Take an audio cassette cartridge, and remove the tape. Stripe the rollers' outer circumference with an alternating color pattern. Replace the tape with an icb containing storage, logic, and ad/da convertors. Provide 4 (or even 8!) discreet parallel interfaces to the storage at the point where the tape traditionally meets the read and record heads in an analog tape deck (like tracks). As the deck rotates the color bands, read this motion to indicate forward or backward movement through storage. Apply power by way of a wire dangling out from under the deck cover; said wire could house receptacle for a battery and a usb interface for transfer.

Now you can record on your tape deck without all that silly tape hiss! Maybe I will just get another gerbil... *sigh*
-- absterge, Nov 11 2008

Old/new technology CD_20player_20that_...a_20record_20player
See first anno. [csea, Nov 12 2008]

"Apply power by way of a wire dangling out from under the deck cover..."
Generate power by the turning of the tape reels.
-- phoenix, Nov 11 2008


Ingenius. Pointless. Bun.
-- wagster, Nov 11 2008


Cassette-shaped .mp3 players were popular a few years ago, [link] but the Rewind/FF interface may be novel. +
-- csea, Nov 12 2008


Coloured stripes are so last century. Use a hall effect sensor, or just a tacho wheel for all the accuracy you'll need.
-- Custardguts, Nov 12 2008


[phoenix], I considered the power from the turning of the wheels, but I'm not sure you could consistently get enough juice in a small enough package.

Thanks, [wags]. That's sort of my mantra.
-- absterge, Nov 12 2008



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