the propellor; I
would like to refrain from wiring it whilst having no idea as to what pins are which (this could seriously damage my LCD). I would preferably be looking for
a pin out diagram, showing what each of the 16 pins is connected to. If anyone has something along these lines I would be most grateful,

Thank you greatly,

Sharkking

Oldbitcollector (Jeff) · 2013-01-13 09:06

The comment section of the Spin code itself has a hookup diagram.

Please let me know if you get stuck on it.

Jeff

KeithE · 2013-01-13 10:02

Also you can follow the link from this article and see if it helps - http://www.imagitronics.org/projects/alphasmart-lcd-mod/

sharkking · 2013-01-13 11:21

Wow, thank you all once again for your help and patience,
Apparently I couldn't find the comments section of the code, quite embarrassing actually.
Just to confirm, the pinout for the LCD is oriented from the back of the alphasmart,
going from up to down? Not any other direction? I am just afraid that I'll put the GND to 5V
or something and end up ruining my only good display,

I am in all of your debts,

Sharkking

KeithE · 2013-01-13 11:33

That other link points to this datasheet http://www.lcdmodkit.com/specification/LKC-4004-A2.pdf which I imagine is close except it has a backlight of course.

Oldbitcollector (Jeff) · 2013-01-13 11:34

Here's a little expanded explanation from the file LCD_40x4_4Bit.spin. Let me know if this helps.

Jeff

sharkking · 2013-01-13 14:58

Ah, thank you all so much for the help, the datasheet was useful, as now I have the name of the display, and thanks Jeff
for the detailed schematic, it was quite helpful.
Just to confirm, it utilizes a 4-bit interface correct? because at this moment I seem to be getting blank screens
and the occasional contrast spike,

Thank you all kindly,

Sharkking

Oldbitcollector (Jeff) · 2013-01-13 15:35

Make sure you handle V0 (IIRC, the contrast control, tie it to VDD via variable resistance to provide adjustment)

Has anyone looked into hacking an AlphaSmart 3000 or Neo to build a portable system?

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