2 May 2003 Svartalf   » (Journeyer)

Just now looking at the work needed for the DMA patch for Utah-GLX. It's actually rather simple (a one-liner in the right place...)- I should have something worked up shortly. Once I've done that, I think that sometime next week I'll go over to the storage space, dig out my Trident documentation and maybe start the work on a possible DRI type driver for my laptop. I've got very little better to do right at the moment- and while it won't put money in my pocket, it might get me noticed again and it'll definitely help get my mind off of my woes.

I was skimming the phazzar discussion list (Phazzar is another attempt to make a next generation Photon system...) and read an article from a fairly reliable source that the original Photon system used a 300 baud IR system initially and then a 1200 baud system. This translates into a single byte code (probably w/parity to do a little error checking) for the individual pack. I was going for overkill (part of the reason for the delay on Tux-Tag was that I was looking for high-speed IR operation, the higher, the better.) when I really ought to have been gunning for dead simple. Given that this is the case, I could make a case for the most bog-simple emitter/detector design and expect it to work like a gem. I also found out that the central computer would poll periodically for scoring info from the pack- apparently, the packs would hold onto who was "hit" by the gun and upload the bad news to the central server, which would then tell the packs in question that they'd been hit and to act accordingly. I think I can do better on both counts (I ought to be able to do better- it's amazing how primitive these systems actually are...) and do it pretty economically. I hope to be drawing up plans for the gun, pack emitters, etc. shortly and start into coding- again, like the almost dead website says, no promises- yet.

Nothing is really happening on the Ballistics front right now- worrying more about some of my Open Source projects. I looked at the sound code and might have some traction on that front shortly. If I do, I'll have something to demo at the presentation I plan on giving to NTLUG in the near future.

Again, there's been some delays, as you can see. I don't have much to blame the delays for my projects on other than my state of mind brought about by me still not finding a job elsewhere and my current so-called employer's still not having any money to pay me with. Yes, you read that quite right. No money so far as I can tell. The current story now from the VC is May 9th. Supposedly it's a done deal at this point and it's just a matter of logistics- somehow, I don't believe them anymore unless I see it. If we don't see some money real quick all my jockying to keep everything is going to be for naught and I'm going to end up in a worse position than I would have been in had I not tried to fight to keep the house, etc.

Do you know of anyone with an open software engineering position? Why don't you send them my resume for review. I'm really good with system level apps, network apps, device drivers, and general consumer apps- on both Windows and Linux. I promise I won't get in anybodys way (much...).

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