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Argus25 · 27th Nov 2019, 2:59 pm

Cassette tapes had other uses too.

Of course data storage for early computers.

But one use I saw for them was pretty ingenious. One track had an audio recording on it. The other track had a PWM signal, the same type of proportional digital control used to control servos in model planes. This controlled servo motors. Two were the upper and lower jaws/mouth the other the eye position of a Teddy Bear named Teddy Ruxpin. More of the control channels were reserved for his friend named Grubby a large slug like creature.

The tape would consist of Teddy Ruxpin talking and telling stories and at the same time his mouth and eyes would move, making it look like he was really talking.

The manufacturers recorded over 20 tapes. If Grubby was plugged on via an interface cord, he would have an interactive conversation with Teddy.

It was all ingeniously clever for a child's toy. Later the company moved away from standard cassette tapes and went to a small custom tape and changed the encoding, it was nowhere near as impressive as their first effort.

27th Nov 2019, 2:59 pm	#35
Argus25 No Longer a Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Maroochydore, Queensland, Australia. Posts: 2,679	Re: Back To The future with a C90 Cassette tapes had other uses too. Of course data storage for early computers. But one use I saw for them was pretty ingenious. One track had an audio recording on it. The other track had a PWM signal, the same type of proportional digital control used to control servos in model planes. This controlled servo motors. Two were the upper and lower jaws/mouth the other the eye position of a Teddy Bear named Teddy Ruxpin. More of the control channels were reserved for his friend named Grubby a large slug like creature. The tape would consist of Teddy Ruxpin talking and telling stories and at the same time his mouth and eyes would move, making it look like he was really talking. The manufacturers recorded over 20 tapes. If Grubby was plugged on via an interface cord, he would have an interactive conversation with Teddy. It was all ingeniously clever for a child's toy. Later the company moved away from standard cassette tapes and went to a small custom tape and changed the encoding, it was nowhere near as impressive as their first effort.