NeatTools Beta Version
March 1999
Win 95/98/NT compatible

For more information, visit our website at:  www.pulsar.org

NeatTools software updates can be freely downloaded at:  www.pulsar.org/NT

NeatTools is an object-oriented visual programming environment. It is a software 
application which allows the user to take any kind of input and program a 
computer system to respond according to your settings. The software can receive 
input from the mouse, keyboard, or or custom input devices. For example, our 
TNG-3B serial interface can accommodate up to 8 analog sensors that can provide 
a resistance, or a voltage of 0-5 volts. Many sensors can be powered from TNG-3B 
directly, and the interface itself derives its power from the serial port so 
that batteries or wall transformers are unnecessary. TNG-3B also accepts digital 
inputs from up to 8 switches. For more information, see www.mindtel.com 
(AnyWear). 

Currently, NeatTools is being used to control lights in the Center for Really 
Neat Research, allow a quadriplegic teenager to control a computer with his 
face, and empower a first-grader with cerebral-palsy to control her computer 
with one input device, developed through rapid prototyping at the Cyberarium. 
One of our interfaces uses photosensors attached to action-figure arms mounted 
to eyeglass frames. (See the Eyal Sherman Webumentary at: www.pulsar.org/eyal)

NeatTools provides an application programming interface (API), which
enables the user to program visually without having to type in any textual code 
in arcane languages like C++. 

NeatTools has two toolbars, each with various buttons. The DT toolbar
includes buttons to access six toolboxes (DL, MA, KB, MM, DS, IO, MI). The 
user creates a NeatTools data flow network (*.ntl file) by connecting modules 
that have been dragged from toolboxes onto the NeatTools desktop. Typically, 
modules have inputs on the left, and outputs on the right; many have parameter 
inputs on top. There are many variations on this basic theme. By simply dragging 
a line from the right side of one module, to the left side of another, a simple 
data-flow network can be created. 

To use NeatTools from this disk, double click on the oopw.zip file to
uncompress it, provided you have WinZip or a similar utility on your
machine. You can obtain WinZip from www.shareware.com. Another option is
ZipMagic (www.mijenix.com), which allows you to treat zip files as active
folders. You will also need to uncompress data.zip

Once all files are uncompressed, click on the new “oopw” file, which should have 
a light bulb for an icon. This will launch the NeatTools application. From 
here, click on the menus on the left side of the screen to bring up the 
different toolboxes. The toolboxes contain modules, which can be clicked on to 
bring to the desktop, or clicked and dragged directly to the desktop.  

By moving the mouse around the outside edges of a module, you can see the 
functionalities of that module at the top of the window. This area will show 
you where the input and output channels are located. Start by clicking on 
different modules and connecting them by dragging lines from one output to 
another input.

To learn NeatTools, explore the modules and use the included dataflow networks 
(application programs) as examples to learn how to build more complex networks.


NeatTools tutorials are available online at the following sites:  

www.pulsar.org/NT/neatfaq/

Shockwave guide at:	www.pulsar.org/jeff/neat


Summary of folders and files in Lipson.zip archive. 

This contains a set of representative ntl files in the following folders: 

JoyMouse

This program, which allows control of the mouse cursor by means of a joystick, 
has been used primarily by individuals with quadriplegia. Documentation is 
included in the file JoyMouseManual.htm. The links for images and downloads 
require that you be online. The manual is available online on the NeatTools 
download page via www.pulsar.org. For typing, we recommend the Fitaly onscreen 
keyboard available from www.twsolutions.com; their InstantText program may also 
prove useful.  

Robo

The demo file robo_sequ1.ntl is a preliminary version for a robotics 
application. 	This can operate in standalone form as follows: a) set the 
three red switches on, b) turn the red demo switch on, or c) toggle the light 
blue pushbutton switch on. Or else this can be run via sensors (using TNG-3B 
analog channels 1-3; all should provide signal levels above the thresholds set 
by the blue sliders) via the companion program, TNG3_gen2.ntl, using the 
"socket" connection that allows two program windows to communicate (here on the 
same PC; but more generally over the Internet). The net result from any of these 
actions is that the red LEDs at lower right will be illuminated in sequence 
according to delays set by the sliders at left. 

SciMath

prbs4c.ntl		produces pseudorandom binary and analog noise patterns
wavz.ntl		produces sine and cosine waves and a "phasor" pattern at top 
			right

Sockets

socket1.ntl		demo to show signal communication between two program windows 
			that can be on the same computer or on two machines 
socket2.ntl		connected via Internet.
socket12.gif	image of socket1.ntl and socket2.ntl running together

Sound 

drum2f.ntl		drum machine designed for a user with disability (incl. 
			recording)
sound_compass_1.ntl	
			designed for pressure sensors on floor oriented to 8 
			points of  the compass

Tng-3 

tng3ad1_test.ntl	a simple test and demo program for TNG-3B serial interface box
TNG3_gen2a.ntl	a more advanced and versatile version with individual 
			calibrator switches and sliders for the 8 analog channels (see 
			also the TNG3_gen2.ntl file in Robo folder that includes a 	
			socket connection as well) 

... Notes prepared by Matt Carbone and Edward Lipson, 3/10/99.