+DarkLord Posted April 8, 2012 Share Posted April 8, 2012 Hey gang. I had a user pose this question in the 8bit message base on my BBS: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I was reading about an atari cartridge called "Atari's PLATO catridge" or Atari Access Software for the PLATO Services Network for connecting to cyber1. Is this cartridge available for use in an atari emulator, i.e. Atari800MacX? Thanks for any info. Teddy ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I've never used this cartridge and I don't use emulators so can anyone provide some information? Thanks! PS I did find a link for info on it: http://www.atarimaga...latorising.html Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/196354-ataris-plato-cartridge-question/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fox-1 / mnx Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 Learning Phone, The (PLATO).bin I have no idea if this is what you want but it's a terminal and is "Plato" related. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/196354-ataris-plato-cartridge-question/#findComment-2497943 Share on other sites More sharing options...
kheffington Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 (edited) Not going to be much use to you as it was an online service that is long gone. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PLATO_(computer_system) Edited April 9, 2012 by kheffington Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/196354-ataris-plato-cartridge-question/#findComment-2497977 Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Spancho Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 (edited) But according wikipedia the Cyber1 service opened in 2004 and it does not state that it has been shut down again. So to me it looks as it can be used. See as well http://www.cyber1.org Not going to be much use to you as it was an online service that is long gone. http://en.wikipedia....omputer_system) Edited April 9, 2012 by Spancho Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/196354-ataris-plato-cartridge-question/#findComment-2498170 Share on other sites More sharing options...
kheffington Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 (edited) --------- But according wikipedia the Cyber1 service opened in 2004 and it does not state that it has been shut down again. So to me it looks as it can be used. See as well http://www.cyber1.org Not going to be much use to you as it was an online service that is long gone. http://en.wikipedia....omputer_system) Yes Cyber1 has the Plato system online with terminal access over the net but not as a dial in system using the the Atari Cartridge. You need a terminal interface on Windows, Mac or Linux. So the Cart is a collectible but not very useful. http://www.cyber1.org/pterm.asp Edited April 9, 2012 by kheffington Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/196354-ataris-plato-cartridge-question/#findComment-2498270 Share on other sites More sharing options...
+DarkLord Posted April 10, 2012 Author Share Posted April 10, 2012 Alright, thanks for the info gang - I forwarded this on to the user who was asking. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/196354-ataris-plato-cartridge-question/#findComment-2498646 Share on other sites More sharing options...
_The Doctor__ Posted February 1, 2018 Share Posted February 1, 2018 (edited) Why couldn't we use APE or Cygwin, or other solution to connect to the service...or even a lantronix uds in raw mode, or even pssible major hack/rework for dragon cart use in that matter. I say the 8 bit re plants it's flag here! Edited February 1, 2018 by _The Doctor__ 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/196354-ataris-plato-cartridge-question/#findComment-3950209 Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesD Posted February 1, 2018 Share Posted February 1, 2018 I looked up the PLATO info a while back, and they moved to a web based system that charges a yearly access rate.I have no idea what they did with all the old stuff. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/196354-ataris-plato-cartridge-question/#findComment-3950244 Share on other sites More sharing options...
+MrFish Posted February 1, 2018 Share Posted February 1, 2018 (edited) I was using this terminal-based Plato server a few years back. As far as I can tell it's still free. Cyber1 Edited February 1, 2018 by MrFish Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/196354-ataris-plato-cartridge-question/#findComment-3950479 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunstar Posted February 1, 2018 Share Posted February 1, 2018 What was PLATO exactly, was it like the old Lynx terminals? Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/196354-ataris-plato-cartridge-question/#findComment-3950495 Share on other sites More sharing options...
tschak909 Posted February 1, 2018 Share Posted February 1, 2018 (edited) As a former PLATO user: PLATO was a very ambitious project that utilized CDC 6600 (and later machines) to implement a massive time sharing environment for educators and students. It was started in the late 60s, and operated in its classic form until the late 90s. You could think of it as say, Compuserve or The Source, but for making and using educational courses for young kids up to adults. The system itself was normally utilized by a series of specially designed plasma screen terminals (there were five models of terminals built), which could dial into the service, and there were local access numbers available. The typical users of these systems were universities and schools, but a few lucky individuals managed to get private terminals (not cheap!) The system itself was designed to be extended, and many teachers and students made TUTOR modules for every educational subject known to man, which could range from multiple choice type tests, to fully interactive simulations and input. Atari was one of the few microcomputers that got a PLATO client. I can tell you that because of the original terminal's high resolution (512 horizontal pixels), scaling it down to 160 horizontal pixels really put a dent on how it looked...and because the original screens were orange plasma, now you know precisely why The Learning Phone cartridge has that curious orange background. In 2004, a handful of very intrepid and persistent individuals managed to find a working complete backup tape set of the last Cyber system that ran PLATO, and restored it. It now runs as http://cyber1.org/and has modern terminal implementations of the PLATO V terminal so that you can see the system for yourself. I would urge everyone here to do so, as PLATO was _VERY_ much ahead of its time. (as an aside, do you all know Lotus Notes? Believe it or not, it actually started on PLATO as NOTES. There were notes files all over the system, from your personal notes files to notes files for groups and systems administrators, they typically were all public.) -Thom(edited because I had a brain fart on the PLATO terminal resolution) Edited February 1, 2018 by tschak909 8 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/196354-ataris-plato-cartridge-question/#findComment-3950536 Share on other sites More sharing options...
tschak909 Posted February 1, 2018 Share Posted February 1, 2018 This is a PLATO V terminal: This guy was made in the late 70s. Note the bright orange plasma screen. -Thom 6 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/196354-ataris-plato-cartridge-question/#findComment-3950541 Share on other sites More sharing options...
tschak909 Posted February 1, 2018 Share Posted February 1, 2018 I exist on cyber1 as tschak909 in the inetd group. Feel free to leave me a personal note (once you learn your way around..it's VERY different, so requires an open mind and patience.) -Thom 4 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/196354-ataris-plato-cartridge-question/#findComment-3950561 Share on other sites More sharing options...
a8isa1 Posted February 2, 2018 Share Posted February 2, 2018 (edited) Thanks to Joe_z and Altirra I got to see Atari Learning Phone running. Something I've wanted since I sat in on a static presentation back in the mid '80s. Sorry, I can't show much. I don't have an account. However, this little bit made me happy. Thanks Joe! Joe_z mentioned that some of the terminal code sequences don't appear to be right. There's also the need to connect to the port that supports color even though Atari Learning Phone has only 2 colors. The screen shown above is a window to the 512x512 frame. There's also a scaled mode (below). Edited February 2, 2018 by a8isa1 5 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/196354-ataris-plato-cartridge-question/#findComment-3950858 Share on other sites More sharing options...
tschak909 Posted February 2, 2018 Share Posted February 2, 2018 a8isa1 PLEASE get in contact with the cyber1 people. They want to help supporting these systems. Please get a sign-on and reach out in the public notes file! -Thom 2 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/196354-ataris-plato-cartridge-question/#findComment-3950896 Share on other sites More sharing options...
tschak909 Posted February 2, 2018 Share Posted February 2, 2018 and yes, using the ASCII mode makes sense, as the "classic" mode utilizes a very unusual block mode output that only works on PLATO V (PPT) terminals. -Thom 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/196354-ataris-plato-cartridge-question/#findComment-3950899 Share on other sites More sharing options...
tschak909 Posted February 2, 2018 Share Posted February 2, 2018 For Reference: Here is the CYBIS sign-on in PLATO V mode: And here's the CYBIS sign-on in ASCII mode: The ASCII mode supports color, but you lose a few features (such as vertical text, which is used by a few lessons.) (and for the record, lesson is a generic term for any and all programs on PLATO) -Thom 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/196354-ataris-plato-cartridge-question/#findComment-3950907 Share on other sites More sharing options...
a8isa1 Posted February 2, 2018 Share Posted February 2, 2018 (edited) a8isa1 PLEASE get in contact with the cyber1 people. They want to help supporting these systems. Please get a sign-on and reach out in the public notes file! -Thom I don't know anything about the program or its usage. I had cobbled together (more like minor tinkering) a wifi modem out of a nodeMCU dev board I wondered if the telnet feature would work with cyber1. I failed to get any activity. When I tried in Altirra some scrambled text appeared but the word NEXT was clearly visible. I didn't understand what was going on. Joe_z took a look and learned of a second port to access the system. We thought nothing was happening. However, after several minutes of IRC chat the Atari screen (in Altirra) started drawing the screen. It turns out Atari Learning Phone requires an interface that downloads the R: handler to the Atari. Disk booting with the cartridge isn't enabled. If I still had my 850 I might have been able to get my ad hoc wifi modem to communicate. We tried a quick hack of the cartridge to allow disk booting but it didn't like the R: handler loading that way or it didn't like an alternate R: hander (Rverter). If you'd like to try Atari Learning Phone in Altirra enable an 850 in Devices (Altirra 2.90 or 3.00, not sure about earlier versions) and add the simulated modem. Syntax to connect is: atdicyberserv.org 8005. The 'i' is needed (I for 'Internet'?) . Note the space (' ') before the port number. Don't use a colon (':'). Edited February 2, 2018 by a8isa1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/196354-ataris-plato-cartridge-question/#findComment-3950920 Share on other sites More sharing options...
a8isa1 Posted February 2, 2018 Share Posted February 2, 2018 Joe_z just told me that Atari Learning Phone is monochrome only. It can't interpret the color sequences of the ASCII mode (8 bit mode) nor does it know what to do with the 20bit mode. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/196354-ataris-plato-cartridge-question/#findComment-3950931 Share on other sites More sharing options...
tschak909 Posted February 2, 2018 Share Posted February 2, 2018 Correct. You guys need to get in touch with the cyber1 people, they'll work with you to work out an 8-bit ASCII mode that will work in monochrome mode. Please grab pterm, ask for a sign-on and reach out in the public notes file. They will respond. They did the same for the Apple II people not too long ago. 3 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/196354-ataris-plato-cartridge-question/#findComment-3950942 Share on other sites More sharing options...
tschak909 Posted February 2, 2018 Share Posted February 2, 2018 Here's a gallery of shots from a PLATO (CYBIS) session: If you want to see it, grab a copy of pterm, and ask for a sign-on. -Thom 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/196354-ataris-plato-cartridge-question/#findComment-3950945 Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesD Posted February 2, 2018 Share Posted February 2, 2018 Didn't Plato include some voice? How does the cart deal with that? Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/196354-ataris-plato-cartridge-question/#findComment-3951053 Share on other sites More sharing options...
video61atarisales Posted February 2, 2018 Share Posted February 2, 2018 Hey gang. I had a user pose this question in the 8bit message base on my BBS: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I was reading about an atari cartridge called "Atari's PLATO catridge" or Atari Access Software for the PLATO Services Network for connecting to cyber1. Is this cartridge available for use in an atari emulator, i.e. Atari800MacX? Thanks for any info. Teddy ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I've never used this cartridge and I don't use emulators so can anyone provide some information? Thanks! PS I did find a link for info on it: http://www.atarimaga...latorising.html i purchased the original prototype cart from atari many many years ago. i made a few and sold them, so a few might be floating around, or have been dumped. there may have been a few sold by atari also. i do not know for sure, but i never saw one packaged from atari. lance www.atarisales.com Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/196354-ataris-plato-cartridge-question/#findComment-3951057 Share on other sites More sharing options...
tschak909 Posted February 2, 2018 Share Posted February 2, 2018 Didn't Plato include some voice? How does the cart deal with that? Nope. -Thom Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/196354-ataris-plato-cartridge-question/#findComment-3951088 Share on other sites More sharing options...
tschak909 Posted February 2, 2018 Share Posted February 2, 2018 I have opened a note in the public notesfile about the Atari PLATO client: -Thom 3 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/196354-ataris-plato-cartridge-question/#findComment-3951104 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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