🚀 go-pugleaf

I am looking for a simple data acquisition device that would allow
me to sense the state of up to 8 contact closures with a Macintosh.
The device would be a parallel to RS232 converter, so that each time
one of the input lines changes state, a byte would be sent (there is
no need to sample at fixed intervals) reflecting the current state,
for example using one bit per line.

I am aware of the various data acquisition boxes (MacAdios, Taurus, BenchTop)
and am really looking for something much simpler; a reference to a schematic
would be fine; I can build the thing, and will write the software in any case.
I have read somewhere that a University (Berkeley?) sells a simple data
acquisition device in kit form but I can't find the reference;
may be this would do what I want.

Thanks in advance for the help.

Daniel Guerin, The Hospital for Sick Children
USENET: {decvax!utzoo}!sickkids!daniel      BITNET: daniel@sickkids.utoronto