@ef1j@post.lurk.org
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ef1j

@ef1j@post.lurk.org

Restoring and running old tech with modern mashups. TTYs + micros + printers = creative coding, conservation, art, hacking, history

Also: professor, engineer, dad, husband, traveler, hiker, bike+train commuter, listener, reader, thought kneader

#creativecoding #tty #typography #repair #ascii #computationalart #onthebench

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ef1j, to random
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Weekend plans

ef1j, to random
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A @paulrickards plotter original finally on display, along with three tools that my great-grandfather (and his father) made.

These make me think about the intersection of coding, computational art, and home-built tools.

ef1j, to random
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ef1j,
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Moreover, we recognize that existence transcends conventional boundaries of time and space. Therefore, our terms encompass all timelines and dimensions, extending across the entirety of the space-time continuum. Whether you're engaging with our services in the distant past, present, or future, our terms maintain their relevance and authority. This temporal inclusivity ensures consistency and reliability throughout the ages.

ef1j, to random
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Here's one from the archives:

Remember folks, when swimming, repairing CRT’s, and checking out junk stores, always use the buddy system.

#psa

ef1j, to random
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In celebration of BASIC’s 60th birthday today, I typed in a program that does not compute pi!

ef1j, to random
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Game graphics as encoded in the Atari Adventure ROM

ef1j, to random
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Whip stitch notebook from used continuous computer paper.

View of the notebook edge.
View of the notebook stitch.

ef1j,
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Five more computer paper notebooks

Five notebooks viewed along their bindings.
A needle and thread on a stack of tractor paper with the beginning of a whip stitch.

paulrickards, to retrocomputing
@paulrickards@mastodon.social avatar

Recently got a new (to me) wide format plotter. But it’s weird— it’s not a ?!

It uses this new fangled technology called inkjet or something 🙃

Close up of the left side of a HP DesignJet 230 wide format inkjet plotter with the lid open. The cartridge is visible labeled “40”.

ef1j,
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@paulrickards I was so confused by this. I thought it was a raster-like printer -- just a big inkjet, basically.

ef1j, to random
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Wait... is today the 40th anniversary of the Apple //c release? It's been a long and crazy journey!

The cover of the book "The Beginner's Guide to Apple II Assembly Language"
The cover of the book "Hi-Res Graphics and Animation Using Assembly Language"
The book "Apple Machine Language for Beginners" next to an Apple //c

ef1j, to random
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Heading to this AM. Hope to see yinz there. Hit me up for a TTY bookmark or zine! Trades welcome, too.

ef1j,
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For my 1000th Mastodon post (!) I wanted to share this photo with @paulrickards at on Saturday taken by our friend Erin. Paul's been a great pal, who's introduced me to new ideas and techniques in computer art, is often down with carpooling* to retro/nerd events, and shares a bunch of other creative pursuits.

Also happy to be showing off my @mediaarchaeologylab T!

*aka giving me a lift

ef1j, to random
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Exploring text mode scale up.

ef1j,
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Starting the morning / week off strong with a little line printer work!

ef1j,
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Left servo motor in the ribbon transport was gummed up. A little cleaning and… VICTORY!

Gummy grease on a metal plate.
The front top of a Printronix P300 line printer.

ef1j,
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Enjoy the sweet, sweet sounds of the line matrix printer!

The Printronix p300 printing a page of text.

ef1j,
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@paulrickards What??? 😂

ef1j,
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@paulrickards I CAN'T HEAR YOU OVER THIS LINE PRINTER

ef1j,
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Sample of the Printronix output

ef1j,
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Making some progress…

ef1j,
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Without the printer’s serial card instructions, I had to dig into the schematics to understand its settings. The printer asserts RTR and DTR for flow control, but I was still getting errors. Were they working? I can also see software control is active with the printer sending DC1 (CNTL-Q) and DC3 (CNTL-S), but strangely, with the high bit set. It turns out that the board looks like it’s set up for 7N1 (weird!) so that high bit was the stop bit and the errors were probably framing errors. I had assumed it was set up for 8N1.

ef1j,
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15840 digits of pi in about 30 seconds!

https://youtu.be/hEwEv9zemwE

A closeup of a printout showing many digits printed on lined computer paper.

ef1j,
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Coded self-portraits

Closer view of the prints.
Closeup showing the text of the image.

ef1j,
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8 lines per inch

A closeup of the image shows the eye. The image is composed of many letters of program code.
A closeup showing the characters printed on green lined computer paper.

ef1j,
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Printronix P300 ASCII Mandelbrots, 8 lpi x 132 columns

https://youtu.be/XTc_fYSrB58

ef1j,
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(I hope everyone can feel the strain on my academic tenure under the weight of the line matrix printer in my office.)

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