so from discussion on this node, I was able to come up with ideas, thanks guys!
I don't have an image to describe what I want to do with the sensor on my skates because A: I suck at drawing, and B: I suck at drawing on my computer.
At first I wasn't too concerned about having an "exact" distance traveled, just some number that if I saw it go higher with each skate session, that would make me happy, but of course you guys got my brain juice goin'.
The simplest way I could work around it is to have an encoder on each foot, but have the proc and pressure sensor on the left foot. Considering one foot will always have to be on the ground (otherwise I'd defy the laws of physics... captain), when the pressure sensor is active on the left foot, the proc will read ONLY the left foot encoder. The only time the right foot encoder would be used is if the pressure sensor is not active (i.e. I lift my left foot). My leggings I am making would then have some very small shielded wire worked into the leggings with an extra bit coiled on each leg incase something happens to snag it, with a quick-release connector of some sort.
Oh, and the proc is on the left foot because I'm right handed and it would be easier to turn it on and fix stuff if I had my skates on.
Another concern I had was over how high I would need the proc to count. This wouldn't be too hard if I had two variables, and once one got high enough, it would trigger the second variable to add 1 to it. So if I decided to stick with the metric system I could nearly have it down to the nearest centimeter on distance! Brilliant!
Argh... I wish I had a job right now and a few paychecks to get some stuff and actually go out and test this! I guess that's why it's a good reason to have a blog. I can keep my ideas here. ^_^
'ta.