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I need a vacation from all this modern stuff and want to build something out of my parts box. No stone knives and bearskins this time, just a CPU and some memory on a board for starters.
And that's exactly the problem. It will be blind and deaf at the beginning, which will make testing it a little difficult. I also see no point in adding lots of components that I will only need for initial tests and never again after that.
The solution is so simple that it already worked for the Altair 8800: a VT52. Or a VT100.
These used to be huge and expensive, but nowadays you could just hook up something from a VGA monitor, some PC keyboard and all that held together by some little microcontroller. The microcontroller should be programmed and also have something like a MAX232 onboard to get true RS232 signals, but otherwise this should not be much of a problem.
Does anyone know where to get such a microcontroller set up as VT100? I have not found one yet, but I can't believe that they do not exist.
Edit: Speaking of stone knives and bearskins: I was thinking of 3d printing this[^] as a case.
Edit: Found this[^], but I would prefer not having to build it myself.
I have lived with several Zen masters - all of them were cats.
His last invention was an evil Lasagna. It didn't kill anyone, and it actually tasted pretty good.
modified 13-Mar-18 8:44am.
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Or ... you could just install a free app on your lappie for initial testing: Remote Terminal[^] includes VT100 emulation. Chuck in a USB / RS232 device and you're off.
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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Terminal emulation would work. I still have an old Pentium II/Celery era notebook that still works good enough to be a compact terminal. My current notebooks tend to be a little too big. I still need some room for soldering, power supplies and the Oscar.
I have lived with several Zen masters - all of them were cats.
His last invention was an evil Lasagna. It didn't kill anyone, and it actually tasted pretty good.
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Yep. VT100 emulators worked fine on a 8086 machine! 
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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And stone knives and bearskins on video: Including wire wrapping![^]
I have lived with several Zen masters - all of them were cats.
His last invention was an evil Lasagna. It didn't kill anyone, and it actually tasted pretty good.
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Yes and no. That's a terminal emulation that runs on a PC. It would do the trick, but I would need a PC on an already full desk. If the terminal emulation runs on a microcontroller, I would just have to plug in a keyboard and a monitor to get going. The microcontroller's board itself is tiny, I already have an older monitor for the oscilloscope and the keyboard can easily be set aside when it is not needed.
Edit: Sorry, I misread. This runs on a microcontroller. That's great, but I still would have to program and modify it myself. Any microcontroller board will not be able to output proper serial signals (RS232). I would have to shift the signal levels with a suitable IC, like the good old MAX232.
I have lived with several Zen masters - all of them were cats.
His last invention was an evil Lasagna. It didn't kill anyone, and it actually tasted pretty good.
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I saw this comic[^] in this morning's CP email and it got me thinking about my smart phone and my 4 yo tablet.
My last phone is out of support -- no more updates. My tablet is in the same situation (it doesn't help that the battery is on life support and changing the battery resembles a combination of brain and heart surgery at the some time).
Let's say I buy a "smart" refrigerator. 3 years (or 5 or 7) from now the vendor says, "sorry, we're no longer supporting that model".
Does this mean I need to replace a working refrigerator because I can't update the software?
The silliest part of this is the question is valid ...
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The obvious solution would be to not buy a smart refrigerator, but instead, a good one.
Unfortunately, they may not make those available.
Oh, the horror of it! You get up at night to raid the fridge - and when you open it up to look inside it complains, in a telemarketish accent, that you interrupted its beauty sleep and the thing is now looking back at your.
| Ravings en masse^ |
|---|
| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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And what if you just don't upgrade?
The horror! The horror!
... such stuff as dreams are made on
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Even worse would be if the firmware locked the refrigerator door because it's no longer supported.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
-----
When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013
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I just realize that the problem might not come up because the firmware in your smart car will not let you drive until it's updated - a descendant of Windows 10 updates - so, by the time it's through, the refrigerator will be the problem of your decedents and heirs.
| Ravings en masse^ |
|---|
| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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If you can't use the car or the fridge because they are updating, you may not have any descendants to curse with inherit your IoT devices.
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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At first blush, you would be correct.
But - on the other hand, one could make good use of their time awaiting completion of the update!
| Ravings en masse^ |
|---|
| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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Nothing that a screwdriver, a solder and possibly a mallet couldn't fix.
GCS d-- s-/++ a- C++++ U+++ P- L+@ E-- W++ N+ o+ K- w+++ O? M-- V? PS+ PE- Y+ PGP t+ 5? X R+++ tv-- b+(+++) DI+++ D++ G e++ h--- ++>+++ y+++* Weapons extension: ma- k++ F+2 X
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And then some duct tape to cover the hole in the door - cannot do a repair with duct tape!
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity
RAH
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John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote: Even worse would be if the firmware locked the refrigerator door because it's no longer supported.
This is where I was going with this topic. Sure, if the fridge continues to work without support, no biggie. But if it doesn't and the vendor no longer supports it?
Let's say the software does something unfortunate, like raising the temperature to 60 F? I lose everything in the fridge, or possibly get sick if I don't realize the problem immediately. [This is also a problem is someone "pranks" me by hacking my fridge and resetting the temperature.]
Having a plain 'ole fridge eliminates all these hassles. Being "smart" is an unnecessary "feature" that can break or provide some idiot an opportunity to mess with me.
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why you think vendors so keen on iot? If you're 'frigirator's not already telling you it's out of date that will kindly patch that in for you later so you won't miss out.
Not only will you have to upgrade but they will suggest and offer you the "best" replacement,
... and if they already have your c-card number they'll make it even easier and save you any bother of deciding when and what to get next.
Signature ready for installation. Please Reboot now.
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Fridge updating[^]
Rules for the FOSW ![ ^]
if(!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(_signature))
{
MessageBox.Show("This is my signature: " + Environment.NewLine + _signature);
}
else
{
MessageBox.Show("404-Signature not found");
}
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Why the ![Elephant | [mastadon]](https://codeproject.global.ssl.fastly.net/script/Forums/Images/elephant.gif) does the world need everything to be smart, to ping you with what you need in the supermarket, I use a bit of paper or the notepad on my phone, why do I need a TV that will connect online, I have a Chromecaste for that. I prefer things uncomplicated by uneeded cleverness. Smart roads why, Smart this, Smart that why? Just because you can, doesn't always mean you should.
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toaster - timer works well
hairbrush - what hair
egg tray - use by date
flip flops - Yes please I need more advertising messages
WOTAM
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity
RAH
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Hell yeah brother!
We just bought a 4k smart TV, a 4k Blu-ray player, and a new home theater receiver, all of which allow connection to the internet. I refuse to do that.
My iPad and phone have been pestering me for a couple of months to apply new updates, and I refuse. I'm tired of updates.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
-----
You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
-----
When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013
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Hmmm... Of all the nutty stuff mentioned here a TV is the only thing I would LIKE to have connected. It can be quite handy for watching various broadcaster-"play" services, film channels, or even just your home media center or whatnot. Much nicer methinx than cluttering your rooms with Chromecasts, Apple TVs, media computers wired to the TV. Plus an elephantload of remote controls.
[The "media centre" if I had one in my home would be zero clutter, it would be a server at the back of a closet  ]
... such stuff as dreams are made on
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megaadam wrote: It can be quite handy for watching various broadcaster-"play" services, film channels, or even just your home media center or whatnot.
I don't use streaming services, so this is not applicable to me.
megaadam wrote: Plus an elephantload of remote controls.
I have a single remote that controls all five of my devices.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
-----
You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
-----
When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013
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