I would like to use a PC to interpret signals from various electrical
senders, like fuel pressure and temperature.  Specifically, voltage
senders (e.g., 0-5 volts) and resistance senders (e.g., 0-250 ohms) as
input, and serial output (could be USB or TCP/IP, but prefer serial
for near-real-time).  Target PC environment is a Java VM.  Various
embedded programming kits seem available (e.g., stamp) if I just build
the adapter and send data serially, but I could also use an embedded
Java VM and do more processing on the device side.  Price needs to be
less than $500 for the whole thing - this is a one-off personal-use
project.  So what are my best platform options (low-level devices,
java embedded device, and ...)?  For each option, specify the device
components, supplier, ballpark estimate of time/cost-to-complete for
skilled person targetting 4 senders, and the major issues/comparisons
(esp. good support for newbies).  I've already looked at: CMUcam2,
Javelin, Parallax, lmsys, snuder EJC, Dontronics, and Systronics, but
you can offer a solution from one of those if you show it's best. 
Comparisons are not as necessary for validation if you you do this as
your job (rather than just researching the issue via the internet).

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Clarification of Question by westion-ga on 09 Mar 2006 01:22 PST

I should add that I have some senders, but I appreciate the others
I've found in the embedded world - especially the CMU cam and infrared
and sonar distance finders (range 1-50', min sampling rate of 3
times/second).  So I'd prefer a platform that has associated
sensors/senders I can build, though I'd accept one without that (and
just use COTS senders).

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Clarification of Question by westion-ga on 09 Mar 2006 01:28 PST

Sorry - forgot to mention the embedded java site at dev.java.net which
links to many providers, esp. the avid director M2M which looks good. 
Again, I need someone with real experience to say which approach will
work best.  Thanks.