Registered: Nov 1999
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Posts: 9

> How about this, an addon screen

Even better; a keyboard, mouse, and
standard monitor expansion port. Could the
OS support larger pixel screens? Or
could an application take care of it?

I still like the Pez dispenser...


[This message has been edited by pmax (edited 04-27-2000).]

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Posts: 9

Re: Bluetooth

Does anyone know the maximum allowed
strength of a Bluetooth signal? Think of
the possibilities for an office or school;
if there were strong relay boxes whereever
necessary, you could have a low-power signal
from your Visor. All of your information would essentially be synced all the time.

Also, does anyone know of plans for a
Bluetooth laptop card?


[This message has been edited by pmax (edited 01-26-2000).]

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 5

Someone mentioned a diskette drive. An Iomega Clik! would be perfect. A small, 40meg disk?? Hmm...

Dan

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 391

... comments ...

Lots of fun ideas there. Here's a springboard that would cover most of the wishes:

1. ethernet port.
2. RS-232 port.
3. analog D/A A/D port.
4. digital input/relay port.

Why?

1. Ethernet port would provide most of the high speed I/O you need. If you're using ISDN or DSL or whatever, you will need a terminal adaptor of some sort that's going to eat more power than a Visor can provide... so you need an external box with power anyway. So connect to it with Ethernet.

2. Serial port will work for the rest of the terminal adaptors you might need to drive, plus connect to all the hobby process control devices out there, your Basic Stamps, external IR units like the Lego Mindstorms control tower, and so on.

3. A/D and D/A for your diabetes test gear, your voltmeters, pocket oscilloscopes, and so on.

4. digital input for the rest of the control kit. Relay control rather than digital output because the visor hasn't got much battery power to drive external kit... with an external battery connector it becomes a digital output port as well.

How about it? The 'geekpack' springboard! I'd buy one!

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 11

How about an Airport card for connecting to a Mac network.

Or a synthesiser module complete with proper I/O.

Or a sampler. Man, a digital sampler Springboard would be awesome.

Or a Guitar Tuner, or other instrument tuner?

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Oak Grove, Kentucky
Posts: 211

Hi All,
How about a Radiation Meter Springboard Module?
To detect whether or not you are in a bad radiation area. How much level of radiation you are expose to can be displayed throught the Visor. Is this ideal a possibility?

Byron

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 4

quote:

---

Originally posted by theo:
Dru Lee:
Try taking one of the AOL CDs & cutting it down into a mirror the same size as the IR port & set it a a 45 degree angle to the port. I've got something like this (though I'm still waiting for my VD so I can test it & work out a decent mounting system).

---

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 4

A few more ideas for SB:

1) A module that lets you use SmartMedia or compact flash to expand your visor's memory.

2) A NiMH or Li-ion rechargeable battery pack for super long use (good for those world travellers)... could be linked to a solar recharger (I think this was mentioned earlier, but it's a great idea!)

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Beaverton, OR USA
Posts: 87

Completely useless, but fun: a laser light show device with a decent laser (stronger than a pointer) and a couple of micromotors and mirrors. For parties and such. You could program various patterns to display, then set it on the counter and party away.

------------------
Mark N.

Registered: Feb 2000
Location: The City of Sin
Posts: 2

I vote for a voice memo recorder with text recognition that can be turned off/on, a la Dragon Naturally Speaking or ViaVoice.

If I had this and the promised text or 2-way pager module, or maybe a wireless modem, I would never need to carry anything else.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Sacramento, CA, USA
Posts: 24

I have a few ideas:

Wireless LAN card. The main attraction of this (as opposed to a wireless modem) is free airtime. I got enough $50/month bills.

Text-to-speech. I would love to have my ebooks read to me. I hear the (Taiwanese?) mp3 unit being designed for the palm 3 series has this capability. With an earphone jack, I'd be in heaven.

Digital FM Tuner. With onscreen display - Volume, frequency, favorite stations...

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 14

These are some great ideas, especially all the combo ones. How about a Internet site where you could "custom fit" a SB to suit your needs. You pick the software you want and the SB can be made with appropriate hardware to support it, eg transmitters, microphones, GPS systems. Here's to dreaming! Of course a pez dispenser/tricorder would be the number one seller!!

Registered: Sep 1999
Location:
Posts: 106

.... a crowbar attachment. Or, for those who travel, a parachute springoard.

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 391

The geekpack would provide your radiation meter, with appropriate software... just plug in a commercial radiation probe.

For the light show you'd use the geekpack, a couple of Lego motors, and your laser pen.

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 13

how bout a check printer

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: at work...
Posts: 736

Maybe it's time for a new VisorMeter Poll on the most eagerly anticipated (announced) springboard module. I suggest the following options:

1) Camera (IDEO)
2) 2-way Pager (Glenayre)
3) GPS (Marcosoft/Navicom)
4) MP3 (Innogear)
5) Voice recorder (Innogear, Sycom)
6) Bluetooth (Widcomm, Xircom)

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 391

Xircom Modem/Ethernet module.

I'm not gonna worry about Bluetooth until there's something else out there that uses it.

The Innogear Sixpac seems kind of gimmicky. The modem and better speaker, yeh, but the vibrator and flashing light just seem to be there to up the part count.

I'd like a module that I could plug a MultiMedia or SmartMemory card into, like the AxxPac for the IIIx. The Innogear MP3 player has support for that, but I don't care much for it's form factor.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Metro Station, Hollywood and Highland
Posts: 1018

Rob:

I emailed your suggestion to the VC staff, and they put up the poll immediately. So cast your vote. Thanks for the suggestion!

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 391

Visor Central should have included "none of the above" as an option.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Metro Station, Hollywood and Highland
Posts: 1018

argent:

What Springboard would you have preferred, if any?