Using Vintage Computers to Command Real and Simulated Laserdisc Players

Empire State Maker Faire 2020

October 16th-17th

I've been working on various projects revolving around communicating with my LaserDisc player. It started back from an old Apple II text adventure game that co-opted the video from the movie "Rollercoaster", but it's gone from there. I've simulated the LD player's interface in Javascript, talked with them from Python on my desktop computer, BASIC in Apple II, Amiga, and Tandy 102 laptop. (The Tandy 102 was demonstrated at last year's Rochester Maker Faire.) I've started working on a LD simulator using nothing more than a Raspberry Pi Zero ($5) so that there's a wider audience that can tinker with this. I've also worked on making capture/packaging software specifically for use with this end goal. (There are expensive, super-accurate solutions for this on the market, but mine is meant to be free and "good enough" for tinkerers like myself to mess around with.
I will do an overview of ways to do this and some solutions for LaserDisc player alternatives.