| Author |
Message |
Dr. Daystrom
Sophomore Cadet
Joined: 06 Apr 2005
Posts: 13
Location: Japan
|
 Wed Apr 06, 2005 10:50 am LCARS 24, a Starfleet GUI |
|
I just joined this forum. I wanted to have an LCARS computer system like the ones on Voyager and looked around the Web and didn't like what I saw. The first thing I wanted was a clock on a standard LCARS split screen with the day and date plus a calendar at the top and the time very large in that cool LCARS font at the bottom. So I made the program for it in C. Once I had made the graphics objects and font drivers to do that, it became easier to add LCARS programs. It took years. Now for work I use it on one computer as a clock and on another for word processing. I have little patience with Windows. My system is fast and smooth and has games, a file manager, utilities, media players, even a Web-page viewer.
Here's what it looks like:
http://www.geocities.com/tana100750/
Now I've got it posted for download for anyone interested:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/lcars24/
It's a 32-bit protected-mode DOS program and is meant to run under DOS. On a computer with Windows that can be started up in pure DOS mode, it's fine. It will run for a few minutes directly under Windows XP or like a Windows program through Virtual PC if someone just wants to take a look, but it's best on its own computer, an old laptop with Truecolor graphics. The next version will be posted in a late April or early May.
Last edited by Dr. Daystrom on Wed Apr 06, 2005 9:43 pm; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
Sonic74205
Rear Admiral
Joined: 01 Feb 2004
Posts: 4081
Location: England
|
| Wed Apr 06, 2005 11:09 am |
|
god you are really good at that. Excellent job! 
-------signature-------
<a href="<img>http://sonic.11.forumer.com</a>
|
|
|
Dr. Daystrom
Sophomore Cadet
Joined: 06 Apr 2005
Posts: 13
Location: Japan
|
| Thu Apr 07, 2005 1:04 am Wrong place? |
|
I guess I must have posted in the wrong forum. I don't see that many page views for it in this category. The computers are a big part of Star Trek, aren't they?
Last edited by Dr. Daystrom on Thu Apr 07, 2005 2:46 pm; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
section31
Ensign, Junior Grade
Joined: 08 Feb 2005
Posts: 30
|
| Thu Apr 07, 2005 4:13 am |
|
i looked i saw...................
its fantastic,
i wish i had a touch screen monitor
maybe you wanna join my rpg site?
i could use some 1 of your ablity, maybe you could make a game or somwthing??
-------signature-------
www.section31rpg.co.uk
Admiral Lee Section 31
Support Trek United
www.trekunited.com
|
|
|
sabertooth1217
UPN Boycotter
Joined: 21 Jun 2003
Posts: 11484
Location: Texas
|
| Thu Apr 07, 2005 7:22 am |
|
Will it work in Windows 2000?
|
|
|
Dr. Daystrom
Sophomore Cadet
Joined: 06 Apr 2005
Posts: 13
Location: Japan
|
| Thu Apr 07, 2005 2:13 pm |
|
| chakotay99 wrote: | | Will it work in Windows 2000? |
With Windows 98x, it's easy enough; just press F8 at startup and type 5 to get to pure DOS mode as if Windows were't even on the machine. What I would to with Windows 2000 is boot it from a floppy then move to the C:\ LCARS24 folder and run it from there. The drawback is that there will be occasional annoying disk access to the floppy, but only with operations where files need to be accessed. Even then, with AUTOEXEC.BAT it can be redirected to the WINDOWS/SYSTEM folder. I don't have any machines with 2000, so I can't experiment and look for tricks in detail. It might just run under Windows 2000 from a desktop icon. I don't know. But I have tricked a machine with ME into running it. In fact, the batteries kept going dead with Window running, and they charged when LCARS 24 was left running. I'm sure they would charge just the same with just a DOS prompt. Someone said he runs LCARS 24 through Virtual PC without trouble.
|
|
|
Dr. Daystrom
Sophomore Cadet
Joined: 06 Apr 2005
Posts: 13
Location: Japan
|
| Thu Apr 07, 2005 2:35 pm |
|
| section31 wrote: | i looked i saw...................
its fantastic,
i wish i had a touch screen monitor
maybe you wanna join my rpg site?
i could use some 1 of your ablity, maybe you could make a game or somwthing?? |
I have the C source code for the old RPG Super Star Trek and permission to use it (the orginal wasn't written in C). It can easily be modified to be an LCARS 24 program, in which case the interface and graphics will make it easier and more fun to play. It can be set on Voyager or a different ship and crew with each new game. In my version, you would start by receiving orders from Starfleet then beam aboard, and take command, and go after whatever threat you've been ordered to address.
That kind of thing usually takes me two days, three at the most, because the LCARS 24 API is 80% of it. So any program is 80% or so done from the beginning. If have animations for it I haven't used yet.
But it you want me to abondon my project and users to work on yours, um . . .
Touch screen? The Lifebook is a touch-screen laptop. It would be easy enough to implement touch-screen for LCARS 24, but if a machine comes with Windows and uses a special Windows-only mouse driver for its touch-screen functions, that poisons it. I need better cooperation from the manufacturers. Offering free software doesn't provide me the financial clout to counteract their current business practices.
|
|
|
sabertooth1217
UPN Boycotter
Joined: 21 Jun 2003
Posts: 11484
Location: Texas
|
| Fri Apr 08, 2005 7:51 am |
|
Hmm, I'm going to try it then and test it out on Windows 2000.
But two questions, first how can I switch back to Windows from the DOS mode?
Second, can I access all of my original programs also?
|
|
|
Dr. Daystrom
Sophomore Cadet
Joined: 06 Apr 2005
Posts: 13
Location: Japan
|
| Fri Apr 08, 2005 3:10 pm |
|
| chakotay99 wrote: | Hmm, I'm going to try it then and test it out on Windows 2000.
But two questions, first how can I switch back to Windows from the DOS mode?
Second, can I access all of my original programs also? |
Well, Microsoft has used a lot of tricks to spoil it for those of us who make games. etc. that can't fit into their plan of world domination.
As I said, the most practical thing is to have it on a $40 used laptop, perhaps on the same desk as your Windows computer. At least then it's a practical alarm clock and calendar. That gives you instant access to various reference info, like your personal address and phone book, a lot faster than you could get it from Windows. The next version displays the time anywhere in the world with one key press from the main (clock & calendar) screen.
If you are running LCARS 24 or a game that won't run under Windows in pure DOS mode, to switch to Windows you stop the program and type "win." Whether LCARS 24, or a lot of non-Windows games, will run under Windows depends on the machine. The manufacturer has Windows set up according to the machine's specifications. Many save money by using cheap graphics and sound cards, not to mention modems, that need support programs to make up for missing chips. Those programs are supplied by the makers of those cards, but usually only in Windows versions. Some machines have the volume control on the keyboard, and it only works with Windows, not with Linux or anything else.
So Microsoft has done a lot to protect itself from innovators who are trying to set new paths in computing. Very recently computers have appeared on the market that aren't built that way and have no roadblocks against Linux, FreeBSD, etc., etc.
But the concept here is like on Star Trek. How many computer consoles do you see in the average room on a starship? A lot. LCARS 24 can be a bedroom clock, and if it's on shelf or table with no chair in front of it, that's all it's going to do, other than serve as a nightlight that makes it look like you're aboard Voyager when the lights are out. For a true trekker, that alone makes it worthwhile. If there's room for a chair, you can play Borg Solitaire, Ferengi Blackjack, Chess, etc., and squander many hours playing with it. And you'll find it's more user friendly than anything you've ever seen. Apps start instantly, and every user action is clearly labeled.
|
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group
Star Trek �, in all its various forms, are trademarks & copyrights of Paramount Pictures
This site has no official connection with Star Trek or Paramount Pictures
Site content/Site design elements owned by Morphy and is meant to only be an archive/Tribute to STV.com
|
Search
FAQ
Log in
