The use of touch sensing devices is common in this day and age. Capacitive touch sensing is the most widely used, but there are resistive and reflective means as well. Low cost, simple circuitry, easy to implement and simple to program were the four factors considered for classroom use. A means of implementing the touch sensing in an application was another factor. The result was a kiosk to be assembled and programmed by Electrical Engineering Technology students. This kiosk is based on the P8X32A because it offers VGA video, playing WAV files, touch sensing, patron detection and control interfacing. The P8X32A is an octal core microcontroller that allows for eight separate programs to run simultaneously. There is no sharing of time on a single CPU as is the case with RTOS. The touch sensing combined with the VGA and WAV player outputs makes for a more intuitive user experience. This paper outlines hardware and software used for this human machine interface (HMI) project.
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8210-0376
Purdue University-Main Campus, West Lafayette (College of Engineering)
[biography]
Dr. Larry Himes, Jr.
Dr. Larry Himes, Jr. is a recent Ph.D. graduate from Purdue University. Working on a startup, Didactictron, Inc., manufacturing STEM education devices and kits for students. Has taught ECET undergraduate courses at Purdue University North Central in Westville, Indiana and EECT undergraduate courses at Ivy Tech Community College in South Bend, Indiana over the past six years. A couple of my STEM education kits, patented by Purdue University, were assembled and programmed by students at Ivy Tech. The goal is to make low cost and innovative products for STEM education classrooms. Dr. Larry Himes, Jr. grew up in Tyner, Indiana, a town with a population of about 200 in Northern Indiana. Started attending Purdue University in 1988 to complete the Associates degree and begin the Bachelor degree. Leaving in the middle of the Bachelor degree to start in industry. Then returning, after the stock market crash in the fall of 2008, to complete the Bachelor degree. Followed by the completion of the Master and Ph.D. degrees. Both the industrial experience and degrees pursued at Purdue University have included electrical and mechanical aspects. Dr. Larry Himes, Jr. is currently seeking a full time university faculty position.
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