How to connect a coin slot to my computer and what programming language should be use?

We have this project which we called the Digital Photo Printing vending machine where it accepts input of digital photos by the use of bluetooth tech, memory card reader and mmc. You can only print your photo if you are to insert the right amount of coin.





The problem is, I keep on thinking where should i connect the coin slot? is it through parallel? or serial port? or any other bright ideas?





What program should be used to build an application that would accept the 3 input choices and will manipulate the printing and detection of how much amount is already been paid?





This concept is same as the popular kodak photo kiosk only it is not a vending machine.. i wonder what programming language did they use for the application?

How to connect a coin slot to my computer and what programming language should be use?
This wont help you but it gave me an idea..


I should put a coin slot on my PC..


Yea cause then when my kids want to get on it they have to put quarters in to surf the internet. hehe cool huh ;-)
Reply:the language wont matter, its the same general princple for using any low order device. the connection type of the device is up to the harware you trying to use...





the coin slot in this case will cause and input event everytime a coin is passed into it, the 'value' of the coin will be a specific event, you have to write a either a low level driver to control inputs to your program shuch that it gives human useable events, OR use a low level o/s hook to caputre the device event from windows (which will be a string) and through trial and error (easy enuf... enter one coin and record what it is) find each coin then write the correct response into your program.





and the KPK program was probably done in c++ or a variant
Reply:There is a device called an IPAC that they still may sell for the PC. This is used as keyboard intervention by device. So basically if you have a piece of software that will translate the coin drop as hitting say the letter C or F etc it should then register in your program through the IPAC interface.


You might check out arcade devices because you are sure to find a device thats already built to interface with your project.





http://www.ultimarc.com/ipac1.html





Just looked that up for you and found this...





Also some free software for currency reader etc..





http://www.fileboost.net/directory/devel...





Give that a try :P





Just check arcade links and you should be able to find what you need