Reading Typewriter Key Presses with an Arduino

Reading typewriter key presses with an Arduino

Typewriters have a unique place in history. More than just a symbol of the past, they can be a part of our modern technology. With a few simple components, an Arduino can be used to detect the presses of a typewriter’s keys and translate them into readable text.

Hardware

To connect a typewriter to an Arduino you will need: a USB-to-serial converter (such as FTDI), some wire, and a typewriter. You will also need an Arduino board with 10 digital pins and two analog pins for power.

Connecting the Hardware

The first step is to connect the typewriter to the USB-to-serial converter. Connect the USB-to-serial converter’s output pins to the Arduino’s digital pins 0-9. Then connect the typewriter’s keys to the analog pins A0-A1 of the Arduino. Finally, set up the power supply of the Arduino.

Software

The next step is to write the code to detect the key presses. The code should listen for the signals on the pins connected to the typewriter keys and then translate them into readable text. The code should also be able to distinguish between multiple key presses so that each press is registered correctly. It should also be able to ignore any noise coming from the typewriter.

Conclusion

Reading key presses from a typewriter is possible with an Arduino. All it takes is a few simple components and a bit of code. Using an Arduino to read key presses from a typewriter can open up new possibilities for creating projects that combine old-school charm with modern technology.