Hacking computer hardware to do experiment control -

Hacking computer hardware to do experiment control -

i physicist, , had revelation few weeks ago how might able utilize personal computer much finer command on laboratory experiments typically case. before ran off seek out though, wanted check feasibility people have more expertise myself in such matters.

the thought utilize i/o ports---vga, ethernet, speaker jacks, etc.---on computer talk straight sensors , actuators in experimental setup. e.g. cutting open 1 side of ethernet cable (with other end attached computer) , send each line different device. knew postdoc did similar using beaglebone. wrote assembly code allow him sync internal clock , used gpio pins give him hybrid signal generator/scope programmable. seems same thing should possible laptop, , have additional benefit can info analysis same device.

the main potential difficulty foresee hardware on beaglebone designed sort of i/o in mind, whereas expect hardware on laptop harder command directly. know illustration (from preliminary investigation, http://ask.metafilter.com/125812/simple-usb-control-how-to-blink-an-led-via-code) usb ports hard access way, , vga (according vga 15 pin port info read , write using matlab) impossible. haven't found using other ports ethernet or speaker jacks, though.

so main question is: thought feasible (without investing many months each new variation of hardware), , if type of i/o (ethernet, speaker jacks, etc.) best bet?

auxiliary questions are:

where can find material larn how might go executing plan? i'm not sure keywords plug in on google.

will ease can depend on operating scheme or hardware brand?

the cable can think of pc can close parallel printer cable pretty much gone away. it's 25 wire cable info spread across can send more info @ same time. i'm not sure if can target specific line or if it's more of left right fill info sent.

to utilize 1 on laptop today difficult. won't find laptops parallel ports. there usb parallel cables , serial parallel cables guess command have usb or serial interface , not parallel.

as ethernet, have 4 twisted pair 2 pair in utilize , 2 pair extra.

there's hardware available called zwave might want into. zwave allow build network of devices communicate in mesh. i'm not sure kind of response time need.

i thought of might solution. check out security equipment. there's lot of equipment available pc's monitor doors, windows, sensors, etc. industry might looking for.

hardware hardware-programming