Koalapad graphics tablet

Koala Technologies created Koalapad graphics tablets and compatible software for the Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Commodore 64, IBM PC, and TRS-80 Color Computer platforms. Not all used the "Koalapad" name. Analogue joysticks on these systems used two potentiometers to return a signal for each axis to determine the X and Y position the joystick handle. Applying pressure to the roughly 10cm by 10cm control area on a Koalapad produced the same signals based on the position of the point where pressure was applied. A stylist or finger were suitable for this purpose but a finer point created less variation in the signal. Most games designed for the Koalapad only required finger level precision while stylist level precision was better for the painting programs and utility software that were compatible. Koalapads also had buttons corresponding to joystick buttons. Technically, a Koalapad would operate any game designed for paddles or joysticks but attempting to control a game not designed with the Koalapad in mind was usually very problematic, especially for joystick games. One very major barrier was presented by the fact that applying no pressure to a Koalapad would cause it to send a zero value for both X and Y position which most games would interpret as the player holding the controller at the extreme ends of each axis.