Jim Bumgardner, a software engineer and puzzle enthusiast, shared his journey from being a liberal arts student to becoming interested in computers, particularly through his exposure to modular synthesizers at Cal Arts. He discussed his work in electro-acoustic music and his first exposure to computing through synthesizers. Jim described his experiences with the Timex Sinclair and its impact on his music composition. He shared how he used the computer to create a piece called “Wound Room,” which involved recording ambient sounds in his dorm room and manipulating them using random numbers. He used the I Ching for generating random numbers and his interest in the concept of using non-flat random number generators for artistic purposes. Jim demonstrated a reconstruction of “Wound Room” using modern techniques and shared his experiences with the process.
Over time, he transitioned into various software roles, including multimedia, internet startups, and embedded programming. The sudoku craze sparked Jim’s interest in puzzle construction, which he approached through programming different logic puzzles. He now runs a website (krazydad.com) offering free interactive puzzles, combining his programming skills with his passion for puzzles.
Tim Horner presented his device that connects to ZX81/TS1000, Spectrum, and TS 2068, allowing users to print and capture screen content. The device can connect a regular printer via serial or parallel ports. It can capture screen content and convert it into a readable text format. The software runs on a browser and the back end is in CircuitPython. The device can also host itself and can be installed via a download from a Github page.
The group discussed the differences between the TS 2068 and Spectrum character sets, particularly focusing on the font for the lowercase M and W. Tim explained that the TS 2068 has an extra dot between the bumps of the M and the hoops of the W, making them one pixel wider. This was discovered when he was trying to print and it wouldn’t capture the characters correctly.
Ryan Gray shared his work on creating a monospace font, based on the TS 2068 font.
Joe Vandezande discussed his work on a 3D printed keyboard, which uses regular MX style keys and printed paper labels. He also shared his recent creation of a board for testing and experimentation, based on circuit diagrams from Syntax Magazine.
Adam shared his experience at the Albuquerque Retro Computer Club’s meeting, where he and others brought their computers, including Timex models. Adam shared pictures of the event, highlighting various items on display, including a rare Suntronics for the TS 1000. The meeting attracted around 30 to 45 peoples.
The group also discussed the progress on the Boreal/ZX Basic project, with Timothy expressing difficulty in understanding the code and Gustavo offering assistance.