KoalaPad: Difference between revisions
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The pad was four inches square (i.e. roughly 10×10 cm) and mounted on a slightly inclined base with the back of the pad higher than the front. At the top, "behind" the pad, were two buttons. The pad hooked into the computer using the analog signals of the [[joystick]] ports (the so-called [[paddle (game controller)|paddle]] inputs), which meant that it had a low resolution and tended to jostle the [[Cursor (user interface)|cursor]] if moved during use. | The pad was four inches square (i.e. roughly 10×10 cm) and mounted on a slightly inclined base with the back of the pad higher than the front. At the top, "behind" the pad, were two buttons. The pad hooked into the computer using the analog signals of the [[joystick]] ports (the so-called [[paddle (game controller)|paddle]] inputs), which meant that it had a low resolution and tended to jostle the [[Cursor (user interface)|cursor]] if moved during use. | ||
As an alternative to the drawing stylus, the pad could as easily be operated by the user's fingers for tasks that demanded less precision, such as selecting between [[menu (computing)|menu]] items (thus using the pad as a kind of "indirect [[touch screen]]").<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.graphicstablet.org/2011/03/koalapad-the-mother-of-them-all/|title=KoalaPad: the mother of them all - Graphics Tablet Anonymous|website=Graphicstablet.org|access-date=8 June 2016}}</ref> | As an alternative to the drawing stylus, the pad could as easily be operated by the user's fingers for tasks that demanded less precision, such as selecting between [[menu (computing)|menu]] items (thus using the pad as a kind of "indirect [[touch screen]]").<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.graphicstablet.org/2011/03/koalapad-the-mother-of-them-all/|title=KoalaPad: the mother of them all - Graphics Tablet Anonymous|website=Graphicstablet.org|access-date=8 June 2016|archive-date=15 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160515223612/http://www.graphicstablet.org/2011/03/koalapad-the-mother-of-them-all/|url-status=dead}}</ref> | ||
The top-mounted buttons tended to be somewhat frustrating to use, as the user had to "reach around" the stylus to push the buttons in order to start or stop drawing. A similar tablet from Atari, the [[Atari_8-bit_computer_peripherals#XL_era_.281982-1984.29|Atari CX77 Touch Tablet]], addressed this with a built-in button on the stylus,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.best-electronics-ca.com/quickguide.htm|title=index|website=Best-electronics-ca.com|access-date=8 June 2016}}</ref> which some enterprising users adapted for use with their KoalaPad. | The top-mounted buttons tended to be somewhat frustrating to use, as the user had to "reach around" the stylus to push the buttons in order to start or stop drawing. A similar tablet from Atari, the [[Atari_8-bit_computer_peripherals#XL_era_.281982-1984.29|Atari CX77 Touch Tablet]], addressed this with a built-in button on the stylus,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.best-electronics-ca.com/quickguide.htm|title=index|website=Best-electronics-ca.com|access-date=8 June 2016}}</ref> which some enterprising users adapted for use with their KoalaPad. | ||
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===Release history=== | ===Release history=== | ||
*'''KoalaPainter''' for Commodore 64 (1983)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lemon64.com/?mainurl=http://www.lemon64.com/apps/list.php?Genre=gfx|title=All about Commodore 64|website=Lemon64.com|access-date=8 June 2016}}</ref> and Atari 8-bit computers (1983)<ref>{{cite web |title=Atari 400 800 XL XE KoalaPainter |website=Atarimania |url=http://www.atarimania.com/utility-atari-400-800-xl-xe-koalapainter_29756.html |access-date=2018-12-08}}</ref> | *'''KoalaPainter''' for Commodore 64 (1983)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lemon64.com/?mainurl=http://www.lemon64.com/apps/list.php?Genre=gfx|title=All about Commodore 64|website=Lemon64.com|access-date=8 June 2016}}{{Dead link|date=June 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and Atari 8-bit computers (1983)<ref>{{cite web |title=Atari 400 800 XL XE KoalaPainter |website=Atarimania |url=http://www.atarimania.com/utility-atari-400-800-xl-xe-koalapainter_29756.html |access-date=2018-12-08}}</ref> | ||
*'''PC Design''' for the IBM PC (1983) <ref name="InfoWorld 10 Oct 1983">{{Google books |id=1i8EAAAAMBAJ |page=76 |title=InfoWorld 10 Oct 1983 }}</ref> | *'''PC Design''' for the IBM PC (1983) <ref name="InfoWorld 10 Oct 1983">{{Google books |id=1i8EAAAAMBAJ |page=76 |title=InfoWorld 10 Oct 1983 }}</ref> | ||
*'''Micro Illustrator''' for the Apple II (1983),<ref name="InfoWorld 10 Oct 1983" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://macgui.net/downloads/?file_id=7814|title=Mac GUI :: Koala Micro Illustrator|website=Macgui.net|access-date=8 June 2016}}</ref> Atari 8-bit computers (1983)<ref>{{cite web |title=Atari 400 800 XL XE Micro Illustrator |website=Atarimania |url=http://www.atarimania.com/utility-atari-400-800-xl-xe-micro-illustrator_30240.html |access-date=2018-12-08}}</ref> and Commodore Plus/4 (1984)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://plus4world.powweb.com/software/Micro_Illustrator|title=Micro Illustrator - Software Details - Plus/4 World|website=Plus4world.powweb.com|access-date=8 June 2016}}</ref> | *'''Micro Illustrator''' for the Apple II (1983),<ref name="InfoWorld 10 Oct 1983" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://macgui.net/downloads/?file_id=7814|title=Mac GUI :: Koala Micro Illustrator|website=Macgui.net|access-date=8 June 2016}}</ref> Atari 8-bit computers (1983)<ref>{{cite web |title=Atari 400 800 XL XE Micro Illustrator |website=Atarimania |url=http://www.atarimania.com/utility-atari-400-800-xl-xe-micro-illustrator_30240.html |access-date=2018-12-08}}</ref> and Commodore Plus/4 (1984)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://plus4world.powweb.com/software/Micro_Illustrator|title=Micro Illustrator - Software Details - Plus/4 World|website=Plus4world.powweb.com|access-date=8 June 2016}}</ref> | ||
Latest revision as of 15:58, 23 June 2025
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The KoalaPad is a graphics tablet, released in 1983 by US company Koala Technologies Corporation, for the Apple II, TRS-80 Color Computer (as the TRS-80 Touch Pad), Atari 8-bit computers, Commodore 64, and IBM PC compatibles.[1]
Originally designed by Dr. David Thornburg as a low-cost computer drawing tool for schools, the Koala Pad and the bundled drawing program, KoalaPainter, was popular with home users as well. KoalaPainter was called KoalaPaint in some versions for the Apple II, and PC Design for the IBM PC. A program called Graphics Exhibitor was included for creating slideshow presentations from KoalaPainter drawings.
Description
The pad was four inches square (i.e. roughly 10×10 cm) and mounted on a slightly inclined base with the back of the pad higher than the front. At the top, "behind" the pad, were two buttons. The pad hooked into the computer using the analog signals of the joystick ports (the so-called paddle inputs), which meant that it had a low resolution and tended to jostle the cursor if moved during use.
As an alternative to the drawing stylus, the pad could as easily be operated by the user's fingers for tasks that demanded less precision, such as selecting between menu items (thus using the pad as a kind of "indirect touch screen").[2]
The top-mounted buttons tended to be somewhat frustrating to use, as the user had to "reach around" the stylus to push the buttons in order to start or stop drawing. A similar tablet from Atari, the Atari CX77 Touch Tablet, addressed this with a built-in button on the stylus,[3] which some enterprising users adapted for use with their KoalaPad.
KoalaPainter
Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Template:Main other The pad shipped with a simple bitmap graphics editor developed by Audio Light called KoalaPainter, PC Design or Micro Illustrator depending on the target machine (see release history). Although bundled with the pad, KoalaPainter could also be operated using an ordinary digital joystick.
One unique feature of the program, for its time, was that it held two pictures in the computer's memory, allowing the user to flip from one to the other—a function commonly used in order to study the differences between an original and a modified picture, and to copy and paste between two different pictures.
Some third-party bitmap editors could also be used with the KoalaPad, such as Broderbund's Dazzle Draw for the Apple II.
Release history
- KoalaPainter for Commodore 64 (1983)[4] and Atari 8-bit computers (1983)[5]
- PC Design for the IBM PC (1983) [6]
- Micro Illustrator for the Apple II (1983),[6][7] Atari 8-bit computers (1983)[8] and Commodore Plus/4 (1984)[9]
- KoalaPainter II for Commodore 64 (1984)
Reception
Ahoy! called KoalaPainter "a very powerful and effective color drawing package", and concluded that it and the KoalaPad were "excellent in ease of use, a fine choice for a beginner as well as young children".[10] BYTETemplate:'s reviewer stated in December 1984 that he made far fewer errors when using an Apple Mouse with MousePaint than with a KoalaPad and its software. He found that MousePaint was easier to use and more efficient, predicting that the mouse would receive more software support than the pad.[11] Cassie Stahl in InfoWorld's Essential Guide to Atari Computers praised the tablet and its documentation, rating it "Excellent" among all categories and stating that "Playing with the KoalaPad becomes addictive. It does everything it claims to, and it does it well". She also liked Micro Illustrator, rating it "Excellent" except for "Good" for Performance. While criticizing the limited erase function, Stahl reported an undocumented feature enabling exporting pictures to other software.[12]
File format
The Commodore 64 version of KoalaPainter used a fairly simple file format corresponding directly to the way bitmapped graphics are handled on the computer: A two-byte load address, followed immediately by 8,000 bytes of raw bitmap data, 1,000 bytes of raw "Video Matrix" data, 1,000 bytes of raw "Color RAM" data, and a one-byte Background Color field.
KoalaWare
Koala Technologies offered more software beyond the bundled KoalaPainter and Graphics Exhibitor for use with the pad. Among these applications, marketed under the moniker KoalaWare (like KoalaPainter itself), was educational software for use with customized keypads and overlays, such as spelling tools, music programs, and mathematics instruction software, as well as software for "translating" graphical designs into LOGO programs.
References
External links
- Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". – An Apple II collector's description of the KoalaPad and software, with photos and screenshots
Template:Raster graphics editors
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