Re: Easiest way to do VGA to Text

["Martin McCormick" <martin.m@suddenlink.net>]

David Christensen <dpchrist@holgerdanske.com> writes:
> What about using a computer whose CMOS Setup utility is accessible via the
> serial port? This article indicates the Dell 2450 is capable:
> 
> 
> http://tldp.org/HOWTO/Remote-Serial-Console-HOWTO/rhl-biosserial.html
> 
> 
> David
> 
> 

	Thanks for the information but None of the Dells I have
are that model.  They are all traditional eyeballs-only style.  I
even have a card that was manufactured many years ago that
replaces the VGA card in a number of PC models but not, of
course, the ones I have.

	I had bought it to use at work and it did work fine in a
system there but the card will not physically fit the connector
on the one system that has a removable video output card and the
others all have VGA integrated in to the mother board.

	You fight the war withthe weapons you have, not what you
wish you had.

	The other possibility touches on a comment that another
poster to this thread mentioned.

	I do own an iPad which has a commercial OCR program on it
that while driving one crazy with it's limitations, can sometimes
work quite well.

	If you use the iPad's rear-facing camera and shoot a
photo of the monitor screen, it sometimes produces useful results
but it is normally kicking and screaming every step of the way.

	The OCR program is really meant to photograph pieces of
paper under light that doesn't flicker.

	The monitor screen is a classic CRT which flickers at the
frame rate of 60 FPS with no setting to increase exposure time
which might solve the problem.

	I waited until night, clamped the iPad in to a tripod
fixture aimed at the CRT and observed that it continuously cycled
in and out of error mode due to the flicker.  A LCD-type monitor
might work much better as they have almost no flicker.

	This is definitely one of those projects in which one
must not let perfect be the enemy of good enough.

	Thanks for the good ideas.

Martin