AH HA
OK. We were on different wavelenghts about how to go about this. I was thinking more stand alone consumer item while you where thinking more scientificly. OK lets go with yours first so we can see what lessons there are to be learnt.
I have a spare PC (or three) and sound card. Which sensors have you been looking at?
Nothing particular.. I just googled peizo sensors and got loads of sites. I'll have a look at the Maplin online catalogue.
Any PC or laptop is going to be sufficient I think.. no modifications are required to it after all.
If you were thinking about a simple 'test your strength' device, its actually slightly more complicated to implement, because you have to integrate or latch the sensor output in order to get a clear digital reading of either the avergage power (over a time interval you simply don't know anything about) or peak displacement.. The alternative would be to use a moving needle ammeter, where the integration is done by the dynamics of the needle and the measurement made by eye.
I think the oscilloscope route would be the first stage in a commercial implementation anyway. Once you'd secured development funds with the prototype, you'd write your own custom software to poll the soundcard, take the necessary measurements and do the interpretation for the end user.
*Whack!!*>>Today your punch speed was 10m/s.. your kime was .24ms late and you delivered xxx Watts of power
>>You also have a rapidly deteriorating elbow joint and a sprained muscle in your shoulder
>>Please seek professional medical assistance
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